The cosy season is officially upon us. That means it's time to get your warm blankets out, stock up on your favourite teas and probably curl up with a gripping TV drama series for the long evenings. The colder months will also have you making more use of warm winter coats and soft cashmere jumpers or sweaters in your wardrobe.
If you have shelled out big bucks for those precious pieces of cashmere clothing in your collection, it's important to know how best to take care of them to make the garments last long and keep them in pristine condition.
This is why we spoke to an expert - Kinga Luks from CashmereSpecialist.com, a family-owned brand that exclusively deals with cashmere sourced from Nepal to make clothing, accessories and more. Kinga shared her expert knowledge on how to wash cashmere, including specialist tips and suggestions on how to take care of this delicate fabric.
How to wash cashmere wool?
"Cashmere is one of the softest fibres available on the market, so it is worth following a few rules to keep your clothes in great condition for many years,” says Kinga.
“The best way to clean cashmere is to hand wash it in lukewarm water. Of course, not everyone has time for hand washing. So, when you are washing cashmere in a washing machine, be sure to use a special program for delicate clothes (such as ones for washing wool and silk).”
Is it okay to wash cashmere in the washing machine?
As hand-washing may not always be a feasible option, it is alright to machine wash your cashmere, as long as you are taking care to adjust the settings and do it the right way.
“If you don't have a special setting on your washing machine for wool or silk, set the machine to a temperature of 20 °C and the lowest speed (max. 1000 rpm). Remember to turn your clothes inside out. This will prevent the wool from pilling.”
“If you are washing cashmere with other items which may have buttons, zippers or hooks, place the item in a special bag to protect it from any snags,” adds Kinga Luks.
How do you soften cashmere after washing it?
“Cashmere is best washed in a special liquid for delicate clothes and for extra softness, you can add some hair conditioner,” says Kinga Luks.
Reducing pilling is another way to maintain the softness of your woollens and cashmere garments. “If the sweater is pilling, you can remove it with a delicate brush with bristles similar to a soft toothbrush,” suggests Kinga Luks.
She also highlights the importance of reading the label and making sure to follow the care and washing instruction mentioned on it.
Can I sun dry cashmere?
“Never expose your cashmere directly to the sun. It is also not recommended to dry cashmere in automatic dryers or dry it by hand. Both these methods can severely damage the clothing. Instead, after washing, lay the garment flat on a dry towel and it will dry completely to come back to a soft and fluffy feel,” she says.
How many times can you wear a cashmere sweater before washing?
“Washing cashmere too often will ruin the fabric. You only need to wash cashmere once every two weeks, at the most and in the meantime, it is worth airing the clothes to maintain its properties,” Kinga Luks says.
So you can easily fit in about 4-5 wears before each wash and if you really like cashmere, our expert suggests that it is worth having two pieces and wearing them alternately - one on the first day, and the next on the second day, so the clothes are aired well between washes
What to avoid when washing cashmere?
“You should not be washing cashmere at a higher temperature than 20 °C. Do not use washing powder or strong detergents as that may damage the delicate fabric. Absolutely do not iron cashmere, it is better to dry it properly. If it has any creases, they will straighten out when you put it on your body,” says Kinga Luks.
Akhila Thomas is a digital writer at Yours.co.uk and her areas of interest are beauty, fashion, food, wellness and lifestyle. She has previously written for magazines like Leftlion, Women’s Health and t’Art and worked extensively with art, culture, fashion and social media trends. She also likes to travel and explore new cultures and cuisines.