Cashmere care. Dry clean only?

[ZealAndArdour]

Hi,

I’ve got a lovely Bella Freud cashmere jumper that I had been avoiding wearing, knowing that I was going to need to tackle how to clean it once I had. Finally bit the bullet over the last few weeks and wore it several times. Its not stinky or dirty in any way, I guess I just feel like it needs cleaning now because I’ve worn it. I did wear something under it so that it wasn’t directly against my skin/sweat.

The label states “Dry clean only” and “100% Cashmere”.

Does this really need to be dry cleaned? Can I hand wash it? Is there any deciding factor as to why some cashmere would be hand wash suitable and some only suitable for dry cleaning? Or is the designer just absolving themselves of any responsibility for issues by defaulting to dry clean only? (Experienced similar recently with a less spendy Viscose dress stating dry clean only but it did absolutely fine on a low heat gentle wash and laid flat to dry).

Shall I just go over it with a lint roller, hang it back up and pretend I haven’t worn it?

It was very, very expensive so if the advice is to dry clean rather than attempt hand washing then I will absolutely do that! I did search previous cashmere threads but they all seem to relate to cashmere disasters, which I’m hoping not to have!

Thank you.

I always hand wash cashmere. I would never take it to the dry cleaners.

I hand wash cashmere...well not really, I put it in the hand wash cycle in the washing machine. Detest going to the dry cleaners with anything and haven't done so for years.

I agree as above- wash by hand or on delicate cycle in washing machine - in a laundry net, cold temp and delicate wash liquid or baby shampoo and low spin speed. A labour of love and far better to your item/environment/£££ than dry cleaning

I’ve never dry cleaned cashmere. Always cool machine wash - even the good stuff. I think it’s far preferable to sloshing chemicals over it and I’ve never regretted it.

Always hand wash it, blood temperature, wrap in in a towel rather than spin, then reshape and dry flat.
My mum always said ‘wash it like a baby’ ( re temperature etc) . Never had a problem.

Wash on the wool cycle, at 30’c , with non bio powder, and make sure spin speed is no higher than 600

Reshape really carefully and dry flat, with support underneath it.

works for me

i just use wool wash setting at 30 with wool wash in the machine.

everything seems fine and has been washed for years like that.

I wash in the machine on hand wash setting. Seem to recall Lisa Armstrong writing a funny article once about washing cashmere like you'd was a goat i.e. fine as long as you don't dunk it in boiling water and expect everything to be fine.

Unless it's actually dirty or mis-shapen, do not wash it. Just hang it in the sun to air. Wool is self-cleaning.

If you do wash it, a gentle wool cycle with liquid soap flakes and no conditioner is the best.

You don’t have to wash it very frequently . I wash mine in the machine on the hand wash setting but I don’t have designer cashmere. If you wanted to freshen it up you could use a bit of steam on it and a cashmere spray from The Laundress or air it outside. The Laundress also do a special wash for cashmere but I’ve not tried it - I think the one I use is from Waitrose. No disasters yet.

I’d hang it out on a nice fresh day rather than washing it. If and when it really needs a wash, the hand wash cycle on a washing machine is fine but don’t let it to dry, lie flat if possible

It barely needs washing, but air regularly, and wear a T-shirt underneath.

I use machine hand wash setting with Woolite or Drefaldwyn. Dry flat on a towel.

I wah all mine on a 30° delicate wash with a delicate liquid. Even my very expensive & daughters coatigan. I've ever had any issue.

I think dirty cashmere is much more susceptible to being attacked by moths.
So mine are always washed before they are put back in the wardrobe. Especially if worn next to the skin.

My old washing machine was ok on the short wool wash cycle but for some reason current one isn’t
I hand wash using Woolite - rinse in cooler water then put in machine to spin on gentle cycle
Dry on padded hangers
I love cashmere and tend to wear 2-3 times then wait until I’ve a few things that need washing together

I wouldn't wash cashmere after just a few outings.

I wash my cashmere (and wool) items in the wool wash cycle using Woolite, shape and roll in a clean white towel, leave overnight, unroll, reroll in another towel, and eventually lay flat on a sweater rack to finish drying.

I think you'd be washing it for the sake of it - you've kept it away from your skin and it's not dirty or smelly so why wash it? I always wear a lightweight t-shirt under cashmere for this reason.

Hand wash cycle for cashmere. I accidentally tumble dried and ruined my Bella Freud jumper the second time in washed it.... I actually cried.

I agree.

Agree with all other posters.

Will add: do NOT ever leave it somewhere that a helpful DH may pick it up and toss in laundry and/or washing machine. Because if that happens, it will be washed in a full cotton cycle at 40 degrees and be ruined forever.