It is worth it, or how to properly wash cashmere

Cashmere is one of the most expensive woolen fabrics, the price of which fully justifies the quality.

However, despite the durability of such items, they are incredibly moody in terms of washing and drying. Even a slight deviation from the required conditions can irreversibly spoil the material.

In this article, we will tell you how to wash cashmere at home, can you use a washing machine, do cashmere items shrink after washing.

Which one can and which one cannot be washed?

Washing cashmere depends on the type of fabric:

• High quality - long, strong fibers are used that do not fluff or roll. Produced without adding other materials.

  Usually washing such things is not allowed, occasionally hand washing is allowed. But the main cleaning is dry.

• Low quality - made of coarse and short down, which can be washed both by hand and in a machine. Most often cotton, wool or silk are mixed.

More detailed washing instructions that must be followed are indicated on the manufacturer's label.

The difference in cleaning low quality and high quality material

Wet wash for pure cashmere is most often prohibited, with preference given to dry cleaning.

But, some experts advise not to get involved in dry cleanerssince wool fibers made from goat down are identical to human hair - after washing they become shiny and soft, and after regular drying they become dull and lifeless. Therefore, many owners always wash things by hand.

Preparation for processing

Before proceeding with hand or machine washing of delicate fabrics, it must be prepared for this procedure:

1. Since items are washed at low temperatures, additional cleaning will not hurt.

   The garment should be gently but thoroughly shaken to remove dust and gently brush along the inner seams with a soft brush. The same brush is allowed to clean the coat strictly along the line of the pile direction.

2. Remove all spools, preferably with a special machine. In the absence of such, you should use nail scissors and be very careful so as not to accidentally make a hole. If the wash is done correctly, the fibers will not roll again.
3. Empty large and small debris from pockets. The latter can be removed with a damp cotton swab or cotton swab.
4. Accessories, especially metal ones, should be ripped off or removed to prevent oxidation and rusty stains on the fabric.
5. The collar or fur details should also be unfastened or stitched.
6. Fasten all buttons and zippers, and turn things inside out.
7. It is better to put small wardrobe items in a machine wash in a laundry net, and pack outerwear, for example, a coat, in a duvet cover, and then carefully sew up the hole with large stitches.

Removing stains at home

Spots are another item before "water treatments". The fabric does not tolerate rough handling and cannot be rubbed, so all dirt is removed in advance:

• light stain is removed with a soft sponge dipped in warm water;
• a more resistant blot is removed with the help of a washing gel - blot the stain with a soapy sponge, leave for 40 minutes, and then rub gently with a damp, clean sponge;
• an identical procedure is carried out using baby soap, however, if there is a gel, it is better to use it due to its milder effect;
• they also turn to folk remedies - ammonia and glycerin (1: 3) - apply the mixture to the stain and rub in slightly, then rinse, repeat the action if necessary;
• oily stains are removed with soda - sprinkle the powder on the dirty area and leave for a couple of hours, then shake off the excess, and remove the remains with a damp sponge.

Step-by-step instruction

Washing cashmere is a delicate matter, so it is important to comply with all process conditions. If there is a choice between manual and machine cleaning, then the first method is preferable, since the chance of damaging the fabric during automatic washing is greater.

Suitable remedy

The detergent is just as important as the process itself, so before you start cleaning in any way, a suitable product is selected:

1. The powder should not be selected due to granules that are too large, which are not suitable for cool water and can settle on the material.
2. The best option is a specialized liquid gel for cashmere and wool. It will gently cleanse the fibers and help maintain its original size.
3. Baby hair shampoo - soft ingredients designed for babies will not harm the fabric.
4. Hand-protected dish detergent - these soaps are less aggressive and are suitable for delicate washing.

Bleach and stain removers are prohibited! Extra softness will be given by the juice of half a lemon added to the water, it will also get rid of the smell of sweat.

How to wash by hand?

This method is more gentle, however, there are some nuances here.... For starters, water. It doesn't have to be hard, so chlorinated sewage fluid will not work.

It is better to stand the water for a couple of hours and pass it through a filter. Bottled or distilled water will also work.

Having poured the required water into a basin, the agent selected in advance is added to the liquid, and not to the thing, and then beat with vigorous movements until foam appears. Do not pour too much product, otherwise the fabric will have to be rinsed for a long time.

Having done the preparatory steps, it's time to move on to washing:

• put the thing turned inside out into a basin with soapy water and leave to soak for 10-15 minutes;
• after that, the fabric is washed with light massage pressure. It is strictly forbidden to rub, twist and pull clothes;
• replace soapy water with clean water, rinse with the same movements;
• rinse as many times as necessary to completely remove the cleaning agent;
• the final rinse is carried out using a fabric softener.

