Cashmere clothing requires special care but this doesn’t mean it’s complicated! In order to make the most of your garment, ensure its long life and to minimize negative environmental impact, here’s a useful guide on washing, storing and caring for your items.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I WASH MY CHILD'S CASHMERE SWEATER?
One of the amazing properties of cashmere is that it is self-cleaning. Frequency of washing depends on how long and how rigorously your child wears their garment. A good rule of thumb would be to wash after five wears. Try airing it outside first or on a hanger in the bathroom while showering and let the steam clean it. The good news is that cashmere improves with every wash! The properties that give a cashmere garment its incredible softness form slowly.
WHAT IF I AM IN A RUSH?
We totally understand time constraints. Make the most of the self-recovery properties of cashmere fibers. You can air your cashmere knitwear overnight, or even hang it in the bathroom while you’re showering. The humidity will not only help odors dissipate but also will iron out creases! Hey presto — a quickly refreshed garment ready for use.
MY CHILD WANTS TO WEAR HIS/HER SWEATER EVERYDAY. IS THAT OK?
While we commend your child’s great taste in clothing, even their favorite sweater needs a rest! Give it a break for 24 hours so that the elastic fibers have the opportunity to straighten out. Their characteristic softness will be restored and your child can fall in love all over again.
IS IT OK TO WASH CASHMERE IN THE WASHING MACHINE?
We wouldn’t recommend this. Hand washing with like colors is always the best, safest and environmentally friendly method for washing cashmere.
HOW DO I PROPERLY HAND WASH MY CHILD'S CASHMERE?
Add a generous squirt (or 2 capfuls) of delicate detergent to a washbasin or sink filled with cool water. Submerge the item and gently agitate the water with your hands to evenly distribute the detergent.
Do not leave the garment soaking for a long time, lift the product carefully in and out of the water, and never wring or rub cashmere clothing. Take care when handling the wet garment so as not to damage its shape. Rinse well by running cool water through the item until the water is no longer soapy. Gently squeeze out moisture from the garment and roll it up in a soft towel (like a sleeping bag) to remove the excess water. Lay flat and leave to dry as usual.
Don’t worry if there’s color in the water. It’s normal. Cashmere yarn releases excess dye but there will be no loss of color to the garment once the wash is complete. As cashmere is a natural product, it has a characteristic smell when it is wet. Have no fear — the dry garment will smell of your washing detergent.
When drying, avoid direct sunlight and heat sources — such as the radiator — as they can yellow, shrink, or damage woolens. Never hang wet woolens.
To remove wrinkles, we recommend steaming for the best and safest finish. Do not iron, as ironing will crush or flatten the natural pile of the yarns.
DO I NEED TO USE A SPECIAL LAUNDRY DETERGENT?
We recommend a delicate detergent or even a mild shampoo for your cashmere clothing. We’re big fans of this environmentally friendly laundry detergent from Tangent GC. Don’t use too much of it. Overdosing won’t make your clothes cleaner. Substances to avoid: optical brighteners, chloride, synthetic perfumes, parabens, phosphates, petrochemicals and sulphates.
SHOULD CASHMERE BE DRY-CLEANED?
Never dry-clean your cashmere items. Dry-cleaning uses harsh chemicals which wears down cashmere fibers. Cashmere requires care. So try to use your hands —and not a machine — as much as possible.
CAN I PUT THE CASHMERE SWEATER INTO THE TUMBLE DRYER?
No. Tumble drying can damage cashmere fibers., What’s more, the fabric will shrink and felt.
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DRY A CASHMERE SWEATER?
Lay your cashmere garment flat in its natural shape on a drying rack or dry, clean towel. Do not tumble dry your cashmere or hang the item while drying as this will damage its shape.
Expedite drying by laying the item flat on a clean towel. With the item in its original shape, roll it up in the towel (like a sleeping bag) to remove the excess water.
When drying, avoid direct sunlight and heat sources — such as the radiator — as they can yellow, shrink, or damage woolens.
