How to wash a cashmere sweater?

Discover our valuable tips for washing your favorite cashmere sweater.

Here is a summary of the crucial steps to follow for a gentle washing of your cashmere sweater:

One of the reasons why people often hesitate to buy a cashmere sweater is because of the maintenance. Indeed, in the consumer’s mind, cashmere is seen as a delicate wool that is difficult to maintain. Certainly, your cashmere, being a noble material, should be maintained with some care, but nothing too demanding, I assure you. Your Mahogany cashmere sweater is made with high-quality fibers, so it’s important to take care of it. I will therefore give you some advice on how to maintain it while preserving its softness and quality.

Why wash your cashmere sweater?

Cashmere is a living material. Indeed, the yarn of a cashmere sweater comes from the undercoat of the Capra Hircus goat, as explained in the article dedicated to the origin of cashmere.
These hairs, under the action of friction and gravity, tend to emerge from the yarn. It is the washing with water that will help to keep these hairs in the yarn. Indeed, when the hair is wet, it swells and returns to its original position upon drying, thus remaining in the yarn. This phenomenon is even more important for sweaters with a so-called “fully fashioned” knit. The threads of these sweaters are knitted with intentionally larger needles, resulting in a looser weave. This results in the consequence that the fibers can more easily slip through. The result is that the sweater has an airy appearance, making it feel lighter, and enhancing its softness. Logically, its maintenance should be meticulously done to ensure its longevity. This water cleaning is a crucial step as it helps the material to pill less.
That’s why it’s said that cashmere loves water. That’s why I recommend washing it after only 3 or 4 wears, especially if it’s new and even if it’s not too dirty. If you don’t do it regularly, you might notice some small superficial pilling. Pilling is the number one enemy for cashmere enthusiasts, but don’t worry, it will disappear after a few machine washes combined with suitable combing (thanks to our anti-pilling comb). The more you wash it from the beginning of your acquisition, the softer and more pleasant to the touch it will be. And if some persist, you can use our very practical wooden anti-pilling comb sold on our website.

What’s the difference between machine washing and hand washing?

Personally, I believe that the only difference lies in the fact that simply put, machine washing remains the most practical option. I find that it’s much less restrictive than hand-washing clothes. I think that for the more cautious among us, it’s the method that suits best. Indeed, here’s how I think: the easier it is to clean, the less hesitant I am to wear it. And as I mentioned earlier, cashmere loves water, so many cycles in the machine don’t damage the sweaters, quite the opposite! So why deprive yourself? Another advantage, and not the least, once the program is started, you can engage in another activity. Indeed, unlike hand washing, which requires full and undivided attention, using the machine frees up some spare time.

If I had to find a downside to machine washing, it’s that we can’t fully control the process. Indeed, we won’t know exactly if the water temperature is correct or if the spin cycle is too strong. In my opinion, that’s the only advantage of hand washing: being able to control everything.

First and foremost, when you want to wash your sweater, I recommend not balling it up in the laundry basket with the rest of your dirty clothes. Two reasons for this: firstly, when the garment is balled up, the fibers get twisted, and cashmere doesn’t like that. The second reason is that if there are damp clothes in your basket, it could damage the material of your cashmere. The best option is to set aside your cashmere sweaters, folded, outside the laundry basket until you’re ready to put them in the machine. Be careful, moths love to nibble on animal and natural fiber sweaters like cashmere that have already been worn. To avoid finding your sweater devoured, don’t leave it in a quiet, dark place for too long before washing it (moths don’t like noise and movement). To avoid unpleasant surprises, don’t hesitate to buy an anti-moth product that you can place inside your wardrobe.

Two options are available to clean your cashmere sweater: machine washing or hand washing for those who don’t mind getting their hands wet! Both techniques, although technically different, follow the same basic principles and are equally effective.

Machine washing a cashmere sweater

First, I invite you to put your clothes in a laundry bag. This will protect your cashmere from friction. You can put up to 4 sweaters in one cycle, depending on the capacity of your drum. I recommend using a special wool detergent; one tablespoon per wash cycle is enough. However, do not add fabric softener, as it contains chemicals that could be harmful to cashmere.
It’s important to have a washing machine with a wool program. This washing option is suitable for delicate fabrics like cashmere. The temperature does not exceed 30°C, and the spin cycle reaches a maximum of 600 revolutions per minute.
And finally, the drying step. Drying your cashmere in the tumble dryer is to be avoided, of course. It would be a shame to spoil everything after coming this far. Ideally, in a well-ventilated room, lay your sweater flat on a towel, which is placed on a drying rack. This will absorb the excess water. I also recommend placing your sweater away from direct sunlight and heat sources (definitely do not place it on a radiator!). Avoid hanging the sweater on a hanger or a clothesline! Hanging the sweater on a hanger or a clothesline could risk deforming it due to the weight of the water still present in the fibers.
Find even more tips in the article “How to Wash My Cashmere Sweater in the Machine?”

The hand washing of a cashmere sweater

I advise you to prepare a basin of cold or lukewarm water with a hint of special Mahogany cashmere detergent (just one tablespoon). Another misconception is that it’s unnecessary to add fabric softener, which could potentially be harmful to cashmere.

Then, fully immerse your cashmere in the water. To prevent it from deforming or absorbing the detergent for too long, don’t let it soak for more than 15 minutes. This delicate fabric requires a quick wash. That’s why, once submerged in the water, gently press the wool of your sweater with your fingertips for a few minutes, without twisting or rubbing it, as if you were gently kneading dough. Then, rinse your sweater with clear water to remove any excess detergent. For wringing out the sweater, gentleness is key. You can either put it back in your machine and use a spin cycle at 400 or 600 revolutions per minute maximum, or you can fold it between two towels and lightly press it. And finally, the last step is to dry it flat on a towel, placed on a drying rack, in a well-ventilated room and away from direct sunlight. And there you go, all done, not so complicated after all!

Find even more tips in the article “How to Wash My Cashmere Sweater by Hand?”

And why not dry cleaning?

We would tend to trust professionals blindly to maintain our finest clothes. However, resorting to dry cleaning is not always very eco-friendly and can be a bit expensive. Furthermore, it is important to make a clear distinction between maintaining and cleaning a garment. Indeed, dry cleaning, as the name suggests, does not use water to clean clothes, but rather solvents such as perchloroethylene. However, as you know, cashmere thrives with water. This cleaning method doesn’t allow the fibers to swell and regain their position within the yarn. For maintaining cashmere that hasn’t been soiled, it’s preferable to use a washing machine. However, dry cleaning remains the best option for removing stubborn stains.