How to Care for Your Cashmere

Cashmere has a reputation for being delicate. That reputation is mostly deserved. The fibers are fine, the weave is soft, and the wrong handling will cause pilling, stretching, or shrinkage that cannot be undone. But with the right approach, cashmere ages beautifully and lasts for decades.

How Often Should You Clean Cashmere?

Less often than you think. Cashmere does not need to be cleaned after every wear. Airing a sweater out between wears, laying it flat to rest, and brushing it gently with a cashmere comb is enough maintenance for most occasions.

Plan on cleaning cashmere once or twice per season, or when you notice body oils building up at the collar and cuffs or visible soiling. Over-cleaning cashmere breaks down the fibers faster than normal wear does.

Dry Clean or Hand Wash?

Both can work, but they are not equal. Professional dry cleaning with a gentle solvent cleans thoroughly without the risk of shrinkage or distortion from water. Hand washing in cool water with a wool-specific detergent can also work for lightly soiled sweaters, but it requires care: no wringing, no hot water, and no hanging while wet.

What cashmere should never go through is a washing machine, even on a gentle cycle. The agitation and heat are too unpredictable. One cycle can turn a $400 sweater into something that fits a child.

Storage Is Half the Battle

Cashmere should always be stored folded, never on a hanger. Hanging stretches the shoulders and distorts the body of the sweater over time. Fold along the natural seams and store flat in a drawer or on a shelf.

Moths are the other threat. Cedar blocks, lavender sachets, or sealed storage bags will keep moths away. If you are storing cashmere for the season, have it cleaned before it goes into storage. Moths are attracted to body oils and food residue left in fabric, not to clean fiber.

Dealing With Pilling

Pilling is not a sign of poor quality. It happens because the short fibers in the yarn work their way to the surface with friction. A cashmere comb or fabric shaver removes pills without damaging the underlying knit. Do this regularly and your sweaters will look better with age, not worse.

When to Bring It In

For end-of-season cleaning, stubborn stains, or any sweater you want to last, professional care is worth it. At Sweetwater's, every cashmere piece is handled individually, hand finished, and returned in the condition it deserves.