How to Care for Your Cashmere Clothing to Make It Last

Cashmere is not fragile. It just asks for a little respect, and in return, it lasts a lifetime

There’s a common fear around cashmere: that it’s delicate, high-maintenance, and one wrong wash away from disaster. We’re here to tell you that isn’t quite true.

Yes, cashmere requires more attention than a cotton t-shirt. But with the right habits, your cashmere pieces will soften beautifully with age, hold their shape for years, and feel even better the longer you have them. This guide covers everything you need to know washing, drying, storing, and handling the occasional pill.

How Often Should You Wash Cashmere?

Less often than you think.

Cashmere is naturally odour-resistant and self-cleaning to a degree the lanolin in the fibre discourages bacteria. Unless you’ve worn a piece in heat, during physical activity, or it has a visible stain, you generally don’t need to wash it after every wear.

A good rule: Air it out between wears by laying it flat for a few hours. Wash after 3–5 wears, or when it truly needs it.

Over washing is one of the main causes of cashmere wear the less you wash it, the longer it lasts.

How to Wash Cashmere

Hand Washing (Recommended)

Hand washing is the gentlest method and gives you the most control.

1. Fill a clean sink or basin with cool or lukewarm water. Never use hot water, it causes shrinkage and felting.
2. Add a small amount of mild detergent a gentle wool wash, baby shampoo, or a specialist cashmere detergent works well. A teaspoon is enough.
3. Submerge the garment and gently squeeze water through it. Do not rub, wring, or scrub, this agitates the fibres and causes damage.
4. Let it soak for 10–15 minutes.
5. Rinse thoroughly with cool water until the water runs clear. Never twist or wring to remove water.
6. Press out excess water by gently squeezing the garment against the side of the sink, or rolling it in a clean dry towel and pressing down.

Machine Washing (If Necessary)

Some modern machines have a dedicated wool or delicate cycle that can work for cashmere, but it’s a risk. If you choose this route:

• Use a mesh laundry bag
• Select the most delicate cycle available, with cold water and a slow spin
• Use a gentle wool detergent
• Never use a regular wash cycle

When in doubt, hand wash. It takes five minutes and removes all risk.

Drying Cashmere

Never put cashmere in the dryer. Heat is cashmere’s enemy, it causes irreversible shrinkage and can permanently alter the texture of the fibre.

The right way to dry cashmere:

1. After washing, gently reshape the garment to its original dimensions while it’s still damp, this is your chance to correct any stretching.
2. Lay it flat on a clean dry towel or a mesh drying rack.
3. Keep it away from direct sunlight or heat sources (radiators, sunny windowsills).
4. Allow it to dry fully before wearing or storing, wearing damp cashmere stretches it.

Drying flat prevents the weight of the wet garment from pulling it out of shape, which happens easily if it’s hung while wet.

How to Store Cashmere

Fold, don’t hang. Hanging cashmere on a hanger stretches it at the shoulders over time. Always fold and store flat.

Keep it clean before storing. Moths are attracted to body oils and food residue on fabric. Always wash or air cashmere before putting it away for the season.

Use cedar or lavender. Cedar blocks or balls and dried lavender sachets are natural moth deterrents. Place them in the drawer or storage box with your cashmere. Replace or refresh cedar every few months.

Breathable storage. Store cashmere in a breathable cotton bag or a drawer, not in a sealed plastic bag, which can trap moisture and encourage mildew.

Keep away from light. Prolonged exposure to direct light can fade and weaken cashmere fibres over time.

Dealing with Pilling

Pilling is normal. It’s not a sign of poor quality, it’s a sign the garment is being worn and the shorter fibres are working their way to the surface. Higher quality cashmere actually tends to pill less over time, once those initial loose fibres have been removed.

How to remove pills:

Use a cashmere comb or a fabric shaver. Gently work across the surface of the fabric in one direction. Do this on a flat surface with the garment laid out.

• A cashmere comb (a small paddle with fine metal teeth) is ideal, it removes pills gently without cutting fibres.
• A fabric shaver works quickly but requires a light touch to avoid over-thinning the fabric.
• Or when your cashmere clothing is wet, you can take off the pills by hand.

Mongolian Cashmere after few washes stars pilling less and less to the point, it does not pill at all. That is magic of Mongolian Cashmere

What to Do If Cashmere Shrinks

If a cashmere piece has shrunk slightly (usually from warm water or a dryer), it can often be gently stretched back while damp.

1. Soak the garment in lukewarm water with a small amount of hair conditioner for 15–20 minutes. The conditioner relaxes the fibres.
2. Gently press out the water — do not wring.
3. Lay flat and carefully stretch the fabric back toward its original shape, pinning it to a towel if needed.
4. Leave to dry completely before wearing.

Severe shrinkage is difficult to reverse fully, but this method works well for minor cases.

Have a care question about a specific piece? Get in touch or visit us in store on Wellington Street in Ottawa — we’re always happy to help.