Swish, squeeze and shave: how to care for delicate cashmere
Cashmere is one of the only things I like in winter. I will always take the sun and the heat and the slow afternoons over the crisp mornings and dark skies.
But, from a charcoal turtleneck that I've worn so much, one of the elbows is thin, to a cream scarf that still looks good despite a few moth holes, my favorite cashmere clothes make winter more bearable.
Here, a few experts tell you how to ensure your favorite cashmere pieces last a long time.
Wash cashmereLike merino wool or other animal hair fibers , cashmere has a waxy coating, so it does not need to be washed frequently. It should also never be washed in hot water or in the washing machine, as both can cause it to shrink.
Mary Poulakis, Managing Director of Harrolds, states that "traditionally, cashmere should be washed very thoroughly by hand." She recommends doing this by filling the sink with lukewarm water, mixing baby shampoo or cashmere-specific wash, and immersing the garment in the water. Then she says to shake the garment out then empty the sink, fill it with warmer water and repeat the process without the detergent.
Dry the cashmere
Then McNeil says you can use a machine wash short and light spin cycle to remove excess water. But do so with caution as too much agitation can cause a reaction in the cashmere fibers which can lead to shrinkage.
Cashmere is one of the only things I like in winter. I will always take the sun and the heat and the slow afternoons over the crisp mornings and dark skies.
But, from a charcoal turtleneck that I've worn so much, one of the elbows is thin, to a cream scarf that still looks good despite a few moth holes, my favorite cashmere clothes make winter more bearable.
Here, a few experts tell you how to ensure your favorite cashmere pieces last a long time.
Wash cashmereLike merino wool or other animal hair fibers , cashmere has a waxy coating, so it does not need to be washed frequently. It should also never be washed in hot water or in the washing machine, as both can cause it to shrink.
Mary Poulakis, Managing Director of Harrolds, states that "traditionally, cashmere should be washed very thoroughly by hand." She recommends doing this by filling the sink with lukewarm water, mixing baby shampoo or cashmere-specific wash, and immersing the garment in the water. Then she says to shake the garment out then empty the sink, fill it with warmer water and repeat the process without the detergent.
Dry the cashmere
Then McNeil says you can use a machine wash short and light spin cycle to remove excess water. But do so with caution as too much agitation can cause a reaction in the cashmere fibers which can lead to shrinkage.
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