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Can Cashmere be Washed?

May 25th, 2021 | 132 views
Can Cashmere be Washed?

Nothing in the world of fabrics feels so warm, smooth, and soft as Cashmere does. Being exceptionally grateful as well, as Cashmere wrap can add that special something to your looks, whether you are pairing it with long dresses or a pair of jeans and shirts. And even though Cashmere is well deservingly expensive, we consider it a worthwhile investment, because if given proper care, this luxury lasts and lasts and lasts. 

Where does cashmere come from?

Cashmere is a special type of goat hair that is extremely soft and warm. The goat inhabits a cold and arid area of Ladakh, which is known as Changthang. This area is situated about 14000 feet above sea level and remains cut off from the main city for months together during snowfall. It is at its top where Changthangi goats are found. These goats grow fine and warm fleece as a down fibre in winter to survive the freezing temperature outside. But as soon as Summer arrives, the warmth of this plush covering makes the goat uncomfortable. Hence, it rubs its body against coarse surfaces like stones, bushes, and rough walls to get rid of some portion of it. The left-out portion is combed off by specialists using specialized tools and combs. This way Cashmere is manually collected from Ladakh and sent for processing to Kashmir. 

Fine lumps of wool are manually spun on a wooden spinning wheel by women, and later handwoven over traditional handlooms by men to come up with luxurious, lightweight Pashmina shawl. Cashmere can also be used to make dresses, sweaters, light cardigans, socks, and other accessories.

Also read: The Trail of India’s Cashmere Goat Men

Caring for your precious Wrap

cashmere wrap
Handpicked from the traditional treasures of Kashmir is a Cashmere Wrap soaked in colours of love

Cashmere products account for slow fashion. These are made from natural fibre, processed manually, and when in the purest form, these beauties last for a lifetime. But these are delicate pieces, as the fibre diameter is just 12-16 microns. Hence caring for them becomes a really sensitive job. For this reason, women often tend to hand their precious Cashmere pieces to laundry owners for dry cleaning. And even though that is the best option for Cashmere, there are alternatives. For the times when the nearest laundry can't take orders, or you yourself are reluctant to give this highly valued piece to them, we have come up with a number of methods to clean your Cashmere at home. 

Can Cashmere be washed?

Yes, Cashmere can be washed. But be careful and read its washing instructions first. Certain pieces come with the tags of “Do not wash”. In these cases, only dry clean will help you clean your Cashmere. So even if your dry cleaner asks you to wait for days together, you have no other option.

Other varieties do allow washing it with water. With these pieces, a set of rules has to be followed for washing, drying, and storing Cashmere, and you will be done for one more season

How do you wash Cashmere?

Since Cashmere is delicate, and fine, washing it can be a task. But following certain precautions and being a lot careful while doing it can save your Cashmere from being withered or destroyed. Here are the steps you need to follow when washing the gossamer fine fabric

Can I Hand-Wash Cashmere?

Of course, you can. In fact, after dry cleaning, hand wash is the next best option. But it comes with its own set of rules and precautions. Here is a simple, yet professional guide on how to hand wash Cashmere

How to Hand-Wash Cashmere?

cashmere wash
Washing cashmere at home
  • Fill a tub with lukewarm water
  • Pour cashmere shampoo or mild baby shampoo into it and give it a good stir
  • Next, dip your Cashmere wrap into it, and give it a whirl
  • Let it soak for 30 minutes
  • After 30 minutes, gently press the product a few times and then take it out
  • Do not wring it. Instead, gently squeeze the soapy water out and take for rinse
  • Rinse the wrap with cold water
  • Again, do not wring but squeeze the water out of the wrap by pressing it in your hands or against the walls of the tub.
  • Be gentle with every step, as it is a delicate fabric, and a vigorous wash might even tear it.

Can you Machine Wash Cashmere?

If for some reason, you cannot hand wash Cashmere, machine washing too is safe, provided that you take a lot of precautions while doing so. Make sure you do not just throw this precious beauty into the machine and run it as you do with the rest of the laundry. Be extra careful while you wash Cashmere in the washing machine. Here's how

How to Machine Wash Cashmere?

cashmere machine wash
Machine wash cashmere at home
  • Insert your wrap in a mesh bag, so that it doesn't snag in the machine.
  • Change the setting of the machine to “hand wash”
  • Also select cool water, the most gentle cycle, and a low spin to wash your Cashmere
  • Finally pour down some Cashmere shampoo and start the cycle. 
  • As soon as the cycle is complete, take it out immediately to prevent it from creasing and wrinkling. 

How to dry your luxury piece?

Drying Cashmere too is a challenge, especially when you cannot tumble dry it. Here is a step by step guide to dry Cashmere at home

  • Lay a clean dry towel flat on the ground
  • Spread your Cashmere wrap over it
  • Roll the towel along with the wraps so that it absorbs extra water
  • Now replace the wet towel with a dry one, and let the wrap sit spread over it till it dries completely
  • Do not keep Cashmere in direct sunlight
  • Do not hang it for drying purposes, as this may deform it forever

Also read: What is Cashmere and why is it so expensive?

Storing wraps and sweaters

Storing Cashmere is different from storing other types of wool, as this royal fibre demands a royal treatment. Here are a few steps to guide you in storing your wrap/sweater:

  • Always clean/wash your Cashmere before you store it. This prevents a bug or moth infestation
  • Make sure the wrap is completely dry before you store it. Moisture will completely damage its fibre.
  • Always fold your wraps and sweaters, do not hang them
  • Wrap Cashmere products in tissue papers, and place the same between two consecutive layers so that the surface doesn't touch itself. If there is friction between two layers of Cashmere, it will lead to pilling. 
  • Never store Cashmere in plastic. Plastic causes moisture, and moisture damages the delicate fibre. 
  • Place some cedar pieces or naphthalene balls along with your wraps, so that moth infestation is prevented.
  • Do not pile these sensitive products over each other. This causes friction between them.

Cashmere is worth cherishing forever. Proper care and cautious use of the same will make sure it stays with you for an entire lifetime.

Also read: 7 Tests to Identify Genuine Pashmina

We, Pashmina.com, are the largest curators of pure and handcrafted Pashmina products in the online space. We are on a mission to revive this dying art by spreading our wings throughout the world by way of our online platform. Our website serves as a window to our range of products that are luxurious and have the highest quality. We offer the widest range, certified quality, luxurious packaging and free shipping to over 150 countries.

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