Washing Cashmere

Cashmere apparel has a very soft and delicate fabric. Moreover, they are a bit pricey. Therefore, when it comes to washing cashmere, you are often in two minds whether you should take it to a dry cleaner or laundry it at home. This is because a wrong cleaning technique can badly ruin the fabric of the garment. If you feel that you cannot rely on your dry cleaners, then you can safely wash it at home.

How to Wash Cashmere

For hand washing cashmere, you must use the right type of detergent. A low suds detergent is best suited for this purpose. You can buy a detergent which is specifically formulated for delicate fabrics or else you can use baby laundry soap or baby shampoo. Once you got the suitable shampoo, follow the instructions given below:

Step #1: The label of the cashmere garment carries the basic instructions for washing it. Read that label carefully before washing it. It is mentioned on the label whether you should use cool water or lukewarm water for washing the garment. Accordingly, fill up the basin with cold or warm water and add the detergent that you have selected. Stir the water in the sink with your hands so that the soap mixes up well with the water and generate a lot of froth.

Step #2: Then you have to put the cashmere apparel into the soapy solution. While washing cashmere sweaters, it is advisable that you turn it inside out. Immerse the garment and knead it gently with your hands so that the soapy water get into the fabrics of cashmere. Keep it untouched for the next 20 minutes so that it can soak in the water properly. During this time, you may notice some colors discharged from cashmere. This is a normal occurrence particularly if it is a dark-colored item. This released color is nothing but the dye used on the yarn.

Step #3: After 20 minutes soaking time is over, drain out the soapy solution from the sink. Then wash the garment thoroughly under running water. You can squeeze it with a gentle hand occasionally, so that, the soapy substance comes out of the garment properly. Continue to rinse it like this until all the soap residue is completely washed off.

Step #4: When you are sure that there is no more soap left in the garment, take it out from the sink. Do not try to wring out the water from the garment as it can badly damage its shape. If you want to remove the excess water from it press it lightly in between your palms without distorting the garment.

Step #5: Spread a large, clean bath towel on a flat surface and place the freshly washed garment lengthwise on it. Roll up the towel loosely with the garment in it like a rolling pin and squeeze slightly with your hands to extract the extra water out. When the first towel is soaked in water, use another dry towel to take out some more water from the garment in the same way. You may have to use 3-4 dry towels to take out maximum water from it. Then place a dry towel on a drying rack and lay the washed cashmere on it. If you do not have a drying rack, then place it on any other flat surface but never hang cashmere on a clothes line. The wet garment will get stretched so badly that your garment will lose its shape. For faster drying of the cashmere, replace the underlying towel with a dry one from time to time.

For washing cashmere in the washing machine, the technique is more or less the same. Just do not keep it in the washer for a long time as it can get crease. Moreover, do not use the dryer on it. You have to dry it on a flat surface as is described earlier. If you are giving it to dry cleaners, then inform them that it is a cashmere. Avoid dry cleaning of cashmere too often as it can cause harm to the fabric.