Cashmerr

[PerkyOchrePeer]

Love cashmere and marks and spe cers is good proce but however carefully I wash my cardigan they always shrink. I di cd water machine no spin and still shrink so can't wear them anymore. Is it better to get them dry cleaned? I cannot keep paying £89 to have them shrink as its costing me a fortune

Hand wash & lay flat to dry so it retains its shape.

I flat dry and dont spin. The machine still shrinks it even cold wash

You need to hand wash cashmere. I have several M and S cashmere items that have lasted years with no shrinkage. I hand wash and rinse, then spin in the machine and then dry flat.

An older lady I got chatting to in a shop gave me the best tip. Wash by hand in cold water with tiny amount of fairy liquid and rinse very well, with final rinse and swirl for a few minutes in non bio fabric softener. Roll in bath towel for squeeze then spin on gentle spin in washing machine with the big towel. Tug gently in all directions when out of machine spin ( I sometimes put it on over jumper I’m wearing for a second to stretch it gently) then lay flat to dry.

And don’t wash them too often. Sometimes I just freshen them up by rinse in comfort fabric conditioner.

I put them in the machine on a woolwash which uses a low temperature and a gentle spin. I use detergent for wool because I like the smell, but I’m not sure that actually makes a difference. I don’t use fabric softener but use calgon tablets.

I dry outside by lying flat on the whirligig.

Hand wash. The agitation of the machine wash cycle will shrink a sensitive jumper even in cool water. It only takes a few minutes to wash in Woolite or similar, squeeze out by rolling in a big fluffy towel and then dry on an airer.

Do you have a wool wash? My M & S cashmere jumpers have never shrunk using a wool wash. Also don’t use fabric softener on wool, it damages the fibres. Use a special wool detergent, as some chemicals used in softener and detergent can shorten and breakdown the fibres.

I wouldn't use fabric conditioner.

Can I use fabric softener on cashmere?

No. Time and hand-washing is actually the best form of softener for your cashmere. Using fabric conditioner leaves a chemical coating on cashmere fibres which ironically makes them stiffer and more prone to pilling. A dash of white vinegar in the rinsing water can also act as a natural softener. You can also add a tiny amount of vinegar in the washing process to help the detergent to lather if you live in a hard water area.

I wash my M&S cashmere on the wool wash in the machine and it’s fine. But I do always size up to allow for any shrinkage over the years

Mine never shrink from hand washing. Only takes 5 mins.

I just bought another marks and spencer cashmere cardigan. I have two cashmere jumpers but it's only the cardigans that seem to shrink. I will hand wash my new cardigan as I dint want it to shrink . Other shops sell cashmere but they are about £200. Does the cost mean they are more durable. Would you pay £200 or more for cashmere. After all, people think nothing of spending 1k on a holiday but when asked about spending the same amount on an item of clothing they say its too expensive and end up buying clothes in primark

I just bought another marks and spencer cashmere cardigan. I have two cashmere jumpers but it's only the cardigans that seem to shrink. I will hand wash my new cardigan as I dint want it to shrink . Other shops sell cashmere but they are about £200. Does the cost mean they are more durable. Would you pay £200 or more for cashmere. After all, people think nothing of spending 1k on a holiday but when asked about spending the same amount on an item of clothing they say its too expensive and end up buying clothes in primark

The water has to be the same temperature so the washing water has to be the same temperature as the rinse water. There must be no change in temperature otherwise it will shrink

Hand wash or don't wash at all, spray with fabric spray, M and S do one. If hand washing lay flat on a clean towel to dry.

Stop washing it! Cashmere rarely (if ever) needs washing.

Why do you need fabric spray? It's not good for wool garments.

All clothes need washing. Your body perspired and wgat if you spill something on it. Clothes get musty after prolonged wear

Many years ago they made Lux soap flakes for wool sweaters.. You can't get Lux now

Cashmere doesn't need washing every wear. Merino and cashmere etc are natural fibres so absorb odours.

Wear something underneath as a base layer which washes easier, but then just air out the cashmere after wearing for the day. It won't smell. I wash mine about once every 6 months. But I always wear a layer under so it is not in direct contact with the skin.

And if you spill something on it, just dab the area of the mark.

Also, get a good cashmere wash. There are many out there. Don't use a softener as it damages the fibres.

Most of my cashmere is from charity shops. I'm a 10 but tend to buy 12, 14 or even 16, as they've generally shrunk a little and so been donated.

As they are generally under £10 I just machine wash on the wool cycle with wool wash, reshape whilst damp, and dry flat on a (switched off) heated airer. No problems at all, and they come out even better since we got a water softener.

I tend to only wash them once or twice a year, usually before packing them away for the summer, with an additional wash if they are visibly marked. I always wear a top with sleeves under them to reduce armpit contact!

There will always be a bit of bobbling from friction even without washing, so I don't e.g. wear a rough unlined coat over them, or wear them with a backpack / heavy bag without a coat, to help reduce this.

Moths love unwashed wool. Especially when it’s laced with body odour, food spills and skin oil. Personally, I’m quite unkeen on people who don’t wash their clothes properly and I don’t want my own woolies to be smelly and holey.

Cashmere might need treating with love & respect, but you definitely can wash it.

I always wear a very thin thermal vest under cashmere and wash it rather than sweater

Handwash with no rinse wool wash using ambient temperature water, not freezing cold. Then gently roll up in a clean towel to remove excess water. Place flat to dry and reshape.