The complete guide on how to care for your cashmere

It’s always a question on my mind before I decide to purchase any piece of cashmere clothing. How will I be able to maintain it’s shape? Will I have to bring it to the dry-cleaner every time I stain it? Will it pill quickly, Will I have to buy a fabric pill remover (I then begin to vision myself spending my Saturday nights removing pills from my beloved cashmere jumpers). I then get distracted by the softness of the cashmere and the next thing I notice I’m walking out of the shop with my new cashmere sweater and what happens every time? I don’t take care of my cashmere and it loses its shape sooner than I had hoped.

So, new cashmere new me. I’ve decided to research how to care for cashmere and it’s actually much easier than I had thought to get lasting cashmere!

How to wash your cashmere

1. Pick the right cleaning solution! You need a product that doesn’t strip away the softness of the fibres. I suggest using baby shampoo as it’s not as harsh on fabric and you still have that softness like you just bought it yesterday! Use about 1 tablespoon depending on how much cashmere you are washing. If you use a fabric softener it will only flatten the fibres.
2. Just the right temperature! Fill up your sink or whatever is preferred with lukewarm water. Wash it thoroughly but be gentle with the garment! Make sure to leave the cashmere in for at least 5 minutes. Do not scrub the cashmere side by side. 
3. Rinse that Cashmere! Drain the sink and fill it with new warm water. Getting rid of the excessive shampoo.
4. Remove the cashmere! Once the cashmere is removed from the sink cup it into a ball squeezing out any excess water from the garment.
5. Pat Dry! Place the cashmere on a dry towel and fold it into small sections (upward motion), drying out the cashmere.
6. Finishing Touches! Leave it flat on a rack to dry with a towel underneath it. Turn it every day for quick drying time. Have in mind that cashmere can take days to dry. For a faster finish. Turn the cashmere inside out and place it in a dryer on a low heat for 2 minutes max, letting it dry after.

If you feel your cashmere needs a more intense wash! (i.e you’ve food on your cashmere)

1.Turn your cashmere inside out and place it in a pillow with other towels to cushion the cashmere in the washing machine.

2. Tie a knot in the pillow cash to secure the clothes don’t fall out.

3. Use a very small amount of baby shampoo as a substitute for detergent.

Note: Just make sure your machine doesn’t have an agitator. Use front-loaded washing machines only!

Don’ts for cashmere

Dry cleaning isn’t always better: Since researching online and from previous experience, I have found that dry cleaning can be more hard on cashmere fibres due to dry cleaners using harsh chemicals. This will, in turn, wear down the fibres of your cashmere. (Plus you're saving a money!)

Be careful: Never hang your cashmere it will only lose it’s shape and begin to stretch over time. *If you have a thick cashmere jumper you can hang it on padded hangers. Just remember ever so often to readjust the jumper so it doesn’t stay in the same shape on the hanger.

Resting your cashmere: Don’t overwear your cashmere. You must let your cashmere sit between days of wearing. On days of rest, the fibres have time to shape back into original position. Making your cashmere last longer. 

Do’s for cashmere

Always fold: Fold your sweater placing arms tucked behind. To avoid lines running in your cashmere jumper.

Storage Matters: Place your cashmere in a ziplock bag and store in a plastic box. When storing your cashmere put no more than 3-4 pieces on top of your cashmere. Any more garments will be too heavy thus losing shape.

Keep cashmere clean: Before storing your cashmere away for the summer (Irish people this doesn’t relate to you) remember to always have clean cashmere. This prevents the attraction of moths. If you do have a moth problem. The best way to get rid of them is to wrap the clothing in a plastic bag and place it overnight in a freezer. Let it thaw on a towel the next day.

Tip: To keep your cashmere smelling fresh place cedar chips in your storage box.

Not sure if you can tell but we love cashmere here at Theo + George! We understand that taking care of cashmere can be a struggle but cashmere always exceeds any fashion trend and is a timeless piece that every person should have in their wardrobe.

Ella Crew Neck Sweater €139.00