CACHEMIRE CERTIFIÉ HAUTE QUALITÉ | Origine Mongolie Intérieure · Fibre Grade A
You've invested in a cashmere sweater. Maybe it's your first. Maybe you've owned cashmere for years but have never been entirely sure you're caring for it correctly.
This is the complete cashmere sweater care guide — a single reference covering every aspect of maintaining your cashmere from first wear to long-term storage. Bookmark it. Return to it. Proper care is the difference between a cashmere sweater that lasts two years and one that lasts fifteen.
Cashmere doesn't need washing after every wear. The fibre naturally resists odour and doesn't absorb bacteria the way synthetics do. Wash after every three to five wears, or immediately if you spill something on it.
Between washes, air your cashmere overnight by laying it flat or draping it over a chair in a ventilated room. This refreshes the fibre without the mechanical stress of washing.
A small splash of white vinegar (one tablespoon per basin) in the final rinse neutralises detergent residue and helps maintain fibre softness.
If your machine has a wool/delicates cycle: use a mesh laundry bag, cold water, wool-specific detergent, and the lowest spin setting available. Never use a standard cycle.
For ultra-fine cashmere (under 16 microns), hand-washing is strongly recommended over machine washing. The mechanical friction in a drum, even on gentle settings, creates more surface stress on very fine fibres.
Dry cleaning uses chemical solvents that are effective at removing stains but strip natural oils from cashmere fibre over time. Occasional dry cleaning for stubborn stains is fine, but regular dry cleaning as your default care method will gradually make the cashmere feel drier and less soft.
Hand-washing preserves those natural oils and is gentler on the fibre. For routine cleaning, hand-washing is superior.
After removing excess water with the towel-roll technique, reshape the garment to its original dimensions and lay it flat on a drying rack or clean, dry towel.
Never hang cashmere to dry. The weight of wet cashmere will stretch the shoulders, neckline, and body out of shape. This distortion is difficult or impossible to reverse.
Never tumble dry. The combination of heat and mechanical tumbling will shrink (felt) the cashmere irreversibly.
Never place on or near a radiator or heater. Direct heat damages cashmere fibres and causes uneven drying, which can create stiff spots in the fabric.
At room temperature with normal humidity, most cashmere garments take 12 to 24 hours to dry fully. Thicker pieces (heavy-gauge cardigans, scarves) may take longer. Ensure the garment is completely dry before wearing or storing — residual moisture promotes mildew and odour.
A fan or gentle air circulation helps. Placing the drying rack in a room with a ceiling fan or near an open window (out of direct sunlight) can reduce drying time. Do not use a hairdryer or any direct heat source.
Pilling occurs when short fibre ends migrate to the fabric surface and tangle into small balls. Friction accelerates this — areas of movement (underarms, sides, where bags rub) pill first.
Higher-quality cashmere with longer staple fibres (34mm+) pills less because there are fewer short fibre ends to form pills. New cashmere garments often pill most during the first few wears as residual loose fibres from manufacturing work their way out.
Never pull pills off by hand — you'll drag attached fibres out and thin the fabric. Never use a razor blade — too much risk of cutting through yarn.
Electric fabric shavers are an alternative but require a light touch. Set to the lowest setting and test on a hidden area first.
Most quality cashmere garments experience their heaviest pilling in the first one to three wears. After two or three de-pilling sessions in the first season, the loose fibre ends are removed and pilling decreases dramatically. If pilling remains heavy after the first season, the cashmere is likely low-grade or short-staple.
Treat stains promptly. The longer a stain sits, the harder it is to remove without aggressive methods that can damage the fibre.
Oil/grease: Apply cornstarch or talcum powder to the stain and leave for several hours to absorb the oil. Brush off gently, then treat with wool wash as above.
Red wine: Blot immediately. Apply a mixture of cold water and a small amount of white vinegar. Blot repeatedly. Wash the garment fully as soon as possible.
Coffee/tea: Blot with cold water immediately. Treat with wool wash. For set-in stains, a professional cleaner may be needed.
Ink: This is the one stain category where professional dry cleaning is usually the best option. Home remedies for ink risk spreading the stain.
Clean every garment before storing for the season. Moths are attracted to organic residues (body oils, food traces, skin cells) on fabric, not to the fibre itself. A clean garment is far less likely to attract moth damage.
Cedar is the best natural moth deterrent. Sand cedar blocks lightly every six months to refresh the surface oils. Lavender sachets provide secondary protection. Avoid mothballs — the chemical residue is persistent and unpleasant.
If you discover moth damage, isolate the affected garment immediately and place it in a sealed bag in the freezer for 72 hours. This kills moth larvae and eggs.
Rotate your knitwear. Don't wear the same cashmere sweater two days in a row. Giving the fibres a rest day between wears allows them to recover their shape and shed accumulated moisture.
Avoid rough surfaces. Rough bag straps, Velcro, and textured seatbelts create friction that accelerates pilling and can snag fibres.
Fold, never hang. Hangers distort the shoulders of knitwear over time. Store all cashmere folded flat.
Address snags immediately. If a fibre loop catches and pulls, gently push it back through to the inside of the garment with a blunt needle. Never cut a snag — it can unravel.
This complete cashmere sweater care guide covers the full lifecycle: washing, drying, de-pilling, stain treatment, seasonal storage, and daily wear habits. None of it is complicated. All of it rewards you with a garment that looks and feels as good in year ten as it did in year one. This is particularly true for ultra-fine cashmere — Alxa-grade fibre at 14.5 microns responds exceptionally well to proper care, maintaining its softness and shape far longer than coarser grades. The quality of the fibre and the quality of the care work together.
