Cashmere is one of the most luxurious fabrics to have in your wardrobe. Previously only accessible to the wealthy few, it has become much more mainstream in recent years. However, cheaper cashmere will most likely be blended with other fibres so always check the label so you know what you are buying. It is a very precious material and it will serve you for many warm snugly years if you look after it properly. Read on to find out why it’s so special and how to care for it.
Nepalese goat herdsmen with Capra Hircus mountain goats
Why is cashmere so special?
Cashmere is made from the downy hair of goats. Just as birds have outer feathers and soft warm down underneath, goats have their main outer coat made of course guard hairs and then an undercoat of warm, soft down. These hairs are hollow, so they trap air which is why cashmere is so warm and insulating. It takes the down from more than one goat to make a jumper which is why it is so precious!
How do you maintain cashmere?
If maintained carefully, cashmere can last for years but such longevity requires a lot of love and affection. Gentle washing, correct storage and proper moth protection will all ensure your cashmere lasts.
The first thing you are likely to find with wear is the appearance of small pills or bobbles. These occur through friction so you will find them under the arms, at the lower back and the bottom area of longer garments through sitting. They even appear where seat belts and handbags cross over the shoulder and rest on the hip or tummy area.
Firstly, think about what you wear your cashmere garments with. It’s a good idea to avoid pairing it with items that will rub or catch such as harsh jewellery or sequins. You can regularly de-pill cashmere and other woollen items for that matter with a simple knitwear comb. Hold the cashmere taut and brush the comb across the pills with a brisk firm action. Have a look at our video guide for a full demonstration.
Can you wash 100% cashmere?
In the past, I would have said to only wash cashmere by hand and I still stand by that for very expensive and fine knits, however, some cashmere is now pre-washed and can go in the machine. The label will tell you whether it can be washed in the washing machine on a wool or hand wash cycle. Always check the label for washing instructions.
The worst things for cashmere and other fine knits are lots of agitation and harsh detergent. This goes for both hand and machine wash, so be sure to use delicate laundry liquid which doesn’t contain bleaching agents or enzymes. Our laundry liquid is infused with natural Aloe Vera and rosemary oil and is perfect for cashmere and other delicates like silk. When washing by hand, do not agitate the item too much. Avoid lifting it out of the bowl as the weight of the water will stretch and distort the weave. Do not wring the item either. Get rid of excess water by wrapping it in a ball and pressing on it in the empty sink. Another good tip is to lay the item on a flat bath towel and role it up like a Swiss role and gently squeeze. Dry the garment flat, again avoiding further stretching through the weight of the water.
Should cashmere be dry cleaned?
Some cashmere labels will specify ‘Dry Clean Only’. Dry cleaning can degrade any material so try to keep this to a minimum by making the item last as long as you can between cleans. Wear something under the garment to keep it away from your skin (if at all possible), air it or give it a quick steam to freshen it up between wears. We sell a great hand held steamer which has a nifty attachment to protect delicates.
How to keep moths from eating cashmere
Careful storage will protect your cashmere and all woollens and delicate natural fibres from dust, mould, discolouration from UV and the dreaded clothes moth. If storing items for the long term, make sure they are clean. For starters, stains left for a long time can oxidise and are then impossible to get rid of but food residues and skin cells attract clothes moths like nobody’s business. If a garment specifies a dry clean then do that just before you store it away as moths don’t like dry cleaning fluid.
Fold items neatly to a uniform size, our handy folding pallet makes this easy, then place items in zip up storage bag. Our moth proof, breathable knitwear bags can store up to ten fine knits or two to three big knits, and our cashmere storage bags are made of 100% washable cotton and store two finer knits or one big chunky one.
To keep moths away, surround your clothes with our bespoke essential oil fragrances which smell divine but are hated by clothes moths. Our May Chang sachets last a full season and can be placed in the knitwear bags, or opt for lining your drawers with our May Chang anti-moth drawer liners.
If you think you have clothes moths, make sure you vacuum and treat any storage area before you put clothes away. We have lots of products to monitor, repel, kill and confuse clothes moths. Our first port of call would be the Moth box, which uses the female clothes moth pheromone to attract and trap male clothes moths, allowing you to monitor numbers. If you have a serious problem we would highly recommend our Moth decoy which provides year round protection. For a detailed explanation on dealing with Clothes moth look no further than our blog on solving a clothes moth infestation.
Can holes in cashmere be repaired?
Holes can develop in cashmere either through friction, we explain more about this here, or because of clothes moths. Whatever the cause, fret not as they can be repaired. Our sister company, The Wardrobe Curator offers a cashmere mending service and it comes back as good as new. If the item is old and you’re not that worried about how it looks, you can give it ago yourself with visible darning.
Need help?
Our website is full of products to help you care for your clothes and of course lots of products and information on how to protect your clothes from clothes moth. If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Top cashmere care tips
- De-pill
- Treat stains
- Hand wash inside out
- Dry flat
- Cool iron
- Store in a knitwear bag
- Add anti-moth sachets
Additional care tips for cashmere sweaters
To keep your cashmere garments always clean and beautiful, here are some basic rules to follow:
- Do not wear the same garment too frequently. Allow the garment two or three days’ rest after a day’s wearing. A silk or Pashmina scarf goes well with cashmere tops and cardigans. Used between your cashmere top/cardigan and your neck, a scarf will also prevent powder or other cosmetics stains.
- Don’t spray perfume directly onto cashmere otherwise it may stain.
- Do not wear a cashmere garment next to rough clothing, metal necklaces, bracelets, belts and rough leather items such as crocodile leather bags. Dress up your cashmere with a silk scarf and pearl accessories instead of accessories with a rough surface.
- Pilling is caused by abrasion during regular use. It often develops around elbows, on the seat of skirts, and in areas rubbed by a bag or briefcase, even a seat belt. Soft, fuzzy surfaces are more susceptible than others. So for cashmere products, some pilling is normal after repeated usage.
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