Washing, drying, storing, and caring for your cashmere clothing
At Amadablam Cashmere we source the best Himalayan cashmere from local villagers who care for their goats in the foothills. Our producer designs and weaves the finest, softest, white cashmere into our ponchos and travel wraps before carefully dyeing them a wide range of colours using natural plant-based dyes. As each piece is dyed individually by hand we are often able to create custom pieces, if you have a particular outfit in mind and would like to add a wrap made from one of the finest fibres in the world contact us – we would love to help.
Invest in a beautiful poncho or travel wrap and care for it well it will last for years to come and, just like a fine wine, it will improve with age. Cashmere is a perfect heirloom piece, one of the finest fibres in the world. It will give you years of pleasure if cared for correctly.
Washing & Drying Cashmere Clothing
Hand washing your cashmere frequently will refresh and condition the fibres. We all think we should avoid washing our cashmere whenever possible and often try to ‘spot-clean’ to prolong the life of the garment, this is fine for regular wear but before storing your cashmere clothing for long periods of time we recommend you give it a good clean. Your cashmere may not look dirty but traces of food, dust or skin may be hiding between the fibres, increasing the chances of attracting moths and ruining your favourite cashmere.
We always recommend hand-washing your cashmere as even the hand-wash setting on your washing machine can add to the risk of damaging the fibres so roll up your sleeves and get involved!
Find a clean bowl or sink – it may be worth having a bowl you use just for hand-washing your knitwear. Soak in lukewarm water (30c) with shampoo added. You can use other gentle detergents, but for best results use shampoo designed for cashmere. Make sure it is fully dissolved in the water before you start to add your clothing. Make sure the water is only lukewarm and importantly that the water is NOT hot.
Turn inside out and squeeze clean gently, try rolling it if this helps – do not rub or wring. Let the detergent do the work, do not apply any force. Wash each garment separately. Thoroughly rinse in lukewarm water. We suggest using water that is of the same temperature as the water you washed it in.
Drying your cashmere, be gentle..
Re-shape to its original size and dry flat over a towel away from direct heat and sunlight, avoiding radiators. We don’t recommend hanging as the weight of the water can stretch it out of shape.
DO NOT TUMBLE DRY! This is the fastest way to shrink your cashmere clothing!
Press under a damp cloth on a low heat setting.
Do not wring or twist the garment, be patient and treat it as it treats you, softly and with love.
Cashmere will get softer and improve with age, by rotating your wardrobe and letting your cashmere knitwear rest for a couple of days after wearing you will help to extend its life.
Storing Your Cashmere
Ideally, garments should be stored inside out and kept in a dust-free and well-aired area away from direct sunlight. Before storing for any length of time wash your cashmere well as dirt can attract moths. If you are storing it away for the summer we recommend that you give it a good clean, de-pill, and gently put it away for hibernation. The same is true for the place you will store it, ensure you have removed any dust and it’s not damp. Ideally, you would use a storage bag to keep your cashmere looking like new!
Moths & Repairs
We recommend using padded hangers, cedar oil sachets and garment bags if moths are likely to be a problem and ensure any cashmere to be stored is washed well before putting it away.
Moth traps are an option and we’ve even heard of people freezing their cashmere to remove moths!
We suggest following the above tips, keeping your cashmere clean, using cedar blocks, and keeping your storage areas and clothing clean and organised.
We love the super-soft wool that is cashmere, and it deserves special care as it takes pride of place in your wardrobe.
Read more tips about how to care for your clothes here – a great blog by the fabulous Jackie Crawford https://www.jackiecrawford.co.uk/why-its-a-good-idea-to-care-for-our-clothes/
