How to Care for Cashmere

Cashmere sits at the top of the knitwear hierarchy for good reason — it is extraordinarily soft, lightweight, and warm. But those same qualities make it one of the more demanding fabrics to keep in good condition. At our Maple Ridge facility we handle cashmere pieces every week, and the damage we see most often comes not from neglect but from well-intentioned washing with the wrong products and the wrong drying method.

Why Cashmere Needs Special Handling

Cashmere is a protein fibre, harvested from the undercoat of cashmere goats. Like wool and silk, it has a scaled surface at the microscopic level. Heat, friction, and harsh chemistry cause those scales to interlock — a process called felting — which results in shrinkage and a coarser texture that cannot be reversed. Understanding this helps explain every rule in a proper cashmere care routine.

Picking the Right Detergent

The single most important decision you make when washing cashmere is which detergent you reach for. Standard household detergents often contain enzymes designed to break down protein-based stains like grass and blood. Those same enzymes will attack cashmere fibres with repeated exposure.

Look for a detergent labelled for cashmere, wool, or animal fibres. These formulas are enzyme-free and usually include a conditioning agent that keeps fibres soft and pliable. A small bottle lasts a long time because the doses are modest.

Washing Technique: Hand or Machine

Hand washing gives you the most control. Fill a basin with cool to lukewarm water — never hot — add a measured amount of detergent, and submerge the sweater. Use slow, deliberate up-and-down motions rather than rubbing or scrubbing. Give it a brief soak of a few minutes, then rinse until the water runs completely clear. Any soap residue left in the fibres will make the fabric feel stiff and dull over time.

If you prefer to use a machine, place the item inside a mesh laundry bag, select the gentlest cycle available, and keep the load small so the sweater has room to move without tangling.

Drying: the Step Where Most Damage Happens

Drying cashmere incorrectly is the fastest way to ruin an expensive garment. After rinsing, squeeze — do not wring — excess water from the sweater. Lay a clean, dry towel flat, place the sweater on top, and roll both together like a scroll. Press firmly. Unroll, transfer the sweater to a fresh dry towel or a mesh drying rack, and reshape it to its original dimensions while it is still damp.

Never hang cashmere to dry. The weight of water in the fibres will stretch the shoulders and body, often permanently. Tumble drying carries the same risk of felting even on low heat.

Dealing with Pills

Some pilling is inevitable on any spun fibre, particularly after the first few seasons of wear. It is not a quality defect — it is the natural result of short fibres migrating to the surface. Use a dedicated depilling comb or fabric shaver on a flat, taut surface. Work slowly and avoid pressing too hard, which can thin the knit.

Long-Term Storage

Before you pack cashmere away for the warmer months, launder it even if it looks clean. Body oils and sweat residue that are invisible to the eye are attractive to clothes moths. Store pieces folded — never on a hanger — inside breathable cotton bags or sealed storage bags with cedar or lavender sachets as a deterrent.

If a cashmere piece has a stubborn stain, has lost its shape significantly, or carries a dry-clean-only label, professional cleaning is the sensible choice.

The Laundry Brothers offers wash & fold and dry cleaning pickup across Greater Vancouver, seven days a week. See service areas →