How to Care for a Cashmere Jumper: The Complete Guide

A good cashmere jumper is one of the best investments you can make in your wardrobe. Treated correctly, cashmere gets softer with every wash and lasts 20–30 years. Treated badly, it pills, stretches, and shrinks beyond recovery within a season.

This is the complete guide to keeping your cashmere looking perfect for decades.

How to wash cashmere

Washing is where most cashmere is accidentally damaged. The two biggest mistakes are using the wrong detergent and washing at too high a temperature.

• Hand wash in cool water (max 30°C) with a specialist wool or cashmere shampoo
• Machine wash on delicate/wool cycle at 30°C maximum — never higher
• Turn inside out before washing to reduce surface friction
• Use a mesh laundry bag to prevent snagging on other garments
• Never use regular detergent — the enzymes break down protein fibres in cashmere
• Don't soak — 2–3 minutes of gentle agitation is enough

How to dry cashmere

Drying is the second most common point of damage. Heat and hanging are cashmere's two enemies.

• Never tumble dry — even a low heat setting causes immediate, irreversible shrinkage
• Never wring or twist — gently squeeze out excess water only
• Lay flat on a clean dry towel and reshape to original dimensions while damp
• Dry away from direct sunlight and radiators — gentle air circulation only
• Allow 24–48 hours to dry completely before wearing or storing

How to store cashmere

• Always fold, never hang — hanging stretches the shoulders permanently within weeks
• Store in breathable cotton bags or drawers — not plastic, which traps moisture
• Add cedar balls or lavender sachets — natural moth deterrents that won't damage fabric
• Wash before seasonal storage — moths are attracted to body oils and food residue on fabric
• Store clean and completely dry — any residual moisture leads to mildew

How to remove bobbles from cashmere

Pilling is completely normal on cashmere — it's actually a sign of genuine cashmere rather than a synthetic blend. The fine natural fibres that make cashmere so soft are the same fibres that pill with wear. Don't panic when you see pills — they're expected, and completely removable.

The key is using the right tool at the right setting. Never use scissors — the risk of cutting threads is too high. Never use a high-speed fabric shaver — the aggressive motion can pull threads.

The only safe method is the LintGone Pro on Speed 1. The low-speed setting combined with the floating head means zero pressure on the fabric — it simply glides across the surface, cleanly removing pills without touching the weave underneath. One gentle pass and your cashmere looks brand new.

How to fix a stretched cashmere jumper

If cashmere has stretched slightly, dampen it with cool water, gently reshape it to the correct dimensions by hand, and lay flat to dry. For significant stretching, a specialist knitwear dry cleaner is your best option — don't attempt to machine wash to shrink it back, as the results are unpredictable.

Cashmere care: the 5 golden rules

1. Wash cool — hand or delicate machine cycle, never above 30°C
2. Never tumble dry — always air dry flat
3. Fold to store, never hang
4. Remove pills on Speed 1 only — never scissors, never high speed
5. Wash before long-term storage to deter moths