At this time of year there is nothing like being wrapped up in luxurious cashmere. With that in mind we have put together some top tips that will help you get the most out of your winter woollies.

Caring For Cashmere

Washing

We have lost count of the amount of times we have put off hand washing our cashmere but you will actually find that a lot of stores now sell cashmere that is machine washable. Most washing machines have a hand wash cycle and then all you need to do is lay your jumper flat on a towel to dry. This will prevent it from losing its shape. If your washing machine doesn’t have a hand wash setting then place your item inside a pillow case or mesh bag and wash it on a cold setting.

Moths

Unfortunately moths love cashmere just as much as us. Make sure that it is completely dry before you store it as they are drawn to any knit with moisture in the fibres. Once it is dry, fold it up and place it in a zip lock bag. You can even line the bags with anti moth paper strips. Then put it in a drawer that closes tightly. Anti moth drawer liners are also an option. It is not a good idea to use hangers and they will stretch the wool.

Pilling

All cashmere is susceptible to pilling regardless of how good quality it is. You can get your hands on knitwear combs to help with this. Just lay your jumper flat and lightly comb over the fibres so that any pills are picked up. Battery powered fabric shavers are also an option, but make sure you don’t run these over any delicate materials. It will make your cashmere look better but not as good as new. Some dry cleaners can also de-pill so it is always worth asking about this.