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

Baby shampoo

Use tepid not cold water, tiny squeeze of baby shampoo
Pop your cashmere in a leave it for 15 minutes
Rinse in the same temperature
Do not use cold or hot,both shock the fibres and cause shrinkage

Lay on a fluffy towel and gently roll to squeeze out excess water
Gently shape and lay flat to dry
No rubbing, scrubbing or twisting

Once dry check for any bobbles and use a gentle debobbler.
Store in a moth proof bag

I don’t have M&S cashmere but have other brands and always wash in delicate/wool detergent (no conditioner) on a wool wash setting (it’s actually 40 degrees with low spin) and dry flat. I do not dry clean. And they don’t shrink. I washed a cashmere once in a normal washing detergent on 30 and it shrunk… so it is really down to detergent.

It does if you get BO on it or food

I have everything from Uniqlo to Loro Piana. I just bung it in the machine on a wool wash cycle with silk and wool washing liquid.
never had a problem.

I actually made a frame using a couple of large cake cooling racks taped together and padded with towels, with rolled towels in the sleeves. You need to measure the jumper between the underarms before you wash it in wool wash or shampoo, then make sure you pull it to that size when it's wet. I have rescued shrunken jumpers doing this over several days, very gently.

I agree about eBay sizing. I've got an amazing quality vintage cardigan 3 sizes too large. Looks boyfriend style on me. It had a moth hole, which I darned, and horrible gold coloured buttons which I changed. Less than a tenner! Good in cold weather.

BTW Always freeze second hand jumpers to kill any moths.

I use the gentle cycle on cold, wool wash, and a 400 spin then lie them flat on my heated area. They’ve not shrunk. Even cashmere needs washing every so often for a freshen up and certainly before storing away in a box for the summer. Mind you most things I wear year round as it is the UK.

Here's the liquid equivalent. I use it for all my cashmere and other jumpers https://www.ocado.com/products/dri-pak-liquid-soap-flakes/302725011?srsltid=AfmBOopBSzIPq9A407S4g8dy_hxDoJ5BJ8VPFxYH9-b_UrawjNooWblN (and everything else)

wow...last time I bought it it was £3.50

High quality wool and cashmere should basically never get BO. Food yes, smell - no. The fibre is naturally antiseptic. If yours is smelly then ckeck how much wool content it actually has or if it's a mix with synthetic.

They need washing as little as possible and just spot cleaning if you have food on them. If you think they are a bit musty, hanging them outside to air should be enough - in Norway where handknitted jumpers are a big deal they even have a national jumper hanging day.

If you are washing - get a no rinse wash like Eucalan or Soak. Put your jumper in the sink, fill with warm water, add the washing liquid and swish a tiny bit, make sure the jumper is soaking wet and leave it for 15 minutes.

Drain away the water and lay a large towel on the floor. Squeeze the water out of the jumper being as gentle as possible then arrange it on the towel - it will still be soaking wet. Roll up the towel to make a jumper/towel roll. Then stand on the towel and push the water out with your feet. Unroll and dry your jumper flat.

For moths - stick all jumpers in the freezer for 48 hrs once a year.

Spending more money on cashmere will buy you higher quality cashmere. This does not mean more robust and able to go through the washing machine- if anything it means more likely to be absolutely ruined.

You shouldn't wash cashmere regularly. I have a few cashmere items and I might wash them 2 or 3 times max per season. They don't retain smells like many other fabrics do, so only wash it if it's truly necessary.

I use a no rinse wool wash and gently hand wash, roll up in a towel, then block flat.

My old washing machine used to have a good wool wash cycle, current one does not!
I hand wash with woolite and rinse in tepid water
Then put in machine on gentle spin only
Agree with others I only wash after every few wears or if spill something

Waitrose sell a washing liquid called cashmere and wool. I am going to buy sone today especially as waitrose is just 15 minutes walk from me on foot

Just looked online and the waitrose own brand is £5, and they sell a different brand for £14. Not sure that i would pay £14 but it depends if you want to keep your garment like new. Its the same as if you buy cheap or expensive clothes or cheap or expensive furniture or a cheap or expensive haircut. You get what you pay for and why not. Mind you I do cheat. I got a pair if very expensive trousers in a charity shop for £20 and new would cost £100

I wash my cashmere (including M&S) in the machine all the time with no issues - specific wool detergent and a wool cycle, make sure they’re supported to dry .

Would you wear angora or mohair

I wash mine every 3-4 wears as I have a spaniel that likes to jump onto my lap & I also cook a lot. Plus do seem to be incapable of eating without spilling food down myself.
Always use Ecover delicate liquid in the machine on a 30° wool wash & also spot clean with fairy liquid for specific stains if needed. Have everything from M&S to Ganni Cashmere and it's all washed the same way. I always size up in cashmere to allow for slight shrinkage.
Wrap Cashmere & Boden have been the worse offenders over the years.

I wire my new cashmere cardigan today and as I was eating some cake, I got sone cake on the front and have a large white stain. I need to was it. How do I get the stain off. It was a victoria sponge and it's stained with cream and jaj

Are you on Instagram? Nearlynewcashmere have a great section on care and surprisingly recommend a fast spin. I’ve done it and it was fine. Drying by laying flat is a non negotiable though

Cashmere is NOT particularly temperature sensitive, it can be washed in warm water, cold water, whatever you like. It will not shrink because of the temperature, unlike wool which does undergo "thermal shock".
Cashmere does felt however - so lots of agitation in a machine is not good. Always use the wool setting, not the delicates.
Cashmere can be spun without any problem if you handwash it. Just put in on the spin cycle. It will come to no harm.
Cashmere ribbing (ie, at the end of the garment and the arms) does contract when washed. This isn't shrinkage in the proper sens, but can pull the bottom of the garmet quite tight. The fix is to stretch it out while the garment is still damp. You may have to do it a few times.
Disclaimer - I am a cashmere addict!

You use so little it works out not very expensive

It’s good but nothing is that good. 100% wool/cashmere can absolutely hold on to body odours

Cashmere can go through thermal shock. The fibres have the same opening and closing cuticles as sheep’s wool does.

it’s not about the temperature washed in. It’s about the change from warm wash to a cold rinse

@RosaMundi27 I love it too. I'm dressed top to bottom in secondhand cashmere today. So warm and comfy.

You can of course and I certainly do but not every wear. Airing is best unless there is something that can't be spot cleaned or a bigger freshen up is needed. If you wash too frequently you'll risk eventually stripping the natural oils on the surface of the fibres that prevent it from absorbing sweat and odours.