How to Wash, Dry, and Store Cashmere: A Factory’s Honest Care Guide

Cashmere is a natural fiber. Treat it well and it lasts 10+ years. Treat it poorly and it pills, shrinks, or loses shape in 6 months. After 23 years of watching how customers care for their cashmere, here’s the honest guide.

The 3 ways to wash cashmere (ranked by safety)

1. Hand wash (safest) — Always works. Use cool water (30°C max) and a pH-neutral wool wash (we like Eucalan or Soak, no rinsing required). Submerge for 15-20 minutes. Gently press (don’t wring) the water out. Roll in a clean towel to remove excess moisture. Lay flat to dry on a fresh towel, reshaping gently.

2. Machine wash (acceptable, with conditions) — Most modern washing machines have a “wool” or “delicates” cycle that mimics hand washing. Use:

• Cool water (cold setting, 30°C max)
• Wool-safe detergent (NOT regular detergent, NOT fabric softener)
• Mesh laundry bag (essential — prevents snagging and agitation damage)
• Lowest spin speed (or no spin)
• Wash similar colors together (camel + ivory are fine; white + dark = trouble)

NEVER use hot water, regular detergent, or high spin. Hot water + agitation = felted cashmere (irreversible shrinkage).

3. Dry cleaning (works but with caveats) — Most dry cleaners use perchloroethylene (perc) which doesn’t damage cashmere but isn’t great for the environment. Some “green” cleaners use CO2 or water-based methods. If you dry clean, request “gentle cycle” and “low heat”. Avoid dry cleaning more than 2-3 times per year — the solvents strip natural oils from the fiber over time.

Our honest recommendation: hand wash if you have 20 minutes, machine wash on wool cycle if you’re in a hurry, dry clean only for stubborn stains.

Drying cashmere (this is where most people ruin their sweaters)

THE BIGGEST MISTAKE: Hanging a wet cashmere sweater to dry. The water weight stretches the fiber, leaving the shoulders deformed and the body elongated — permanently.

Correct method:

1. After washing, gently press water out (don’t wring)
2. Roll in a clean dry towel, press to absorb (repeat with second dry towel if very wet)
3. Lay flat on a fresh dry towel, reshape to original dimensions
4. Keep away from direct sunlight and direct heat (radiators, hair dryers)
5. Flip after 8-12 hours; should be dry in 24-36 hours

Drying takes patience. Never put cashmere in a dryer (even on low heat). Even 10 minutes in a tumble dryer can cause irreversible shrinkage and felting.

Pilling: what causes it, how to fix it

Pilling (those tiny fiber balls on the surface) is not a quality defect — it’s a natural response to friction. New cashmere sweaters pill more in the first 3-4 wears as loose fibers come to the surface. After the initial pilling phase, good cashmere pills minimally for years.

Where pilling happens most:

• Underarm area (most friction from arm movement)
• Inner elbow (bending friction)
• Side torso (bag/strap friction)
• Cuffs (desk/friction contact)

How to remove pills safely:

• Cashmere comb (best tool) — fine-toothed comb specifically designed for knitwear. Lay the sweater flat, comb gently in one direction.
• Fabric shaver (also good) — electric de-piller like the Philips Fabric Shaver or Conair Fabric Defuzzer. Use on low setting, light pressure. Don’t go over the same spot repeatedly.
• Avoid: Regular razors (cuts the fiber), tape (pulls fibers), scissors (cuts too much).

How to prevent pilling long-term:

• Wash inside out (reduces surface friction)
• Don’t wear the same cashmere 2 days in a row (fiber needs 24 hours to recover)
• Store folded, not hung (hanging stretches shoulders)
• Use a cashmere wash (preserves natural oils)

A cashmere sweater that pills heavily in year 1 is a quality red flag. But pilling lightly in months 1-3, then stabilizing, is normal — even for Grade A.

Stain removal (specific stain types)

Oil-based stains (makeup, salad dressing, butter): Sprinkle cornstarch or baby powder on the stain immediately. Let sit 30 minutes to absorb. Then hand wash with wool detergent. Repeat if needed. Do NOT use hot water first — sets the stain.

Water-based stains (coffee, wine, juice): Blot (don’t rub) with cold water from the inside of the fabric. Apply a tiny amount of wool detergent, work in gently. Rinse. Repeat if needed.

Deodorant marks: Mix white vinegar and water 50/50. Dab on the mark, let sit 10 minutes, then wash normally.

Moth holes: Prevention is everything — see storage below. If you find a hole, take it to a tailor for repair. A skilled tailor can reweave small holes invisibly.

Storage (off-season + daily)

Daily storage: Fold, don’t hang. Hanging stretches shoulders permanently. Use a shelf or drawer with room for the sweater to “breathe” — don’t cram it in.

Off-season storage (3+ months not worn):

1. Wash before storing (body oils and food residue attract moths)
2. Completely dry (moisture + closed storage = mildew)
3. Use cedar blocks, lavender sachets, or moth balls (naphthalene) — DO NOT use plastic garment bags for long-term storage; cashmere needs to breathe
4. Store in a cotton storage bag (not plastic) in a cool, dry place
5. Check every 2-3 months for moth activity

Moth prevention is critical. Clothes moths (Tineola bisselliella) lay eggs in natural fibers — including cashmere. A single moth can lay 100+ eggs, and the larvae eat cashmere fiber. If you see one moth, check ALL your cashmere immediately.

What we tell our B2B customers to include with each sale

If you’re a private label cashmere brand, the care guide is the single most important insert to include with each garment. It directly determines:

• Customer satisfaction (pilling complaints drop 80% when customers understand the first-3-wear pilling phase)
• Repeat purchase rate (customers who know how to care for cashmere buy again 2-3x more often)
• Returns (proper care prevents “this cashmere is ruined” returns)

Most brands skip the care insert. The ones that include it build lifetime customers.

When to retire a cashmere sweater

With proper care, a Grade A cashmere sweater should last 8-15 years. Signs it’s time to retire:

• Holes that can’t be invisibly repaired (large, in visible spots)
• Permanent felting (the fiber has matted together — usually from a hot wash incident)
• Major pilling that doesn’t respond to combing (usually means the fiber is wearing through)

Most “cashmere ruined” stories involve one of three things: hot water wash, tumble dryer, or stored with body oils attracting moths. Avoid those three and your cashmere will outlive most of your wardrobe.

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Want to download this guide as a printable PDF for your customers? Request the printable care insert — we’ll send it branded with your logo for free.