If you’re a fan of cashmere, you know that it’s a luxurious and soft fabric that’s perfect for keeping you warm and stylish during the colder months. However, one downside of this beautiful material is that it can be quite delicate and prone to staining. If you’ve accidentally spilt something on your cashmere sweater or scarf, don’t panic! With the right approach, you can remove stains from cashmere and keep it looking as good as new. Here are some tips for removing stains from cashmere:
As we race towards winter, our wardrobes are becoming filled with knitwear in all styles, colours, and materials. To maintain the quality of our knitwear, it is essential to understand how to properly care for it.
Before delving into how to care for specific types of knitwear, here are 5 general knitwear care tips.
Cashmere is an extremely soft, luxurious, and delicate fabric, which is made from the hair of Kashmir goats. Only a limited amount of cashmere is harvested each year, which is why it is considered a luxury fabric that must be taken care of when washing.
Machine washing
Despite some washing machines having a special knitwear/wool cycle, NEVER wash cashmere in the washing machine. The material is much too delicate and your clothing will end up misshapen and damaged.
Hand washing
To hand-wash your cashmere, mix a basin of warm water with a gentle detergent. To be extra precautious, you can buy cashmere specific laundry detergent. Submerge your garment in the water and soak for 10-15 minutes. After this time, carefully rinse the detergent from your item using warm water. Once you are satisfied that all of the detergent has been washed out, remove your clothing from the water and press out or squeeze as much excess water out as you can. Do not wring out your item as this will cause unnecessary damage.
Drying cashmere
To dry your cashmere, do not put it in the tumble dryer as this will cause it to become misshaped and can result in irreparable damage. Instead, lay out a clean, dry, towel and place your knitwear, flat, on top of it. Keep it away from direct sunlight, and leave it to completely air dry.
Merino wool is a type of sheep’s wool. It is known for being extremely soft and naturally resident to odours.
Machine washing
Sheep’s wool, in general, is strong and has a great deal of elasticity. This makes it acceptable to put in the washing machine without damage being caused. Of course, before putting your item in the washing machine, always check the care label for specific washing instructions.
To machine wash your merino wool, always use a gentle, or wool and knit, cycle at 30 degrees. Any other temperature or cycle could shrink your clothing. For detergent, it’s best to use a milder option with a neutral PH.
Hand washing
To hand wash merino wool, begin by filling a basin with warm water and a mild detergent. Submerge your knitwear in the mixture, and leave it to soak for around 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, carefully rinse your garment in warm water. Once you’ve rinsed your item, squeeze as much of the water from it as you can without wringing or twisting the clothing.
Drying merino wool
To dry your merino wool wrap it in a clean, dry, towel, and gently squeeze your garment to remove as much water as possible. Unwrap your clothing from the towel, and lay it flat on a fresh dry towel. Leave it to air dry in a cool location.
Lambs wool is taken from a sheep at their first shearing and is naturally soft, smooth, and elastic. It is the highest quality sheep’s wool you can find.
Machine washing
Even on a gentle cycle, lambs wool is far too delicate to machine wash.
Hand washing
To hand wash lambs wool, mix a mild detergent, with a PH level below 7, with cool water. If you need hot water to dissolve your detergent, you must leave the water to cool before you submerge your knitwear. After submerging your item in the water, swirl gently, remembering not to twist or wring the garment as this will result in it losing its shape.
Drying lambs wool
Never put lambs wool in the tumble dryer. This will result in your knitwear becoming misshapen and, potentially irreplaceably, damaged. Instead, once you are satisfied with the cleanliness of your garment, remove it from the water and place it on a dry, clean, towel. Make sure to stretch your item out to its original shape, before leaving it to air dry.
If you want to ensure that your knitwear is adequately cared for when being washed, then leave it with us. We will pick up, dry clean, and re-deliver your knitwear to you, completely contactless.
To book your Laundryheap service, head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.
Cashmere is a super soft, yet very delicate fabric that requires extra care when it comes to cleaning and maintenance.
Here’s how to care for cashmere garments to maintain its quality and keep it in good condition for years to come:
When going to wash cashmere, always use a small amount of gentle/mild detergent. You don’t want to use any ‘heavy’ detergent on the garment as it will be too rough for the fabric fibres. You can also have the option to invest in a cashmere shampoo or even use baby shampoo.
There are several ways you can wash your cashmere garment that will keep it in good condition:
Whether you hand wash or machine wash your cashmere, you should remove the excess water by laying it flat on a towel, roll the cashmere within the towel loosely and apply light pressure along the roll.
Unroll the towel, straighten out the garment if necessary and allow the cashmere to naturally dry flat. Keep it away from direct sunlight, heat and do avoid the tumble dryer.
Hanging knitwear on a clothes hanger to dry must be avoided, as the heaviness of the wet garment can cause it to stretch and ruin its original shape.
When you’re not using your cashmere knitwear, fold and store it away in your wardrobe, shelf or drawer as you normally would. Just be sure to keep it away from heat, direct sunlight, damp and dusty places.
If you’re storing your cashmere away due to a change of season, don’t store them in cardboard boxes or regular plastic bags. Instead, opt for a a zip-up breathable storage bag and store it in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight. Make sure it is clean before doing so!
If you need your cashmere knitwear cleaned by a quality dry-cleaner, you can book a collection with laundryheap!
