Caring for Your Cashmere

It takes the annual fleece of four to six cashmere goats to produce the yarn for a single lightweight jumper. That rarity asks something of us as makers to be intentional in what we produce and gently care for each item, so it might last a lifetime. A well-tended cashmere garment softens over time, holds its shape, and becomes more beautiful with each year of use. The guidance below is how we care for our own pieces, and how we recommend you care for yours.

Wearing

Let it rest.
Give your cashmere at least a day between wears. The fibers need time to recover their natural shape, and wearing the same jumper several days in a row will shorten its life. A rotation of two or three pieces keeps each one looking new for longer.

Keep perfume away from the fiber.
Fragrance, hairspray, and scented lotions can stain cashmere and break down the fiber over time. Apply them before you dress, and let them dry on the skin before dressing.

Air it between wears.
Cashmere rarely needs washing. Hanging your garment outdoors, on a balcony or terrace, refreshes the fiber and restores its loft. Keep it out of direct sunlight, which can fade natural dyes, and bring it back in before the evening damp sets in.

Washing

Cashmere loves water. 
A careful wash will make the fiber bloom and soften further. The rules are few but important.

Choose the right detergent.
Use only a gentle, pH-neutral, lanolin-free liquid soap made for wool and silk. Ecological formulas are best. Avoid anything with enzymes, brighteners, bleaches, or fabric softener, all of which will degrade the fiber.

Hand wash in cool water.
Fill a basin with tepid or cool water and dissolve a small amount of detergent fully before adding the garment. Turn the jumper inside out and submerge it completely, pressing gently if needed to release air pockets. Let it soak for about ten minutes. Longer is unnecessary, even for a garment that has seen heavy wear.

Rinse at the same temperature.
This matters more than anything. Any sudden change in water temperature, or vigorous agitation, will cause cashmere to felt, a change that cannot be undone. Lift the garment from the wash water, refill the basin with fresh water at the same temperature, and press the jumper gently until the water runs clear.

If you must use a machine, use only a dedicated wool or hand-wash cycle on the coldest setting, and only once you have tested that cycle on something less precious. Your finest cashmere piece is not the place to discover your machine's quirks.

Removing Stains

A fresh stain is far easier to lift than a dry one. Do not store a garment with a stain in place, as washing over it without treatment will seal it into the fiber.

Work on stains locally, not by washing the whole garment. Tepid water on a soft cloth will resolve many of them. Never use hot water, which will felt the fiber at the point of contact.

For stubborn marks, a small amount of natural gall soap worked gently into the fiber, left for a few minutes, then rinsed and repeated as needed, is effective for most everyday stains. Dry cleaning is also a reliable option, particularly for oil-based stains or any mark you are unsure how to treat. Be mindful to use an environmentally friendly dry cleaner and be aware that some dry cleaning chemicals can leave a residue on the fibers and reduce the softness.

Drying

Press, do not wring.
Lay the jumper flat on a clean towel, roll the towel up with the garment inside, and press firmly to absorb excess water. Repeat with a second dry towel if needed. A salad spinner, unconventional as it sounds, is effective for very delicate pieces, provided it is clean and dry.

Reshape and lay flat.
Smooth the garment back into its natural shape on a fresh, dry towel or a mesh drying rack. Pay attention to the cuffs, hem, and neckline. Never hang cashmere while wet. The weight of the water will stretch the shoulders and lengthen the body irreversibly.

Dry away from heat.
Keep the garment out of direct sunlight and away from radiators, heated floors, or any direct source of warmth. Cashmere takes time to dry. A full day or more is normal, and worth the patience.

Pressing and Creases

A garment steamer is the gentlest way to release creases from cashmere. A small travel steamer works as well as a professional one. Hold it several inches from the surface and let the steam do the work without pressing the nozzle to the fiber.

If you prefer an iron, use the lowest setting with steam, place a clean cotton tea towel between the iron and the garment, and move quickly without pressing. When traveling without either tool, hang the jumper in the bathroom while you shower. The steam alone is often enough.

Pilling

Pilling is natural in cashmere and any natural animal fiber, particularly at points of friction such as underarms, cuffs, and where a bag sits against the body. It is not a flaw. Our eco cashmere pills considerably less than conventional cashmere and cashmere blends, but some pilling will occur in any garment made from this fiber.

Remove pills with a cashmere comb, drawing it lightly over the surface in one direction. A short tutorial is helpful the first time. Avoid razors, lint rollers, adhesive tape, and fabric shavers, all of which cut or tear the fiber and shorten the life of the garment.

Storage

Fold, never hang.
Hangers distort the shoulders and stretch the body. Fold your cashmere and store it flat in a drawer or on a shelf.

Clean before storing.
Moths are drawn to the residue of skin, food, and perfume on fibers, as well as any animal fibers themselves. A clean garment is a protected one. Never put away a piece with a stain in place. Lightly steaming a garment and airing out before storing can help prevent moths.

Use natural deterrents.
Cedar blocks and lavender sachets are gentle, effective, and kind to the fiber. Refresh them every few months. Avoid chemical mothballs, which leave a residue and a lasting scent.

Give it air through the season.
If you are storing cashmere for several months, take it out once or twice to air it, refold it along a different line, and check for any early signs of moth activity.

Cared for this way, a cashmere garment will outlast most of what is in your wardrobe. It will soften, settle into the shape of your life, and hold the memory of how it has been worn. That is the quiet reward of a fiber this rare and a hand this patient.

For any question we have not answered here, we are always available to help at hello@nordicyarn.com.