How to Wash Cashmere at Home
Washing cashmere by hand takes about twenty minutes of your time, a basin and the right detergent. Below are the steps, with the temperature, time and drying method spelled out, since many guides online leave them vague.
The instruction on our own garments is: hand wash in cool water with a gentle wool and cashmere wash, or dry clean (the full wording is on our Cashmere Care page). The specific numbers below, 30°C and the soaking time, are general industry practice rather than a rule for our garments, so check the care label on your own piece first.
Whether it needs washing at all is covered on the care page, which also has a table of what to do for each type of garment. This page is for when you have decided it does.
What you need
- A clean basin or sink
- A detergent made for wool and cashmere, without bleach or enzymes
- Two clean, light-coloured towels
- A flat place to dry it, out of the sun
Step by step
| Step | What to do | The detail that matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Check | Read the care label. Wash dark or deep colours such as burgundy, navy and red on their own. | Deep shades can release a little dye on the first wash. |
| 2. Fill | Cold or lukewarm water in the basin. | Not above about 30°C. If it feels warm on your wrist, it is warm enough. Hot water makes wool fibres tighten and felt. |
| 3. Add detergent | A small amount, swirled in until mixed. | Never pour it straight onto the garment. |
| 4. Lower it in | Turn the garment inside out and press it under until wet through. | Press, do not rub or scrub. |
| 5. Soak | 5 to 10 minutes, moving it gently now and then. | Longer soaking does not clean better and is harder on dyes. |
| 6. Rinse | Drain, refill with clean water at a similar temperature, press the garment through. Repeat until no suds remain. | A big change in temperature can shock the fibres. |
| 7. Press out the water | Lift with both hands, supporting its weight. Lay it on a towel, roll the towel up with the jumper inside, and press along the roll. | Never wring or twist, and never hang it wet: wet cashmere is heavy and stretches. |
| 8. Dry flat | Lay it on a dry towel or mesh rack, reshape it to its original measurements, keep it in the shade away from heaters. Turn it over after a few hours. | Usually dry within a day; longer in a cool, damp house. |
| 9. No dryer | Do not tumble dry. | Heat and tumbling shrink and felt the knit, and this cannot be undone. |
When it is completely dry, smooth the surface with your hand and fold it.
Can I use the washing machine?
Our instruction for our own pieces is hand wash or dry clean, so we do not suggest the machine for them. For a garment from elsewhere, follow its label.
If something goes wrong
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| Stiff after drying | Usually leftover detergent. Rinse again in cool water, press, and dry flat. Many jumpers feel softer after the second wash. |
| Slightly shrunk | Soak briefly in cool water, ease it gently back to its measurements and dry flat. Heavy felting cannot be reversed. |
| Stretched | Reshape while damp and dry flat. Do not hang it. |
| A stain | Dab, do not rub, and wash as soon as you can. For oily or set-in marks, use a dry cleaner who knows knitwear. |
When to dry clean instead
Coats, long cardigans, lined or structured pieces, and anything you are unsure about are better dry cleaned. If you are not sure about a piece you bought from us, ask us in the shop at The Glen in Glen Waverley, or ring +61 403 595 736.
Once it is dry
Wash it before you put it away for the warm months: the last wash of the season is the one that matters for moths. The next step is in How to Store Cashmere Over Summer in Melbourne.
Shop our women's cashmere knitwear.