Can you put cashmere in the washing machine?

[ambereeree]

I've always washed merino wool in the machine with no problem and want to buy a cashmere jumper. Are they a faff to wash and dry?

Yes, you can, but make sure it's a cool cycle.
Mine went in at 40 once, and fitted my then 7 yr old afterwards......

I wash in the machine on silk/ delicate wash with low spin and then dry flat on Lakeland airer.I also use the washing liquid especially for wool and no softner.
I once made the mistake of putting a couple on a 15 minute rapid wash thinking it would be ok as it was 30 degree and low-spin but 2 of my favourites shrunk.Everything else has survived for several years so I guess it's also about a gentle wash and not only low temperature.

I wouldn't put 100% pure cashmere through the machine. Blends you could probably get away with on a delicate / wool cycle

I always do mine on the wool cycle. Don't use fancy soap, just powder. Several of my cashmere jumpers have remained impeccable after 10yrs.

I hang dry & they're fine 😁.
I've had some cashmere jumpers for years. But as I've said I tumble dry them for a couple of minutes so they're not heavy... & dry on a padded hanger.
I'm allergic to wool, so I have about 15 cashmere jumpers collected over the years. I never wash above 30 and use a delicate wash liquid.
Hand washing is way too much faff for me.

I wash all of mine on. Delicate cycle with woolite or similar.

I've got a lot of cashmere I've collected over the years as well and it's all been fine like that.

I dry it over a rack and it takes a good day or more to dry I also stretch it back into shape ( probably shouldn't ) but as a size 16/18 I can't afford for it to shrink

I had a boden cashmere cardigan that my ex hated me wearing. It survived more than one 'accidental' trip through the washer and dryer!

on the other hand a lovely cashmere sweater his mum got me from a charity shop, which she then repeatedly put through the machine on a wool cycle and left to dry normally gradually got smaller and smaller as it matted up.

At your peril. Handwash or dryclean!

@Wagsandclaws

I wash all of mine on. Delicate cycle with woolite or similar.

I've got a lot of cashmere I've collected over the years as well and it's all been fine like that.

I dry it over a rack and it takes a good day or more to dry I also stretch it back into shape ( probably shouldn't ) but as a size 16/18 I can't afford for it to shrink

Yes you absolutely can. I have a homemade frame for reshaping damp knitwear. I pin the body sides and length, and roll up towels for the arms. I have rescued a few disasters that way! Also I have some wire stretchers for my socks. It helps to use a proper cashmere wash like Eucalan or The Laundress to relax the fibres first, or hair conditioner.

Correction, body sides don't need pinning, just hem.

I seldom wash mine, let it air regularly and only wear once before resting it. When i do wash it I do it on 30 minute quick wash, 20% and I put it inside out in a pillowcase and tie the top. This has worked well with all my cashmere including Brora and lots of vintage stuff. Some of my Brora things are 12 years old now and still look pristine.

I have to wash mine regularly as I seem to be incapable of eating anything without spilling it down my front.
Plus unwashed cashmere really attracts moths. I use bog standard co op delicate wash & never conditioner. You're not meant to use conditioner on cashmere for some reason.
Strangely enough I've shrunk DS's wool jumpers by accidentally putting them in the main wash but never my cashmere.

I wash mine with woolite or a similar type for delicates, on a wool programme on the machine. It also spins it and it's been fine.

I would agree with others that you either /and need to store worn woollen garments in sealed bags (zipper ideally) or wash after wearing. This is because moths like the smell of bodies or perfume.

I have found holes in woollen dresses and jumpers, that were eaten by moths even though they were clean (unworn) but other wool in the wardrobe had been worn lightly and put back without being washed.

Mine have been fine in the machine on a hand wash setting. If it’s just one or two I dry them flat on a towel in front of a sunny window. Nothing has ever shrunk this way. Once ironed I spray with a cedar spray for wool / cashmere by the Laundress to help deter moths.

@Snuggledupforwinter

At your peril. Handwash or dryclean!

It depends on your washing machine.

We have had Miele for years and the woollen wash is very gentle and far better than dragging it in and out of a sink and guessing the temperature ( although you can do a cold wash.)

Machine Wool wash, 800 or lower spin 40degs if mank otherwise 30* no issues, I use a wool detergent and no fabric softner. It's the spinning which tends causes the wool fibres to shrink and become felted, although high temperatures aren't good for wool either. Hang to dry.

I had a joules one years that I spent a fortune on at the time. Came out of the wash toddler size. I was gutted. Always dry clean now

@TeaAndStrumpets good advice! I must get some

I have to say, once a sweater has got to the stage of felting, I would give up!

I have been known to use the sad remains for wristwarmers plus matching eternity scarf. Like Turtledoves only free!

You can certainly stretch an un-felted sweater a couple of sizes.

It’s possible to repair moth holes by “felting” and kits are available. ( But please feel free to donate to charity shops where people like myself will enjoy finding them)

I would be careful my washing machine shrunk a couple of cashmere jumpers on wool and cool cycle maybe the temperature gauge is faulty.

I always hand wash and dry flat every couple of months.

I wash mine (jumpers, socks, gloves) on a cool wool wash with a delicates liquid detergent. I either hang them over the bannisters, outside or on a rack over the bath to finish off depending on the weather. The only bad experience I have had was with a gorgeous cashmere bed throw (rrp £500+ ) which the cat threw up on. It shrank, but since I had had it for some years and had paid less than £50 for in TKMaxx - my best ever bargain - I swapped it with the other one I had bought at the same time and relegated it to the spare bed. I have never washed the second one!

wags I made my sweater frame from 2 stainless baking racks duct taped into a body length rectangle. You can wrap a towel over to avoid grid marks. I saw some sock frames on line (used by knitters) and thought they were a silly price so DH made me some. You just need a plastic coated wire coat hander and some pliers.

No expense spared in this household!

I've always washed it on a wool cycle with the lowest spin my machine can do and it's been fine. I did shrink one, but it was a cheaper wool/cashmere mix, fortunately, and I'd forgotten to turn the spin down. DH has shrunk lots of his, but that's because he never sorts laundry.

Careful where you hang them to dry as they need shaping a bit. I once hung a couple over the backs of kitchen chairs with knobs in top on each side and DH walked around looking like he had strangely shaped breasts where the shape had dried into the jumper until we rewashed them.

Biggest threat to ours has never been washing, it's bloody clothes moths!

Can anyone describe the difference between wool wash and delicates setting? I am ashamed to admit confusion as my long term DP always attends to this household duty and i am not familiar with our current washer settings

Also have a lovely 100% cotton jumper from Poetry which i scored on ebay very cheap, but the tag says hand wash only. As i wear this mostly for lounge/bed i would much prefer to machine wash. Is this too risky?

Personally i wouldnt machine wash cashmere. It is so light and simple i dont mind doing it by hand.