Caring For Cashmere - How To Keep It Looking Its Best - Cashmere, Wool and Silk directory

Items of cashmere clothing can be expensive and as with anything that costs a considerable amount of money, you will want to keep it looking its best for a long time to come. This article will provide a few tips on caring for your new garment, helping you to keep it in prime condition.

Excuse me for stating the obvious but you will be amazed by the amount of people who refrain from doing this: the most important piece of advice to follow when cleaning your item can be found on the garment itself - always read the label and follow the instructions found there. They will usually suggest hand washing, but some items of clothing will tolerate gentle cool machine washes. A general suggestion to follow is to always turn the garment inside out before washing to provide added protection.

If washing by hand, avoid rubbing the fabric as friction will damage the cashmere. Gently squeezing the soapy water through the garment is the best way to clean by hand, but stretching or wringing should always be avoided. After washing, the item should be rinsed thoroughly in lukewarm, clean water until it runs clear and dried flat, not hung up.

Some cashmere garments can be washed in a machine, but the delicates or woollen cycles should be used and you should always use a specialised washing liquid. It should always be washed at 40 degrees or below and biological products should be avoided. Again, check the item's label to ensure that the item is machine washable before running it through a cycle.

The garment should be dried as soon as possible after washing. If allowed in the label's instructions, a slow spin cycle in the washing machine will do fine. If not, gently squeeze any water out before gently lifting it and placing it on a towel. Smooth it back into its original shape and allow to dry naturally. Never hang your garment on a line or airer to dry as this will lead to stretch marks and lines. After the item is fully dried, any creases can be removed with a cool iron.

Dry cleaning is another option, especially if the garment features sequins, isn't colourfast or is stained. You should always tell the cleaner that the item is cashmere rather than assuming that they will automatically know, and dry cleaning too often is not recommended as the chemicals used in the dry cleaning process can sometimes cause the garment to dry out and develop holes.

If cared for correctly, your cashmere clothing will last a long time and following these simple guidelines will help you to keep your new garment at its best.