Cashmere has a bad reputation for being hard to clean, yet that’s unjust; Cashmere is very simple to maintain and can be cleaned in a variety of ways. Although hand washing is the best method for cleaning cashmere, most cashmere clothes and accessories may be machine washed.
These recommendations by The Doorstep Laundry Service near me for caring for cashmere include advice on hand- and machine-washing, stain removal, drying, and storing cashmere clothing.
The Foundations of Cashmere Care
The Doorstep Laundry Service considers these some gems of information that will help you take care of your cashmere.
- Cashmere is best cleaned by hand. If you’ve never hand-washed a garment, this can conjure up a picture of long hours spent slumped over a washboard, yet hand-washing a cashmere item just takes four simple steps and at most 15 minutes (and often less!).
- When hand-washing cashmere garments, a no-rinse detergent like Soak Wash is advised because cashmere shouldn’t be handled excessively.
- With the right care, cashmere may also be cleaned in a washing machine. Nonetheless, air drying cashmere is always recommended in order to avoid shrinking, fraying, or pilling.
- Spot treatment can be used to get rid of stains and light soiling from cashmere in between washes. Spot treatment can help you go longer between washings, which is excellent because cashmere shouldn’t be handled or exposed to water too much.
- It’s critical to thoroughly clean cashmere before storing it since lingering aromas from personal care items like lotion, perfume, or deodorant can draw pests and cause even the smallest stains to become embedded over time.
- Look for protective bags made of linen or cotton that allow natural fibres to breathe when storing them.
Should Cashmere Be Dry-Cleaned?
Contrary to what many care tag labels state, dry cleaning is not the ideal method for cleaning cashmere and other wools. Dry cleaning solvents remove the natural oils from cashmere, robbing it of its exquisite softness and making the fibres more vulnerable to harm. Moreover, wet cleaning, or washing with water, is more successful than dry cleaning at eliminating odours.
How to Hand Wash Cashmere
Cashmere does not like to be handled excessively or left in the water for an extended period of time. So, when hand cleaning cashmere, be quick and delicate.
Step 1: Locate a Washing Station
Choose a location with enough room for your hands to pass through the water and is big enough to contain water, detergent, and the cashmere outfit. The ideal location to hand-wash cashmere is typically a kitchen sink, utility sink, or bathtub, though a bucket or wash basin can also be utilised.
Step 2: Fill the basin.
Cool water should be added to the basin until it is about halfway full, giving space for the garment and your hands to move around. Follow the manufacturer’s dosage recommendations when adding a tiny amount of no-rinse detergent.
Step 3: washing and soaking the cashmere
Using your hands, carefully place the cashmere clothing in the no-rinse detergent mixture, submerging it completely. Then, gently massage the clothing with your hands to let the water and detergent permeate its fibres and loosen gunk. Ten minutes should be given for the item to soak in the detergent mixture. Empty the washer’s water.
Step 4: Let the garment air dry.
In order to remove extra water from the cashmere after the water has been drained, press down on it with your hands while it is still in the washing machine. Avoid wringing cashmere as this will cause the strands to twist, leading to straining or fraying. Roll the garment up after laying it on a dry towel to squeeze out even more water. The sweater should next be laid flat to dry by air drying on a dry towel or flat drying rack.
Using a washing machine to clean cashmere
Cashmere can be washed in a front-loader or a top-loader without a central agitator with success and safety. It is not advised to machine wash delicate fabrics in a top-loading machine with a central agitator because the agitator’s plastic fins may harm the fabric.
Step 1: Put the cashmere in a bag for protection.
Put the garment inside a protective mesh bag to protect it from rubbing against other clothing or the machine drum, which could cause harm. Cashmere should be washed alongside delicate or light clothing, such as nightgowns and underwear. Towels, sweaters, pants, and other bulky or heavy items should not be washed together with cashmere.
Step 2: Choose Cycle and Temperature Parameters
Cashmere should be washed in cold water using the delicate or mild cycle. Choose the shortest cycle if your machine has a separate setting for cycle length. Avoid overhandling cashmere by washing it with as little water exposure and friction as possible.
Step 3: Dry Cashmere Naturally in Air
The cashmere item should be reshaped after washing and laid flat to air dry. Cashmere can be dried flat on a towel, but a flat mesh drying rack is preferred. To encourage even drying, turn the item around.
How to Remove Specific Stains from Your Cashmere Sweater?
To remove a specific stain, dip a light-colored cloth into diluted liquid laundry detergent or the proper stain treatment solution. Be careful not to scrub or otherwise treat the fibres roughly when you very gently dab the stain or discoloured area with the cloth. The cloth will be abraded, which will result in fraying or pilling. On cashmere, a laundry brush should not be used.
This lengthy guide should ensure a quality care for your laundry near me. Other than washing, if a garment says dry-clean only, it is always better to take your clothes to a dry cleaner near me in your area.