The complete guide to washing a cashmere sweater without damaging it.

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Everything you need to know about cashmere sweaters for women!

How to wash a cashmere sweater?

It is true that it seems like a delicate task. Unlike linen, goat wool is a very fragile fabric.

You are probably wondering: “How to wash a cashmere sweater without damaging it?””Is it better to wash it by hand or in the machine?””What type of detergent should I use to keep the softness of my sweater?”.

We will then suggest some actions to avoid and to prescribe to prevent your cashmere sweater from deforming women during washing.

As a bonus, we offer you tips for drying your sweater.

Should you do your laundry by hand or use a washing machine? We have the answers for you. Here are some actions to take and to avoid to not damage your cashmere from washing to drying. 

Washing a cashmere sweater in the machine, is it possible? 

In winter, it is very practical to have cashmere sweaters in your wardrobe. They keep us warm, they are soft and stylish. But there’s a catch, as you know, cashmere is a material that is not very resistant.

You have to take care of it so that it doesn’t deteriorate too quickly. The actions as well as the materials used must be adapted to this delicacy.

Surprisingly, yes it is machine washable! However, there are a few rules to follow to maintain the quality of the fabric. Start by separating light-colored sweaters from dark-colored ones, just like for a normal wash.

• Watch out for zippers!

For zippered sweaters, zip them up so that they don’t snag on the fabric. Unbutton the buttons of buttoned sweaters and then turn your cardigan inside out so that they don’t get caught in the holes of other sweaters. It is best to choose a special wool detergent that is suitable for cashmere. Put a few drops and gauge the right amount.

• Attention! One product to absolutely avoid: fabric softener.

Although its name seems tempting, it tends to felt delicate fabrics and alter the softness of cashmere. To maintain this softness, simply set the machine to the wool program. 

• Opt for cold water to fill your drum.

A low temperature does not stretch the textile fibers. In addition, it does not fade your clothes and perfectly retains their colors. Even lukewarm water is not recommended. Choose water at 20°C, which does not deform the clothes at all. Avoid using hot water.

Although heat is effective in killing bacteria, it alters and wears out the fabric very quickly. In addition, it has the property of shrinking clothes. 

• Spin at a speed of about 400 revolutions per minute.

This is perfect for maintaining the delicacy of your laundry. Thanks to this slowness, your washing machine cannot pill the goat wool weaving threads.

However, to avoid disturbing the natural fibers of the fabric, place a pillowcase in the machine. Opt for a gentle detergent suitable for silky fabrics such as wool. 

Do not exceed 40 minutes for machine washing your cashmere sweaters. As soon as this time is reached, immediately take out your laundry from the washing machine. 

Is it better to wash a cashmere sweater by hand, fact or fiction?

If you want to take fewer risks, you can always wash a cashmere sweater by hand. This can offer a gentler cleaning for delicate fabrics.

Fill a basin or a bucket with cold water, add wool detergent or Marseille soap. Separate dark sweaters from ecru-colored ones.

The hand washing process can now begin!

1. Soak your sweaters in cold water and rub them very gently. This way, the cashmere fibers won’t flake off. Instead of rubbing, you can also press your laundry as if you were wringing it out so that it doesn’t stretch.
2. Fill your basin with clear water again.
3. Start rinsing the garments either by rubbing them very gently or by pressing them.
4. Fill your basin again to rinse the sweater once more until the water becomes clear.
5. Repeat this process to obtain clear water after a final rinse. 

Unfortunately, it turns out that this hand washing method is less effective. If you have to gently rub instead of vigorously cleaning, stains and dirt may not come off completely.

And yes, the fiber won’t be very clean if you caress the fabric instead of cleaning it thoroughly. This is one of the disadvantages of hand washing wool. So try not to baby your laundry too much, do your best and just avoid rough movements.

On the other hand, too rough hand washing can also damage the knit of the fabric. 

And yes, even when done manually, the fabric of your cashmere sweaters can deteriorate. When trying to remove stains and dirt, you may be tempted to rub too hard. However, this rubbing not only degrades the softness of your cashmere sweaters, but also the softness of your hands. This, however, is not the intended effect.

And then, instead of having to gently rub, you have to do it repeatedly. So you will have to rub for long minutes. Although done gently, these rubs cause irritation on your skin.

If you are not used to hand washing, you may even get blisters or blisters.

This method is therefore less safe for maintaining your sweaters. When cleaning them, you must be careful not to rub too hard or too lightly.

Another obstacle for hand washing is the detergent used. If you don’t have Marseille soap or wool product, it is risky to use laundry detergent for your skin. It tends to dry out and damage it. Moreover, being in contact with water for too long, fingers become wrinkled.

Even though washing a cashmere sweater in the machine and by hand both have their drawbacks, it is therefore preferable to use a washing machine. However, you need to be careful when using it.

Make sure that the water is cold and that the detergent is suitable for delicate fabrics. Ensure that the spin speed is set to 400 revolutions per minute and do not exceed 40 minutes. 

Drying a cashmere sweater without fraying it.

In addition to washing your cashmere sweater, its drying is also a delicate task. For this, you need an ironing board and one or three cotton towels depending on the method you prefer.

For the first method, you only need one towel. 

• First, spread it out on the table. 
• Then, spread your sweater without stretching it too much to avoid deforming it. 
• Roll it up using the towel like a spring roll. By absorbing the water, it will act as a sponge on the sweater.
• After a few minutes, unroll it and lay it flat until it is completely dry. 
• Keep it away from the sun and heat.

This will take between two to three days, but it is worth the wait. At least, you will keep a tight and intact knit.

For the second method, spread two towels separately on the table. 

• Then spread the washed sweater on one of them, do it carefully until it has no wrinkles.
• Then, on top, spread out the third towel. 
• Press firmly with your hands to wring out the water.
• Finally, take the laundry and spread it on the dry towel. 

This method also takes a few days for the garment to be completely dry. If you do this operation well, you will no longer need to iron it or take it to a dry cleaner.

There are certain gestures to avoid to maintain the quality of your cashmere sweaters. Absolutely avoid twisting them! This is the gesture that must be absolutely avoided during drying. This action stretches the sweater and damages the sleeves as well as the collars. Especially when you twist a round-neck, turtleneck or boat-neck sweater. This has the effect of making the necklines looser and you will end up with a hood. 

To go further, we have prepared for you a complete guide on drying your favorite cashmere sweater for women!

Be careful not to hang the laundry on a hanger or clothesline! When soaked with water, the sweaters become heavy. If you hang them vertically, they will stretch and elongate. This deforms your cashmere sweater and widens it. Your small cashmere sweater will turn into an oversized dress or tunic!

Lastly, prohibited device: the dryer! It also risks deforming your garment by shrinking it. So you may end up with a ribbed sweater if you use a dryer for your oversized sweater. Now you know how to wash a cashmere sweater during washing and drying. 

If you unfortunately messed up your washing and drying of your precious sweater? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Read this guide to help you save your most beautiful piece by defuzzing your cashmere sweater ;)

Don’t know which cashmere sweater to choose? Discover our guide to cashmere sweater brands for women!

Need to know the prices of a cashmere sweater for women? Discover our complete guide on sweater prices :)