With Labor Day now in the rear view mirror, there’s no better opportunity to prepare your wardrobe for the cold weather. Perhaps the most luxurious and comfortable winter-weather garment is a cashmere sweater. Made from cashmere wool, it offers an unmatched level of softness and comfort. But like all high-end fabrics, it requires a little work to properly maintain. So, consider the following tips when caring for your cashmere sweater.
Don’t Clean in the Washing Machine
Don’t make the mistake of trying to clean your cashmere sweater by placing it in the washing machine. Cashmere wool is simply too delicate for rotating-drum machine machines. While it may clean your sweater, it will probably stretch it out and cause other damage in the process.
Hand-Wash
Instead of placing it in the washing machine, it’s recommended that you clean your cashmere sweater by hand-washing it. Simply fill your sink with cold water, add a small amount of baby shampoo, and gently rub the fabric with your hands. After doing this for 5-8 minutes, drain the soapy water and rinse it with fresh water. You should continue ringing the sweater until the water drips clear, at which point you can remove it from the sink and hang it on a line to dry.
Dry-Cleaning
Alternatively, you can clean your cashmere sweater by taking it to the dry cleaners. It’s a non-invasive technique that’s great for delicate fabrics such as cashmere wool.
Read the Care Label
The single most important thing you can do when caring for a cashmere sweater is to read the care label. Typically found inside the collar, this label reveals the manufacturer’s instructions on how to clean and care for the sweater. Being that different manufacturers use different processes to create their cashmere sweaters, care instructions may vary from brand to brand. So, always look at the care label for more information on how to maintain your cashmere sweater.
Store in Humidity-Controlled Area
When you are finished wearing your cashmere sweater for the season, you should store it in a humidity-controlled area. If the humidity is too high, excess moisture will saturate the delicate cashmere wool fabric, potentially damaging it. This is why it’s a good idea to store clothes made of delicate fabrics in an environment with a 40% to 50% relative humidity level. Assuming you store your cashmere sweater at home, invest in a humidity reader so you can check, and control, the humidity level.
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