CARING FOR YOUR CASHMERE
Handy Care Tips.
So you’ve splashed out and bought a new cashmere jumper and the time has come to launder or de-pill. Eeik... fear sets in. Don’t panic. We want to help you keep your cashmere fresh for as long as possible. So here’s how to care for your garment properly and invests in a happy future for your cashmere.
Maybe its your first cashmere purchase, or you have a wardrobe full. We are here to help you learn to properly care for you cashmere investments.
TIP: Do Not EVER dry clean your cashmere. The chemicals will break it down and destroy its softness.
Follow our helpful step-by-step guides for easy solutions to washing, de-pilling and storing your cashmere to make sure it will last you many years to come.
How often should I wash my cashmere?
We trust you to know when the time is right to launder your clothing... that being said, a lot of people avoid washing their cashmere under the impression this will tire your knits quicker. This is a misconception. Cashmere is made by spinning lots of fibres together to create one single strand of yarn, making it porous in nature and more susceptible to dirt and odour than other fabrics. Therefore by not washing your cashmere you will actually speed up the ageing process. We recommend you clean your cashmere as often as often as it gets dirty.
How to wash.
• Hand wash your cashmere with an approved delicates detergent.
• Turn your knit inside out before washing to avoid fluffing the surface.
• Wash only in lukewarm water as hot water will shrink the yarn and set stains.
• Avoid fabric softeners as these can damage the fibres.
• Don’t rub the fabric against itself, because both can cause pilling.
• Do not wring out your sweater – this will stretch it out of shape.
Garments can be washed in a washing machine if you have a wool/hand wash setting and cold-water setting washing machine. Make sure to turn your garment inside out. Set your washing machine on the wool/hand wash cycle and cold water with an approved wool detergent (no longer than 5 minutes agitation). Gently pull the garment back to shape and lay flat in a cool place, do not dry in direct heat or sunlight. Ensure that their are no other items that can catch on your cashmere.
How to dry.
A tip to help dry your cashmere is to lay it flat on a towel then roll both of them into a tube. Lightly apply pressure to the tube, to allow the towel to absorb any leftover water.
Post-roll, lay your cashmere flat on a smooth flat smooth surface with a towel underneath it to dry completely. If pressing is required, use a warm iron with a protective cloth and press inside out.
De-pilling.
All 100% cashmere will pill. Pilling is a natural characteristic of even the finest cashmere which is why we give a free cashmere comb with all our sweaters.
Pilling refers to the little balls that form on a garment where friction occurs. It is an inevitability in well-loved cashmere garments. The occurrence of ‘shedding’ in the first few wears is the natural process of the fibres relaxing and actually makes your garment softer. Once you notice balls of pilling forming, lay your garment over a flat surface (an ironing board works well!) then take your cashmere comb and brush in one direction. Top to bottom works well. Don’t be shy, it won’t hurt the fabric as long as you’re holding the garment firmly on a flat surface.
If you are not confident to do this yourself, MIA FRATINO offers a bespoke Care & Revitalise Treatment which includes washing, de-pilling and pressing to return your garment to as good as new.
Always fold flat.
A lot of people don’t know, but cashmere likes hangers about as much as a cat likes a bath, and for good reason. Hanging your cashmere will stretch it out of shape and you’ll be left with a wonky garment that will no longer sit properly. This is why you should always store your cashmere folded.
For end-of-season storage, use cotton storage bags. We recommend you store garments with a moth repellant scented bag (near to, but not touching, your garment, Sandalwood works well.) This will prevent any nasties trying to nibble on your natural fibre.
NOTE - Always wash your garments before stowing them away at the end of the season. Even if you’ve only lightly worn the garment, any wear residue at all will provide food for moths.
If you find moth holes.
A dreaded moth infestation requires one thing: an all-out closet quarantine.
Remove everything, cleaning both the inside of the closets and the garments, and spray affected areas with bug spray. Steaming is also an effective way to remove bug larva and stop the life cycle of moths. Small sachets of cloves slipped into folded garments can help ward off textile-hungry moths too, and we recommend storing your garment in the wardrobe with a Mia Fratino sandalwood scented garment protector to deter moths.
To reiterate - to avoid moth holes, make sure to launder all your natural fibres before storing!
If you encounter some moth misfortune – or find any other snag or hole in a garment – Mia Fratino offers a bespoke repair service here.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS FROM MIA FRATINO