Cashmere care?

Does anyone know if I need to dry clean my cashmere sweaters?

I'd like to wash them, but I'm afraid of damaging them in the wash. Do I have to use special detergent?

Thanks.

I'd recommend dry cleaning, but you could hand wash with some mild detergent like Woolite. To dry, lay them out on some towels - do NOT hand dry, unless you plan on growing by several inches in the next few days. Push out excess water after you've laid them down, but definitely don't wring them or crush the material too hard. I would not recommend using a washing machine, and especially not drying by machine.

Erm... follow the manufacturer's instructions?

Stay away from dry cleaning imo

If you have a solid high quality washing machine, I suggest using the "hand wash" cycle along with one of those little baskets that go inside the machine. Put the sweater in the basket then inside the machine.

My wife found the baskets in the lingerie section of a dept store. They are great for delicate items.

You can also handwash with woolite but I doubt it's any safer than the machine + basket

Lay flat to dry

1. Read the care label
2. Washing cashmere by hand is always the best method

Just spot clean it gently if there is a stain but otherwise, why would you want to wash a cashmere sweater?

Originally Posted by EL72

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Just spot clean it gently if there is a stain but otherwise, why would you want to wash a cashmere sweater?

I do, keeps it fresh and unwinds alot of the little balls that form.

Does putting them through a washer/dryer just shrink them or are there any other adverse effects? I have one cheap cashmere sweater, in good shape but extremely big.

Originally Posted by EL72

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Just spot clean it gently if there is a stain but otherwise, why would you want to wash a cashmere sweater?
Washing also takes out lint, and execs pigment. Thus making it softer ... Cashmere Is actually the one wool that really "likes" water Cashmere is PERFECT, the only drawback is low friction resistance ...

Originally Posted by nohomo

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Does putting them through a washer/dryer just shrink them or are there any other adverse effects? I have one cheap cashmere sweater, in good shape but extremely big.

Dont put it in the dryer. Lay it flat over a towel or something

Originally Posted by mmm

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Dont put it in the dryer. Lay it flat over a towel or something

I'm purposely trying to shirnk them though. Will it shrink w/o a dryer?

If you just put it in a washing machine, you run the risk of "fulling" the cashmere. Fulling is the technical term for sweater fuzz. A basket should help with this, but I'm not sure if it matters whether you have a front or top loader. Dryers should be avoided at all cost.

I wash my cashmere by hand, but only about once a year. I fill a sink with cold water, add Woolite, then put the sweater in and let it soak for about 30 minutes. I drain, then refill with clean water and gently press the sweater to squeeze out some of the detergent, then drain, refill, and soak.

Afterward, I let the sweaters drain in the sink for a while, then lay them flat on a towel, roll it up and stand on it to squeeze out as much of the water as possible. Then I lay flat on a dry towel and let dry.

It's not as labor intensive as it sounds, and my sweaters stay in like new condition.

Originally Posted by nohomo

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I'm purposely trying to shirnk them though. Will it shrink w/o a dryer?

I read this a long time ago:
Cashmere is a knit. Once you start vigorously heating and tumbling, the material begins to mesh together into a felt. You'll end up with a smaller size if washing it in warm water, but you're going to transform the material.

I have a few other questions concerning the care of cashmere sweaters:

1. How many times can an UNSTAINED sweater be worn before it is needs to be washed? I cannot imagine people wearing a sweater many times without washing it. It is just not very fresh. Is smell the only criterion?

2. Putting a worn sweater in the closet is usually not advised because it will attract moths. Where should the sweater be stored after it has been worn (so it will be worn again before getting washed)? Laying it somewhere flat outside the closet will only help to accumulate dust.

3. How should I get rid off dust and other small particles that like to get into the fabric? By the way, this question applies to all woolen sweaters. Suits can easily be brushed with a Kent Brush for example, but the same procedure is clearly not suitable for sweaters.