Cashmere Care: How to look after cashmere pieces so they last a lifetime

A precious fabric like cashmere deserves a bit of extra care. Don’t hide your lovely cashmere scarves in the wardrobe. You own them to wear them!

Cashmere is timeless, everyday luxury. Despite the rumours, cashmere loves water and washing your cashmere items frequently makes them even softer and smoother. 

 

Care Labels

First things first, read the care labels on our items. Garment care labels should tell you everything you need to know at a quick glance. We recommend to take a picture of the label before removing it. That way you can easily refer back to the instructions.

How do you handwash cashmere?

We get asked this a lot, so here is a quick guide to handwashing cashmere:

If you don’t have a special wool detergent, baby shampoo will do the job, too. Mix cool water and a small amount of wool detergent (or baby shampoo) in a sink or bowl. Do not soak the cashmere item, press repeatedly to remove any excess moisture. Rinse in fresh, cool water. Lay flat on a towel and press down to remove moisture. Then dry flat on a fresh towel.

Machine washing cashmere

If you opt to machine wash cashmere garments, select the cool hand-wash setting to avoid shrinkage or damage.

Don’t forget to separate light items from dark and use a special wool detergent or a mild baby shampoo. Reduce the spin cycle to the lowest setting and lay out flat on a towel to dry.

What not to do when washing cashmere

Never wash cashmere with other clothes, use a tumble dryer for cashmere or add any fabric softener.

Dry cleaning cashmere

Most cashmere items are suitable for dry cleaning.

How to dry cashmere

We recommend to dry all cashmere items flat on a towel. This helps to retain their original shape. This might take a few days. You should avoid drying cashmere directly on or near a heat source or in direct sunlight. Don’t use a tumble dryer for cashmere (unless you want to shrink your garments)!

Can I iron cashmere?

Drying cashmere flat helps to keep its shape. If you have some creases, we recommend ironing cashmere inside out on a very low temperature. This will help smooth out your cashmere items. Avoid using the steam on your iron. 

Pilling

Cashmere is a natural fibre and therefore pilling is totally natural.

To remove any pills or fuzz, you can a cashmere comb or electric wool shaver. Lay the item onto a flat surface and gently brush with the comb in the direction of the knit. We highly recommend the Chelsea Cashmere electric, rechargable lint remover which helps to restore your cashmere to look like new within seconds. 

Stains on cashmere

In case of stains on cashmere, you can treat the stain immediately with some cold water and a special wool detergent. Then follow the above washing instructions or use your local dry cleaners.

Storing cashmere and avoiding moths

Yes, moths love cashmere. This is because cashmere is a natural fibre and moths like to feed from it. How can you avoid moths ruining your cashmere?

Here are some simply but effective ways to keep moths away from cashmere: Air your wardrobe regularly and add natural repellents like cedar wood balls or lavender bags. Only store items that have been washed and fully dried. It is worth investing in some airtight storage bags or boxes to store items when not in frequent use.