How to Wash a Cashmere Scarf?

A good-quality cashmere product can be expensive—but cashmere is a wardrobe staple for its long-lasting composition and luxe, cozy feel. So how to wash and care for your cashmere scarf or sweater becomes very important in daily life.

For the best tips on how to wash and care cashmere scarf, follow these pointers to keep your cashmere looking brand new for years.

Hand Wash Cashmere at home

Yes, it’s possible to clean your cashmere at home. Whether you’re washing a sweater, dress or scarf by hand, these steps will help you keep your cashmere fresh. It is helpful for preventing cashmere from pilling. Please remember that do not mix with other clothes to wash together in order to avoid staining.

Below are steps for washing a cashmere scarf by hand.

1. Fill a large bowl with cool water and soak the scarf for 5 to 10 minutes, then gently squeezes in the water with both hands while soaking. The water temperature will be 35℃ normally. The purpose of soaking and squeezing is to get the grime attached to the inner part of the cashmere out of the fiber, and the other part of the dirt wetting loses. In this step, if you use hot water, your cashmere will shrink finally.
   
   
2. Drop some shampoo or baby shampoo in the water and gently squeeze the water with your hands. Please do not use hot soap water, scrub, or alkaline washing powder, otherwise, there will be a shrinking rolling felt and deformation. When washing cashmere scarf by hand, you can wash them with baby shampoo. Because cashmere fiber is the protein fiber, afraid of alkaline detergent.
   
3. Put in a small splash of vinegar if you want a natural fabric softener. We used the shampoo in the washing process, in order to neutralize residual soap lye in cashmere, some drops of vinegar are needed at the moment.
4. Remove the stained areas using a wipe. Make sure to dab, but not rub the scarf to avoid cashmere pilling. If you don’t have a stain-removing wipe, you can put a little bit of liquid stain remover onto a paper towel. We have one blog post on how to get stains out of cashmere.
5. Gently swirl the scarf with your hands in water. Don't pull or drag because that can deform the cashmere. If you plan to wash several scarves, the lighted color one will be first.
   
6. Rinse out your scarf in a bowl of clean water. Pour out all the water from the bowl, rinse it out, and refill it with clean water. Repeat this several times until the soap is gone.                                                            
   
7. Lay the scarf on a flat surface, usually lay it on your towel. Don't put it under sunshine, just let it dry in a normal way.
   

Now your scarf will be clean finally.

Machine Wash

Yes, you can wash your cashmere by machine too. Below are the steps you need to follow up.

• Step 1. Place your cashmere in a laundry bag to prevent them from tangling.
• Step 2. Follow the instructions on the cashmere detergent bottles to find out how much detergent is needed for the cashmere in your washing machine.
• Step 3. Drop some detergent into the washing machine.
• Step 4. Set a short washing time and press start. The washing machine will not damage the integrity of the fiber, but too much stirring can cause pilling.
• Step 5. Lay your cashmere flat to air dry. Never use a dryer.

Can you dry clean your cashmere？

Yes, you can. If you are busy and have no time to wash it by yourself. You can go to the dry cleaner to wash it. Cashmere sweaters and scarves are easy to shrink, so be sure to tell the dry cleaner guys to treat it carefully. 

How to store cashmere?

Just fold it, do not hang it.

Once your cashmere sweater or scarf is clean and dry. Fold them and store them in a dresser or on a closet shelf. If you hang them, the weight of your cashmere will pull them out of original design.

Store it for season

When you’re putting your cashmere away for the season, place it in a breathable garment bag or storage box in a cool, dry area. To prevent wrinkles, you can wrap each piece of cashmere clothing in acid-free tissue paper.

Wash it before storage

Remember to make sure your cashmere is washed before you store it for the offseason. Moths are attracted to human scents, so you’ll want to get rid of any perfume or food odors prior to storage. As an added precaution, place some cedar wood moth repellents with your cashmere.

How to repair and care your cashmere

Prevent and remove pilling

Cashmere pilling usually occurs when two fabrics rub together. You can see it on clothes made of wool, cotton, cashmere, even polyester garments. But you can fix it and prevent it. Use a fabric conditioner to protect the fibers and reduce friction that causes pills. You can also try other ways to remove cashmere pilling: small scissors or a razor blade, fine-tooth comb, pumice stone, fruit zester, sweater comb, electric fabric shaver and so on.

Sew up holes

Sometimes, you may see there is one hole on your sweater or scarf, do not worry about it, cashmere is soft and durable, just use one needle with thin yarn to fix it.

Rinse out stains.

When you wash your cashmere scarf or sweater, remember just soak your cashmere in water for five minutes. Please do not scroll it with hands, lay down it on flat surface and let it dry by air.

Prevent shrinking and reverse stretching.

Following these tips and suggestions, you can wash your products in a safe way and keep them stay longer time in your life.

updated on Feb 10th, 2022

About Ying Tang Miss Ying, cashmere products quality controller in Dr.Muxue, with 10 years of experience in cashmere material selecting and cashmere material purchasing, deeply knows the process of cashmere garment producing as well as how to take care of them.