How To Wash Cashmere In A Washing Machine Without Damage

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When it comes to both coziness and softness, cashmere is a favorite among many. If you wear cashmere, you might have a few sweaters, scarves, or cardigans in this material. Despite its luxurious qualities, however, cashmere has a significant downside: It can easily be ruined in the washing machine without the right care. To prevent such tragic consequences, you might be tempted to dry clean your cashmere instead. However, cashmere doesn't necessarily need dry cleaning, particularly if the care labels say otherwise. To wash your cashmere items in the washing machine, you will need to do so without other clothing items and also make sure that you adhere to specific laundry machine settings to reduce the risk of damage.

Technically known as cashmere wool, this material is made from the hair of goats of the same name that are indigenous parts of Central Asia. Unlike wool, the fibers that make up cashmere are much finer. The thinness of the goat hair also makes the resulting fabric softer and easier to layer. To help maintain the integrity of the fabric, it's important that you never wash your cashmere apparel with items made of other materials. Doing a load of cashmere-only clothing is the first way you can help to ensure that other fabrics will not tear your prized items apart during the washing process.

Simply washing cashmere separately is unfortunately not enough to make sure your clothing and accessories don't get ruined. You'll also need to do some prep work before throwing these items in the washing machine. The first step is to ensure that the care label says your item is safe to machine-wash. If you're unsure, you might consider washing one cashmere item at a time. If you're confident your cashmere is machine washable, be sure to turn your garments inside out to prevent unsightly snags. You can also protect cashmere by placing your pieces into mesh clothing bags you might already have on hand for washing your delicates.

Aside from checking tags and placing your items in mesh clothing bags, it's also important to use the best laundry detergent for your cashmere when washing. A wool-specific laundry detergent is a much better choice than the brand you have for washing all of your other garments, towels, and linens. One relatively inexpensive option is Woolite Delicates, which is designed for fabrics like cashmere. It's also best to machine wash cashmere on a delicate cycle with the lowest spin possible, along with cold water only. Once the cycle is complete, take out your items and lay them on a flat surface, such as a drying rack.

If you're hesitant to throw your cashmere items in the washing machine, you can still hand wash them instead. Be sure to use cool water and cashmere-safe detergent, and place one item in a large basin at once. You'll also want to avoid some of the biggest mistakes when handwashing your laundry to ensure you actually get your pieces clean.