to wash my cashmere jumper in the washing machine?

[balenciaga]

if I do, what will happen? if I just do it on a standard cool wash (30 degrees) half an hour?

I really cba to have it dry cleaned or handwash it

but if I do wash it in the machine will it totally ruin it?

sorry for first world problem

[Tailtwister]

I really, really wouldn't. It may well be alright, but I would be cautious and hand wash it if I were you.

[Stinklebell]

I machine wash mine and it comes out fine

I've got a hand wash setting on my machine (cold, and takes about 20 minutes with a very gentle spin) which I use quite often (far too lazy to hand wash anything) and I've not had any problems with it yet

[callamia]

I do mine on the hand wash cycle. They come out fine.

[BadgerB]

I do mine on a 'worn once' cycle, 30 degrees, and use Johnson's Baby Shampoo as detergent. Works very well.

[Swanbridge]

I use the handwash setting and cold water. Wouldn't risk 30.

I also take the view that anything which won't survive handwash setting on my machine and cold water is only ever going to get worn the once anyway, and spend the rest of its life at the bottom of the washing basket, so I might as well try it and see what happens.

[hellsbellsmelons]

I ruined my OH's washing it on a handwash cool cycle.
I wouldn't do it personally.
It will only take minutes to hand wash!

[IndridCold]

What wool doesn't like is a sudden change in temperature, ie when it has been washed in warm water, and then is submerged in cold water for the rinse cycle. That's what makes it shrink and go felty.

I do all my woollens (including cashmere) on the wool cycle with the cold wash option, and have had no problems.

[IndridCold]

Oh, and use liquid soap (eg Stergene) rather than detergent...

[Supercosy]

I did this by accident the other day. It was a 30 degree cycle. Amazingly it came out absolutely fine. I would be a bit more careful though usually and put it on a woollen cycle.

[eurochick]

I do mine on a cold wool wash cycle with wool detergent and they are absolutely fine. I detest hand washing.

[Stinklebell]

I also take the view that anything which won't survive handwash setting on my machine and cold water is only ever going to get worn the once anyway, and spend the rest of its life at the bottom of the washing basket, so I might as well try it and see what happens.

same here!

[NorbertDentressangle]

What about merino wool jumpers that say Handwash Only, can they be machine washed?

I think I have a 30 degree woolens programme on the machine.

[LoonvanBoon]

I've had such random results with machine washing cashmere. A few things have shrunk a tiny bit, others not at all, & some beyond redemption.

If I can't be arsed to handwash & am willing to risk it (or the item's a bit on the big side & it won't matter if it shrinks slightly), I use the handwash / wool cycle on my machine. I think that's 30 degrees.

If it's something I really, really love, though, & that fits perfectly, I won't risk it. Handwashing is a doddle really. When I do it, I literally just swish the clothing round in a bowl of cool water with woolite in it (I use that in the machine too).

I don't wring, just chuck on to a big towel on the floor, then roll it up in that & that blots out the excess water. Then I stick it on another towel on the clothes horse to dry.

[Stinklebell]

Norbert I've got a TK Maxx merino special that's been through the hand wash cycle several times and lived to tell the tale

My hand wash cycle is cold water only though

[balenciaga]

Hmm perhaps I'd better not risk it after all, as I really do love it and would be gutted if it got ruined

Thank you all

[thecatneuterer]

I've got lots and lots of cashmere. I wash it all in the washing machine - normally on a 30 degree handwash programme. However more than once something has accidentally slipped into a standard 40 degree wash and nothing has ever been ruined.

[Mim78]

Hand wash cycle and use handwash liquid

[NorbertDentressangle]

Stinklebell - I don't think my machine has a cold cycle or handwash (can't be arsed to go and have a look but it's a Bosch ).

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Do what the label tells you. Anything that shrunk after telling me to machine wash would be taken back to the shop asap!