Washing Cashmere
our way.
The internet is filled with do’s and don’ts when it comes to cleaning your cashmere. Most care labels advise to “hand wash” or “dry clean only”. But how exactly do you wash by hand? (And don’t get us started about dry cleaning!). We would like to share our favourite method for cleaning cashmere - the one we use at Noble Cashmere.
How often?
First off, you should wash your cashmere regularly. It is very important to wash your sweater often to remove contaminants that can break down the fibers and attract moths (particularly before storing for the summer). The myth that you should not wash your cashmere often is based on the fear that doing so will ruin it or shorten its life. We have found the opposite to be true. If you follow these instructions your cashmere should last for many years.
Washing instructions
Click Below to watch our videos on how to wash your cashmere!
Part I
Part II
This 10-step guide is for one or two cashmere sweaters.
You may need more water and detergent depending on the number of sweaters you are washing.
1
Fill a sink or bucket with warm water (not cold).
Warm water allows the fibres to release any oils & food debris that might have collected; this temperature ultimately cleans the sweater better than cold water does.
2
Add a gentle natural detergent to the water. We use about a tablespoon per sweater.
We use Eco Max -available in the health food aisle of most grocery stores!
Follow product instructions for the amount to add (based on the detergent and number of garments being washed).
3
Soak like-colour sweater(s) in the water warm soapy water for approximately 10 minutes.
Check armpits for caked on deodorant- use a bit of detergent or dish soap to remove.
Dunk and squeeze each garment in the soapy water twice to help the soap push through the fibres and wash.
Cashmere is quite hardy and can handle gentle agitation without shrinking.
4
Drain the sink.
Squeeze out each sweater to remove excess water and place the damp sweater(s) aside.
5
Fill up the sink (or bucket) again with lukewarm water.
Add 1-2 cap fulls of white vinegar (approximately 1 tablespoon)
Vinegar is our secret rinsing ingredient: it helps remove detergent residue, lingering odours,
and its slight acidity makes your cashmere softer and more lustrous.
6
Dunk and squeeze each sweater two times to rinse soap from the fibres.
If you used too much detergent in the wash water you may need to do a second rinse.
7
Drain the sink.
Squeeze out each sweater to remove excess water.
8
Transfer your sweater(s) to a washing machine (front or top loader).
Set the cycle to spin only (not rinse and spin cycle).
If you don’t have a washing machine to spin your sweater(s), skip the following steps to the Towel Method listed below:
9
To block your wet sweater-give it a shake, run your hands through the sleeves and body to reshape- straighten seams and collars.
10
To Dry:
Light sweater: hang the garment with a wide hanger (nothing with sharp corners, so it doesn’t leave shoulder bumps).
Heavier sweater: lay the garment flat on a fresh towel to dry. You may also rape a towel over the top of a door to dry the sweater there.
Curious about blocking your sweater? Check out our reel tutorial here.
Towel Method
Lay a clean towel on a flat surface.
Place the sweater flat on the towel.
Starting from one end, roll the towel with the sweater on it, until it is completely rolled up.
Compress the towel to squeeze out excess water (we like to stand on the bundle)
For this method, lay garment(s) flat to dry.
We hope this laundering method helps you keep your cashmere in pristine condition for many years to come!