Best way to clean cashmere

[InYearAdmissions]

Hi there
Can anyone advise me in their experience is it better to hand wash cashmere or pay for dry cleaning, the care label says either. Was a v expensive cardigan I treated myself to so want to do whatever is best to prolong its life.
Thanks

[MrsCampbellBlack]

I wash all my cashmere in the machine on a cold wool cycle with woolite and it all comes out fine.

Flat dry if you can.

[Behooven]

My cold wash exploits weren't that successful, I must have done it wrong. I always use dry cleaning now.

[Fozzleyplum]

I wash all mine in Eucalan (no rinse cashmere wash) in tepid water. I spin it in the machine and dry over the bannister.

[missmartha]

I wash mine on a wool wash in 5he machine. It comes out fine.

To be honest, I think cashmere is very robust, I've done all sorts to the stuff I've got and it never seems to make any difference.

The moth got to one sweater so in a crafting moment, very, very rare, I decided to cut off the arms and felt them to make arm warmers (I followed instructions) I boiled them with washing up liquid, beating them hard with a wooden spoon. They came out looking all fresh and fluffy soft. I no longer believe that cashmere needs any special handling.

I'd just like to add, please don't boil your cashmere, it might be much better quality than mine was.

[onedogatoddlerandababy]

I also wash with wool & silk wash liquid in the machine on a woollens/hand wash programme at 30 deg.

No shrinkage problems. Not even on the dry clean only ones.

[FrustratedFrugal]

I bought a really expensive long cardigan earlier this year and the seller recommended frequent airing as the primary cleansing method. Wool is self-cleansing to some degree. I've washed many cashmere sweaters using the handwash program in my machine with excellent results, but I've ruined an expensive cashmere dress with the same program. It stretched out of shape. I also found holes in it, it was probably too delicate.

[Yseulte]

I always handwash with Woolite. Don't wring, just roll up in a towel to absorb the water and then dry flat.

[PitPatKitKat]

Hand wash with specialist cashmere wash or a little baby shampoo. (I do this in the bathroom sink as soon as I take it off, takes about a minute). Pat dry with towel and dry flat/away from heat. I do sometimes hang things on a hanger to finish drying once they are just a little bit damp.

[Chewbecca]

My white company cashmere socks developed a large hole after one gentle machine wash

[amarmai]

cashmere hand washes beautifully. Squeeze gently in luke warm water and dry flat.

[Ponymagic]

I machine washed with Woollite in a wool wash. It shrank. Pure replaced it. So I bought their cashmere shampoo stuff and hand wash all the time now. Only takes a few minutes, wrap in towel then dry flat. Perfect every time!

[HoneyDragon]

I have a few cashmere tops that say dry clean. They all go on a low temp wool wash with with Waitrose Cashmere laundry liquid and all look fantastic.

[fluffiphlox]

I put mine in a net laundry bag and wash on cold with a gentle wool liquid, no fabric softener. Works fine.

[ThatsHowYouGetAnts]

All of mine, expensive and cheap, have been just fine on a wool wash with Woolite, Ecover Delicates or (currently) Waitrose Delicates. I might just have been lucky though.

Our moths seem vastly to prefer merino to cashmere. I don't even buy merino any more because they get at it whatever I do, but cashmere and lambswool 99% fine.

[InYearAdmissions]

So I bought a special delicates liquid detergent and washed in cold water, rolled in a towel to soak up the water and then hung flat to dry on an airer over the bath and has come up beautifully. Thank you.

[Artandco]

I just Bung it all in washing machine on wool cycle with woolite. All fine

[mypetdragon]

I use Brora's cashmere shampoo or Woolite and wash my cashmere in the bathroom sink - lukewarm water, swish the garment around for a bit and leave it for 5 mins or so, rinse in cold water and gently squeeze out. Lay the jumper on a towel, fold the towel over the jumper and roll it into a sausage and leave in airing cupboard or under a radiator for 24 hours then hang to finish drying. Sounds a faff but actually v easy.

Incidentally if you get a moth hole you should pop the jumper in a bag and then put it in the freezer for 48 hours to kill the moth eggs and then wash as above and repair. Moth holes 'left' could result (I'm told) in eggs hatching and munching more holes in your cashmere.

[fluffypigs]

I wash all of mine in the machine on a wool setting (often at 30 degrees) and it always comes out fine. I have everything from cheap Uniqlo to more expensive Pringle and Burberry cashmere - all survived! I used Woolite or similar. Also, don't use too much product, and make sure it's rinsed properly. I think of it a bit like washing my hair... And dry flat so it doesn't stretch.

I think the trick is not to wash it too often, just air it between wears.