Washing cashmere in a washing machine

Natural cashmere is an expensive and rare material. To avoid damaging items made from this delicate fabric, many people use dry cleaners, entrusting their care only to professionals. This approach is the most appropriate, but unfortunately, it is not accessible to everyone.

If you can't take your item to a professional cleaning service, you'll have to clean the fabric yourself. Let's find out whether cashmere can be machine washed or whether gentle hand cleaning is the only acceptable option.

Prepare the item in advance

Cashmere clothing is expensive, so it must be cared for with extreme care and gentleness. Before washing an item, be sure to read the care label. It provides basic washing, drying, and ironing instructions.

Even one improper wash can turn a luxurious cashmere sweater into an ordinary rag, so it is important to follow the manufacturer's fabric care recommendations.

Before washing, inspect the item. If any pilling appears on the material, remove it with a special device. Pill removers are available at any hardware store.

The next step is to combat stains. Since cashmere is a very delicate and soft fabric, it is forbidden to use aggressive stain removers and products containing chlorine. There are several ways to remove dirt:

• If the stain is fresh, hold the sweater over a pot of boiling water. The steam will soften the stain. All that's left to do is iron the stain from the inside out using an iron set to the lowest temperature.
• Stubborn, old stains can be removed with a gentle laundry detergent or dishwashing liquid. Apply a few drops of the solution to the affected area and leave the concentrate to work for half an hour. Then rinse with warm water.
• Grease stains can be removed with regular baking soda. Sprinkle it on the stain, wait about three hours, and then shake off the excess.

Don't try to remove a stain by vigorously washing cashmere. This will inevitably stretch the fabric and cause it to pill. It's better to choose one of the gentle stain removal methods available.

How to wash it off?

It is important to choose the right detergent for washing cashmere items. For home care of delicate fabrics, a special gel for wool and silk is best suited. Don't use regular laundry detergent. Its granules don't fully dissolve in cool water, clog the fibers of the fabric, rinse poorly, and can ruin the garment's appearance.

Among modern means you can choose:

• liquid "Aist Cashmere";
• Burti Wolle & Seide gel for wool and delicate fabrics;
• BioMio Bio-Sensitive with natural cotton extract;
• Nordland balm for wool and silk;
• liquid "Vorsinka".

If you don’t have any washing gel for delicate fabrics at hand, you can use liquid soap.

You can also wash cashmere with a softening shampoo. Some housewives successfully use this cleaning method. It's important that the shampoo doesn't contain dyes or harsh ingredients that could damage the fabric.

Is it acceptable to use a washing machine?

Any delicate fabrics are preferably hand washed. This method is considered the most gentle, as it minimizes the time cashmere is exposed to water and ensures the material is treated with the utmost care.

However, some cashmere items are machine-washable by the manufacturer. If the label doesn't indicate that the item should not be washed in the drum, you can safely use the washing machine. It's important to follow a few rules when machine-washing cashmere:

• the water heating temperature should not exceed 30°C;
• the item should be turned inside out before loading into the machine;
• It is advisable to place the cashmere item in a special mesh bag for washing;
• You should set the most gentle cycle. The "Wool" program, delicate cycle, or hand wash are suitable;
• You should only use liquid detergents;
• Be sure to turn off the automatic spin function. The intense spinning of the drum can damage the fabric, so it's important to disable this function.

Also, don't tumble dry your cashmere garment. This can shrink it up to a couple of sizes.

Once the cycle is complete, carefully remove the sweater from the drum and allow the water to drain naturally. Lay the item out on a terry towel, smoothing out any creases or wrinkles. Cover the cashmere with a second towel and roll it into a roll. After two hours, remove the sweater and lay it flat in a well-ventilated area to dry.

Traditional washing

Almost all types of clothing can be hand-washed, with the exception of cashmere raincoats or coats. Outerwear made from expensive natural fibers is best dry-cleaned.

When hand washing cashmere, you should also follow certain instructions. The basic rules are as follows:

• Be sure to prepare the item for washing – remove any lint and stains;
• Turn the garment inside out. This will reduce the likelihood of lint tangling during washing and will help prevent damage to the embroidered pattern on the sweater.
• Use only a mild liquid laundry detergent. Delicate fabric conditioner, baby soap, or regular dye-free shampoo will work well.
• Wash cashmere in cool water, at a temperature no higher than 30°C. High-temperature washing causes shrinkage and damages the fiber structure;
• When cleaning the product, do not twist or rub the fabric with force;
• If the item is heavily soiled, it is permissible to soak it for half an hour in a soap solution and then wash it;
• The cashmere product should be rinsed several times in cool water;
• You can add a softening conditioner or a spoonful of glycerin to the rinse water. This will keep the cashmere soft and smooth.

It's important not to wring the garment when spinning. Simply hang the sweater or skirt over the edge of the bathtub until the water drains. Next, place the item between two towels, roll it into a roll, and then lay it flat to dry.

You can care for cashmere clothing at home, but the main thing is to follow the manufacturer's recommendations on the label. When loading into the machine, it is important to select the most gentle mode and turn off the spin cycle. It's also important to ensure the water temperature isn't hotter than 30°C, and use a liquid laundry detergent. Remember to follow proper drying procedures as well. This will ensure the garment retains its original appearance for a long time.

   

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