Caring for cashmere and wool

It’s that time of year again when the days grow shorter and the nights cooler. We start thinking about pulling out the woolies from storage and giving them a clean before wearing them. If you’ve ever wondered how to care for cashmere and wool fibres, we’ve gathered some information to give you some of our best tips to make cleaning your woolies easy and simple!

One of the most important things to remember is that cashmere and wool are natural hair fibres. This is often what makes them so luxurious and enjoyable to wear, but conversely as with any natural fibre, they are more susceptible to the elements and a little extra attention is needed in their care. Cashmere particularly, is delicate and many people simply dry clean these items. However, our cashmere and wool can be handwashed gently using a dedicated wool and cashmere wash such as this one from the Laundress. If you don’t want to purchase a special product, a normal hair conditioner that you would find in any chemist can also be used.

Immerse your cashmere or wool in lukewarm water with a small splash of the wool wash or conditioner, squeezing gently to saturate the material. Avoid rubbing abrasively or wringing the item. Rinse in clean water until the water runs clear and then to dry your wooly, first lay it out flat on a large bath towel and then roll up the towel squeezing to allow the water to be soaked up. Lay your cashmere or wool flat on another dry towel to air dry. Do not wring it or lay it directly on a heat source.

To store your cashmere or wool, fold it and place inside a garment bag or alternatively a pillow case will do. This allows the fibres to be more protected and away from moisture. Natural fibres are attractive to insects such as moths so placing cedar wood like this or lavender sachets inside the folds of your wooly will work to deter them.

And that’s it. A little bit of care along the way is all it needs! While some might feel the above is a lot of bother for one item of clothing,  there is something to be said about having clothes that you know are high quality and deserving of the effort and care for the pleasure of wearing and treasuring something for years to come. We hope this has been helpful. Let us know how you get on!