How to wash cashmere

[Bimblebombzle]

I bought a Uniqlo cashmere jumper and put it on hand-wash in my machine with delicate liquid for wools.

When it finished it was absolutely soaking. I put it on a spin and I think it's shrunk. I've laid it flat and pulled it out - not sure how it will dry. I bought a slightly bigger size anyway so should be okay but just wondering what does everyone else do? Detailed instructions for idiots please as everyone has a different washing machine/process.

Thanks!

It's the spin that's caused the issue I'd say. If woollens are too damp from the machine (or if hand washing) lay out flat on a towel and roll up, squeeze gently to absorb moisture.

Key thing is don't spin. I lost a beautiful merino jumper by accidentally putting it in with a general wash.

I have a new cashmere jumper that says dry clean only. I haven't washed it yet but will hand-wash it. From start I've been reading, don't wring it out. As pp said, wrap it in a towel and squeeze gently.

If the label says hand-wash, I do it in the matchine on the hand-wash wool setting and it's fine. It does come out pretty wet though so don't hang it up to dry as it can stretch from the weight. I put it on a clothes horse. I lay it out on the bars so it is supported although it's still at an angle. If you have one that has horizontal bars, even better.

Gosh - happy to roll it in a towel - how long does it take to dry then?

Came on to say - wash it like a baby, by hand, blood temperature, gently.
Then wrap it in a towel.

I leave mine overnight in the bath, then take it out and air dry it flat on a clothes horse.

I have two - the first I put on a delicates 30 degree wash and it wasn't soaking. Dried pretty quick. I think it did shrink a tiny amount but its a size up anyway.

The second (uniqlo one), I put on hand-wash as that's what the label said and it came out soaking.

Not sure which wash cycle to use 🤔 🙃

I'm going to have to wash them a lot less if I'm doing it in the bath! I was washing after one days wear. I do get quite warm (sweaty) as I power walk to work.

Once you have squeezed out the moisture, you lay it flat on a towel. I've used the top of a Lakeland airer.

I don't buy it any more. It's too much faff. DH loves a cashmere jumper. He and our local dry cleaner are now on first name terms!

I wouldn’t put cashmere in a washing machine. I wouldn’t wear it for power walking. Get a fleece and put yiur cashmere in your bag

It's so complicated trying to dress for work 😄. It's freezing when I leave the house then I get hot walking then my office is freezing. I'm already carrying my laptop, charger, lunch box, water, umbrella and god knows what else 😄

I wouldn't put cashmere in a washing machine or power walk in it. Wear something underneath it, thin t shirt or silk top, it shouldn't need washing every wear then.

I have lots of cashmere from Johnstons of Elgin and Brora to Uniqlo and it all goes into the washing machine on a wool wash with delicates liquid. Then I dry it flat. Nothing has ever shrunk. I don't wash each time I wear though (I usually have something underneath). I don't think you really need to wash them that much?

Best approach with cashmere is to be absolutely minimal with washing - as in don't unless you absolutely have to.

I love cashmere, I have lots of it which I've collected over the years in sales and from eBay and vinted etc.
I wash (infrequently) on the machine woolen cycle (30deg), I roll in a towel to remove excess moisture and then dry flat on an airer.
I protect from moths by storing in individual ziplock plastic bags (M&S medium sized food storage bags do fine). And when it gets tatty I send it to a company called Love Cashmere who repair and refresh it so it comes back like new

Do you not have a wool cycle on your machine?

It's largely agitation that shrinks wool, but I've never had an issue with using the wool cycle and then reshaping while damp.

Agreed. Washing wool or cashmere after every wear is madness.

The best way to protect and care for your jumper is to hand wash it carefully and not very often. We wash our knitwear once a year. The rest of the time we air dry or spot clean.

From & Daughter - all the high end manufacturers say the same.

That suits me 😄

No, there is delicates or hand-wash?

I use Clothes Doctor knitwear spray and hanging outside to minimise how often it needs washing.

I've been putting mine in a box under the bed. It's plastic with a plastic lid.

Do you put it away in between wears - say I was going to weat it the next day?

Sorry to ask so many questions. I have an issue with moths - I bought them with me from DFs house and I have to stay really on top of it. I don't want to open the box come next winter and find it's all ruined.

It really depends on your washing machine - my previous one would be ok on a wool wash
Current machine wool wash doesn’t agitate enough so even putting a single sweater in will come out with patches that are still dry!
I hand wash using woolite and rinse in cooler water - then spin on delicate cycle before hanging on a padded coat hanger

@Bimblebombzle I don't put them in the bags if I'm wearing the next day but anything longer than a few days I do. To discourage months I use the Manchester Mothmen traps and also during the summer, I wash it, dry it and give it a few weeks in the freezer in batches of 2-3 items to kill off any eggs. Then it's quite safe to store it in sealed bags and I repeat every summer if I've worn it or it's been left out a lot. I don't really wash cashmere apart from that unless it's had a lot of wear.
I am very careful because I tend to buy my cashmere second hand and I've had a moth infestation in the past and I lost a lot of loved clothes.....

I agree. I never wear them with nothing underneath them. Always a top which covers the under arm area, where we all sweat. That gets changed daily but the cashmere jumpers and tops I have get washed probably once a year. All in the machine at handwash.

I know this sound wierd but the cashmere seems to cling against cotton - its okay on the body of the jumper but on the sleeves it makes them not hang right. I could try a tight cap sleeve tshirt. I do have a couple of tight tshirts but they are striped and they show through the beige cashmere jumper.

That's a good idea to do a big freeze before packing it away.

I had pantry moth last year when DM bought me some walnuts from Cost Co. They absolutely dined out on them then infested my entire flat. My entire kitchen cupboard contents lives in cans or glass jars with airtight lids now.

I just tried on the uniqlo jumper. It's definitely shrunk a bit and I don't like it as much now 😆 I would get annoyed at my own stupidity but there's no point .