IS IT OK TO IRON THE CASHMERE SWEATER?
Ironing can crush or flatten the natural pile of cashmere yarns so we recommend gentle steaming for the best and safest way to remove wrinkles. A quick method of ‘ironing’ your cashmere is to hang the knitwear in the bathroom while having a shower. The humidity will not only help odors dissipate but also will iron out creases! It’s a simple way of refreshing your cashmere item.
WHAT IF THE CASHMERE SWEATER IS NO LONGER CUDDLY?
To restore that cuddly, huggable feeling to your cashmere, moisten the garment before sealing it in a freezer bag and placing it in the freezer for an hour or two. After removal, dry it lying flat and then gently steam it with a steamer. This process will make the little hairs stand up and revive your cashmere.
HOW DO I STOP THE PILLING?
Sadly — as much as we wish we could tell you there is a magic solution to keep the pilling from happening, there isn’t. Pilling isn’t a sign of an inferior garment; it’s natural and occurs as a result of wearing and movement, as wool fibers become loose and rub against each other, forming small bundles. Areas most affected are normally beneath the arms and the inside of the sleeves. Treatment with a special pilling brush or comb will help. Remove the loosened hairs using the brush, wear the sweater, then wash it again. Repeat 2-3 times, and most unsightly bobbles should go away. Besides, a little character is good for natural fiber garments. We advise against cashmere razors which can tear a hole in the fabric.
HOW DO I REMOVE STAINS, IF MY CHILD'S SWEATER IS SUPER DIRTY?
Cashmere is naturally stain resistant, however, should you ever have a stain, resist the urge to do as you would with the rest of your regular laundry when it comes to tackling stains. That means no soaking or brushing them out which can damage the wool fibers. We suggest dabbing stain remover onto the stain before washing the garment. We love this one from Tangent GC with agents from soya bean and sunflower. As always, you should test it on a small area beforehand.
When removing stains, make sure the water isn’t hot as the dirt may become ingrained in the material.
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO STORE CASHMERE?
Lay the folded garment inside your kid’s drawer or wardrobe to prevent stretching or distorting. Ideally, it should be dark, cool and dry. Cashmere must be stored clean to avoid providing a “food source” for moths. You can help prevent insect infestation by storing your cashmere clothing inside the ONEFOLD breathable cotton storage bag that came with your order (always trying to keep longevity in mind!). Never store cashmere in plastic as it encourages yellowing and can trap mildew-causing moisture, which is a prime environment for bugs. Also, for better care, try to avoid tightly packed clothing piles that crush your cashmere, or if space is very limited - make sure your cashmere tops the pile!
WHAT IF MY FAMILY IS TRAVELING?
An advantage of cashmere wool is that it hardly crumples, so it’s a perfect travel companion in suitcases, bags and rucksacks. Place a cotton cloth or tissue paper between cashmere items to protect them from dirt or rubbing during transport.
HOW CAN I PROTECT CASHMERE FROM MOTHS?
Cashmere fiber is a favorite for moths. Human body odor, skin flakes and hair in cashmere products makes it oh so attractive to these pests, so never keep cashmere clothing which has been worn but not washed in the wardrobe for long periods of time. We recommend wrapping clean cashmere items in linen cloths or a cloth bag (like the one you received with your ONEFOLD order, which also includes a cedar ball to further repel pesky moths). If it’s already too late and you notice small, irregular holes, only a thorough cleaning of the wardrobe and your clothing will help. Cold kills the greedy larvae, so shake out any clothes that have been attacked and place them in a bag in the freezer for a week. Enlist a cashmere professional to repair small moth holes.
Cashmere Brush:
Use the Pilling Brush between wears to remove lint, fuzz, and hair from the garment. It also helps to release natural oils that rejuvenate yarns. We like this one from Tangent GC with pig bristle and from kilned ash wood.
Cashmere Comb:
This tool is easy to use and highly effective in protecting the fabric while removing pilling, fabric fluff, and excess fibers.