How to wash cashmere: all the right hints and tips

Cashmere is the king of yarns, distinguished for being very gentle on the wearer's skin and, in turn, equally delicate to wash and treat. For this reason, if one chooses the "do-it-yourself" route, it is always useful to follow a few tips to get your favorite sweater or blanket back clean, smelling great and with a cashmere that is not ruined and looks as good as new!

Below, you will find our little guide for not breaking a cold sweat in front of the washing machine! 

How to wash cashmere in the washing machine 

Certainly cashmere can be washed and treated in the washing machine but always following certain precautions, remember it is a delicate yarn to treat and today's modern washing machines can be valuable allies in this. Here are some wise pointers:

• The first and probably the most important suggestion is to avoid the use of the centrifuge, which can be less than gentle on a yarn of this type. If you really cannot do without it, we recommend setting it to low rpm, 400 maximum.

• Choose a low temperature wash, never above 30°C and of short duration. Prefer programs for delicate garments and, if possible, for woolen garments.
• Add a very small amount of mild wool detergent. 
• Another effective tip is to insert the garment in the washing machine inside out or, even better, inside the specific bags for washing underwear, easily purchased at the supermarket.

How to wash cashmere by hand 

If, on the other hand, you prefer to wash cashmere by hand, we recommend that you equip yourself with a basin filled with warm water where you have previously poured very little mild detergent for wool. As an alternative to the latter you could also use a few drops of baby shampoo or mild detergent .. Here are some important steps to perform:

• Soak your sweater, sweater or jacket once.. Again, we recommend that you soak it inside out so as to preserve the fibers.
• Allow the water to soak in., this step is critical as the cashmere fibers are revitalized and renewed by the water, which should always be used in small proportions.

• Never rub, wring, twist the fabric but massage it gently, so as to prevent felting of the fabric.
• Proceed to gently rinse under running, lukewarm water but do not let the garment soak for more than five minutes.  

Proceed to drying 

At this stage we want to give you a really useful tip for renewing the fibers of your cashmere garment after washing, machine or hand: take a towel and lay it on a flat surface, next lay the blanket, sweater or your scarf on top of it, now proceed to gently roll it up so as to remove excess water.

After finishing this step lay the garment on a flat, horizontal surface away from heat sources and sunlight. 

How to iron a cashmere garment  

In general we do not recommend this step but if you really cannot do without it we suggest that you keep the garment inside out and keep the iron at least 2 inches, away, with a very low temperature so as not to be aggressive on the fibers. To zero the risks of ruining the fabric a useful tip is to place a cotton cloth between the cashmere and the iron. 

Other usage tips 

To properly store a cashmere garment, it is helpful to not to throw away the dust bags that are usually given to each customer during purchase. The latter are useful for insulating the fibers from moisture and moths; in fact, the perfect environment for storing a cashemere garment is a drawer or closet in a room with a dry climate.

In addition, in order to avoid overstressing the fiber and to avoid creating the annoying phenomenon of "pilling" as well as the creation of "pellets", we suggest that you do not wear the same garment two days in a row. Cashmere is a very delicate yarn and should be allowed to rest!

Find out who Capua Cashmere is on our website and start browsing through our online store. Inside you will find the expression of our 25 years of experience with the king of yarns!