Cashmere care

When properly cared for, cashmere will keep its shape and softness for a long time.

As tempting as it may be to drop them off at the dry cleaners, the gentlest method of cleaning cashmere knits is by hand washing them. This ensures each garment retains its softness and will last a lot longer than if regularly wrung and pressed by the dry cleaners. Here are four simple steps to caring for cashmere at home:

• Gently hand wash your garment in warm water using a mild soap designed for wool and silk products. Avoid using biological products which can wear away the garment over time. Thoroughly rinse in warm water before carefully pressing the excess water of of the garment. Never wring, or twist.
• Lay the cashmere flat on a dry towel to ease it back into shape and roll up the towel. Press gently to remove excess water. Repeat this process with a second towel.
• Spread the item out flat on a fresh towel and allow to dry naturally. Do not tumble dry.
• Store the garment flat; hanging will cause the garment to stretch and lose it's shape.

Stains: if these are not removed from your cashmere item with hand washing, dry cleaning may be required. Use a dry cleaner your trust and emphasize to them that the garment is made of cashmere so will need to be treated with the utmost core.

Cashmere pilling

Pilling refers to the tiny bobbles that appear in areas of heavy wear. It occurs because cashmere yarn is much finer and softer than other fabrics (rather than being a sign of poor quality!). To remove pilling, use a cashmere comb or a special de-pilling machine (similar to an electric toothbrush), both of which are available to buy on the high street. Simply brush the affected area gently in a downwards motion for a few minutes.