Caring for Cashmere

Care Instructions for Cashmere Socks

Caring for Your Cashmere

Cashmere is the finest natural fiber available on the market, but it is scarce and expensive. That’s why it’s important to take good care of it—here are a few simple tips to help you get the most out of your cashmere.

Washing Instructions

Cashmere is one of the most delicate natural fibers in the world, and if you invest in one of our pieces, you should care for it with care and love. Cashmere knitwear can be hand-washed or dry-cleaned. We recommend frequent hand-washing, following these simple guidelines:
Cashmere should be washed with a high-quality wool or cashmere shampoo or a similar detergent. Make sure the detergent is completely dissolved before adding the garment. Gently work the soapy water through the garment, then rinse it several times in lukewarm water.
To dry... do not wring out or squeeze hard—simply lay the garments flat on a towel and reshape them—let them air dry away from direct heat sources such as radiators or sunlight. DO NOT TUMBLE DRY.

Once dry, lightly iron with a cool iron.
Certain cashmere garments are best cleaned by a reputable dry cleaner. When washed and cared for properly, the texture of a cashmere garment can actually improve.

Pilling

After wearing your cashmere garment a few times, you may notice small clumps of fibers forming on the surface. These small clumps, known as "pills," are caused by loose fibers becoming tangled with one another when certain areas of your garment rub against each other while you're wearing it. This is similar to the fuzz that forms on a new carpet that has just been laid and used. Over time, the fibers settle and the fuzz disappears.
Pilling is not a sign of poor quality, but rather an inevitable result of the careful processing of this fine fiber. Pilling can be easily removed by hand or with a "pilling comb," which is available at most fabric stores.
You'll find that removing the pills in this way strengthens the fabric and makes it softer to the touch. Like fine wine, cashmere improves with age when properly cared for and will last for years.

Moths

These are a threat to most garments made of natural fibers. There are several ways to keep your cashmere free of moths:
A good way to keep them out of your closet is to use scented deterrents like cedarwood balls or hanging sachets filled with lavender, rosemary, or cloves. Although they may smell nice to us, moths actually hate the scent. To keep moths away, hang the cedarwood balls around your hangers or scatter them among your folded cashmere.
Another option is to freeze your cashmere garments. Simply place them in a plastic bag and freeze them for a day or overnight. Then let them thaw slowly. This should kill everything, including moths and moth larvae. This method may sound strange, but it has been proven to work.
The life cycle of a moth is about 21 days, so it’s a good idea to give your cashmere a good shake every month. Moths hate being disturbed and dislike light. So if you suspect you have moths, it’s also a good idea to air out your clothes in daylight, as this will cause any larvae to be repelled and fall off your clothes, if there are any.
The most important rule, however, is to keep your closet clean, tidy it up from time to time, and make sure you don’t store any dirty clothes in it.