When you buy a cashmere or a merino wool sweater, chances are that the label with the care instructions will say "dry clean only”, while others are “dry clean or hand wash”. I have always hand washed all my cashmeres and the results are great, no matter the quality of the piece.

We all agree that it is important to take good care of our clothes and making them last longer. Not only because of our appearance, our finances, but also for our planet. So here are my tips on how to take care of cashmere sweaters. 

I am sure that many of you may know everything about the topic, but here is an explanation, step by step with pictures, on how to hand wash cashmere.

1) Storage

For any knitted piece, the ideal is to be stored folded in a shelf or drawer, not in a hanger, so it doesn’t become deformed as time goes by. The same applies to cashmere, which is a delicate natural fiber. In stores, hangers are used to make the pieces more attractive. For storage, look for appropriate bags or boxes that are easy to be found in different stores, here is an example. Cedar also helps to avoid moth that destroy the fibers.

2) SHAVE IT

Before washing any piece of clothing, make sure that there are no pilling. They appear when the cashmere or wool fiber is short and general show up in areas were the clothing suffers from more friction, such as where your purse touches the fabric. I like to use a fabric shaver, but you may use what works best for you.

3) Use the right product

I use a plastic bowl and a cashmere fabric shampoo by The Laundress to wash my cashmere pieces. The water can be somewhere in-between warm and cold.

4) For Colored items, use vinegar

If the water is stained by the clothing’s color, on the last rinse I use a bit of Scented Vinegar by The Laundress to make sure that the sweater doesn’t become stained or faded. Remove it from the water and don’t twist or squeeze it.

5) Reshape and roll to dry

Stretch out carefully the cashmere on top of a towel on a plain surface. This is absolutely necessary if you want to take care of your cashmere sweaters. Roll the towel with the sweater. Remove the sweater from inside the towel (which comes out soaked) and stretch it out again in a plain surface. I use the mesh top of my collapsible drying rack.

6) Steam it

After the sweater is dry, I use a steamer and the cashmere comes out without wrinkles and super soft. You can do it with a big steamer or a small one, both easily found at Amazon.

7) Dryers and washing machines are not good for sweaters

If one of your sweaters ends up in one by mistake and it shrinks a bit, wet it with water and a bit of hair conditioner and stretch it out horizontally and the fibers will relax. I have never tried this myself, but the suggestion comes from somebody that I trust.

8) Avoid stains and moths

Before you storage your sweaters when it gets warm, wash them, even if you had worn it only once. A small drop of white wine can be invisible at the moment but it can turn into a bad stain when you look for the sweater next Fall.

Perfume and creams can attract moths and they love good natural fibers such as cashmere and silk. 

9) Read the label

My last suggestion is: no matter what is the fabric, always read the care instructions on the label of your clothes. Sometimes we can clean it differently like the wool sweaters and clothes made of cotton; avoid washing silk at home, especially in bright prints, unless you really know what to do. And always send to the dry cleaner coats, lined dresses and blazers, unless written otherwise. 

When I do the wardrobe consultation for my clients, I always talk about how to take care of their clothes. It is really important to make our clothes last, now more than ever.

Products used:

Do you hand wash your clothes? What type of care do you take to make your clothes last longer?

Love,

Disclosure: Keep in mind that I link products and companies based on their quality, my personal opinion, my experience and professional expertise. Some of the links in my posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a small commission. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.