How to Wash Cashmere at Home

Cashmere usually doesn’t need to be dry-cleaned (check the care label first). A ten-minute cold hand wash keeps the sweater soft, in shape, and ready to wear for years. Here’s the procedure Quince recommends, how often to actually do it, and how to think about pilling along the way.

A good rule of thumb is every three to five wears, and less often if you layer something underneath.

Cashmere is naturally breathable and doesn’t hold odors the way cotton does. In between washes, airing the sweater out overnight or giving it a quick pass with a garment steamer is usually all it needs. Save a full wash for visible marks, spills, or the end of the season before you store it away.

Washing less often also helps the sweater keep its shape and reduces pilling over time, since every cycle creates friction against the fibers.

The Quince-approved method is a ten-minute cold hand wash with a wool-safe detergent, finished by rolling in a towel and laying flat to dry.

• 1.  Fill a basin with cool water and add wool-safe detergent, using the amount recommended on the bottle.

• 2.  Turn the sweater inside out and submerge it. Let it soak for about ten minutes.

• 3.  Press it gently against the side of the basin to move the water through. Don’t wring, twist, or rub.

• 4.  Drain, refill with clean cool water, and press through again to rinse.

• 5.  Press the water out against the basin, then roll the sweater in a clean towel to absorb more.

• 6.  Lay it flat on a fresh dry towel or a mesh rack.

• 7.  Reshape while damp — square the shoulders, straighten the cuffs and hem.

• 8.  Iron on low if needed. Skip bleach and skip fabric softener (it coats the fiber and weakens the yarn’s grip).

For blends, seasonal weights, or specialty finishes, follow the care instructions on the product page — they’re tailored to the specific style.

Lay it flat and reshape while damp. Never hang or tumble dry.

Wet cashmere is heavy, and hanging it up can stretch the shoulders and pull the sweater out of shape.

The steps:

• •  Press the water out against the basin. Don’t wring.

• •  Lay flat on a clean towel. Roll the towel with the sweater inside to pull out more water.

• •  Move it to a fresh dry towel or a flat mesh rack.

• •  Reshape while damp — square the shoulders, straighten the cuffs and hem.

• •  Dry flat for 12 to 24 hours, away from direct heat and sunlight.

For storage, always fold cashmere rather than hanging it. A cool, dry drawer or shelf with cedar or lavender helps keep moths out.

Usually not. Quince recommends cold hand washing for cashmere, but always check your sweater’s care label.

A couple of exceptions:

• •  Some lightweight cashmere styles list dry cleaning as an acceptable alternative on the product page. If the product page or label says so, that’s fine.

• •  Any sweater whose care label says “dry clean only” should be dry-cleaned. Always defer to the label.

If you do go the dry-clean route, ask for a delicate detergent.

All cashmere pills a little. A cashmere comb lifts the pills without damaging the knit, and longer, finer fibers help reduce pilling in the first place.

Pills form when short fibers work loose from the yarn under friction and gather on the surface. They’re a surface issue, not a structural one. To manage them, wash less often (see the first section) and keep a cashmere comb on hand — a few light strokes in the direction of the knit will lift pills off cleanly. Skip scissors and razors, which can nick the knit.

Longer fibers help reduce pilling, while finer fibers give cashmere its soft feel. Quince Mongolian cashmere is knitted from fibers measuring 15.8 to 16.2 microns in diameter and 34 to 36 millimeters in length — both on the finer, longer end of what’s commercially available, which contributes to its soft feel and lasting shape.