How to wash cashmere at home, the video will tell:

In the washing machine

Automatic washing is allowed if there is no prohibition on the label:

• having prepared the thing according to the rules described above, and folded it into a mesh, send it to the drum;
• the mode is selected depending on the model - "delicate", "manual", "cashmere", "silk";
• turn off the spin and drying functions;
• if it is possible to adjust the water temperature, 30 ° C is set;
• do not add too much detergent.

Nuances for certain types of things

Having studied the general rules for washing cashmere clothes, you should take into account the nuances and differences in cleaning some categories of clothes.

Sweater, pullover, jacket

Beautiful cashmere blouses can be easily ruined by improper washing conditions, which will make the thing stiff, deformed or shrink. The algorithm of actions is not much different from the general recommendations.

By hands

Hand Wash - Preferred Cleaning Method:

• the water should not be hard, too cold and exceed 30 ° С;
• powder for washing will not work;
• pouring detergent onto the fabric is not recommended, things should be dipped in soapy water;
• during cleaning, do not twist or rub the material;
• at the end of rinsing, do not squeeze the jacket, but put it in the sink and press it slightly with your palms so that the excess moisture of the glass;
• then start drying.

In a typewriter

If the warning on the label does not prohibit, pullovers can be processed in a typewriter:

• select the mode "delicate", "manual", "cashmere";
• turn off spinning and drying;
• do not use powder;
• water not more than 30 ° С;
• after washing, straighten the blouse and leave it in the drum to allow excess moisture in the glass.

Scarf, shawl

It is recommended to wash the scarf and shawl only by hand, taking into account all the rules for cleaning and rinsing. The spin also does not imply twisting the thing by hand. It is enough to leave it to drain in the sink.

Coat

An expensive item like a coat is best dry-cleaned.... However, the washing procedure can also be carried out at home, if you follow the required algorithm, which is identical to the usual washing of cashmere items, observing the preliminary steps (removing fur, buttoning buttons, etc.).

After washing, the coat, just like the sweaters, is not squeezed out, but it remains to drain in the bath unfolded, since it is unlikely to fit into the sink. Drying is carried out strictly upright!

How to wash a cashmere coat, will tell this article.

Beret, hat

Hats, like scarves, are not machine washed. Neat hand wash allowed.

After the excess moisture in the glass has been removed, the cap is dried depending on its shape:

• berets are put on a plate;
• the cap-cap is dried on a suitable size jar, having previously wrapped it with soft cloth;
• classic hats are laid out on a towel.

Does the cashmere product shrink?

With proper care and washing, the cashmere item does not shrink. However, such an unpleasant consequence comes after:

• wash in water above thirty degrees;
• drying in an upright position;
• drying in the sun, a radiator or in the immediate vicinity of the latter.

What to do if clothes are shrinking or stretched?

Reanimation of a damaged item is possible if the material is stretched no more than one size:

1. Collect water exactly 30 degrees, not hot or colder.
2. Add the required amount of conditioner and stir.
3. Leave the fabric to soak for ten minutes.
4. Place a cloth between two terrycloth towels and allow excess moisture to absorb.
5. Spread out on a horizontal surface.
6. Every half hour evenly and do not stretch the thing too much.

How to dry?

Drying is the final stage of cleaning a cashmere item, which should be treated as carefully as the washing itself.

Main rules:

1. After the water has passed, the cloth is placed between two thick terry towels and rolled into a roller, pressing lightly with your hands to absorb moisture. Leave this "structure" for a couple of hours.
2. A dry sheet or towel is laid on a clean horizontal surface, where cashmere is laid out.
3. Carefully straighten all the smallest folds, folds and creases, since ironing of wool is prohibited.

Drying bans

The desire to quickly put on a freshly washed item is quite justified, but you should not rush the drying process.

It must pass naturally, therefore it is strictly forbidden:

• dry things upright or on a clothesline;
• lay out on or near the battery;
• contact of raw tissue with direct sunlight;
• drying with a hairdryer, iron and other sources of artificial heat.

How do I remove the pellets?

Usually, cashmere items are peeled from spools before washing, however, with the wrong choice, they can reappear.

There are quite a few tips on the Internet on how to get rid of matted wool, but you should not forget that cashmere is a capricious thing, therefore aggressive removal methods, such as a toothbrush, sandpaper, razor, etc. spoil the material.

Conclusion

Having studied the rules and nuances of washing and drying cashmere, short conclusions can be drawn:

• washing is permitted, unless otherwise indicated on the label;
• it is not recommended to ignore the manufacturer's advice;
• both hand and machine wash are allowed in 30-degree water;
• crumpling, curling or rubbing cashmere is strictly not allowed;
• automatic spinning is prohibited, water must drain naturally;
• drying also takes place naturally at room temperature in a horizontal position, straightening all the creases and folds.

Only if these conditions are met, cashmere items will serve their owners for many years.