Guide to washing & caring for your cashmere

Famously lightweight, warm and soft, cashmere is also surprisingly long-lasting – if you look after it. But while this luxurious fabric has a reputation for being a little tricky to care for, it's actually far easier to clean and store your cashmere than you think.

Cashmere scarves are inherently more delicate than a scarf made from wool or cotton. But with just a little bit of extra love and some gentle handling, your cashmere travel wrap can keep its sumptuous feel for a lifetime. So can you put your cashmere scarf in the washing machine, or must it always be hand-washed? What happens if there is a stain or hole in your precious wrap? And how to stop cashmere from pilling?  Our cashmere care guide has the answers.

How often should you wash cashmere?

Although you would expect to wash a cashmere jumper every three to four years, a cashmere blanket scarf is different. There is less chance your wrap will come into contact with perspiration or dead skin cells, so there really is no need to over-do it.

Natural fabrics do not need to be washed as regularly as synthetics. Cashmere has its own antibacterial properties that help to keep it fresh, even after a number of wears.

But if your cashmere scarf is your constant winter companion, you might want to wash it two or three times a season. Even if your travel wrap does not look obviously mucky, the cashmere will still be exposed to the elements, including dirt and pollution. Removing these will help prolong the life of your cashmere scarf, while keeping it clean can make the fabric less attractive to clothes moths.

Can you wash cashmere that says dry clean only?

Many cashmere manufacturers mark their products‘dry clean only' to protect themselves. It means if there is any damage to the notoriously delicate fabric, the cleaners would be responsible instead of the manufacturer. While our own cashmere travel wraps can be dry cleaned, we always recommend they are hand-washed in water using a gentle detergent. Over time, the harsh chemicals used in dry cleaning can make the cashmere feel less special, eventually shortening the life span of the garment. Hand-washing does the opposite. Performed properly, hand-washing your travel wrap will make the cashmere feel even softer as it ages. It helps to remember that cashmere is an animal hair that should be cleaned in a similar way to your own. Goat hair (like human hair) gets even fluffier and more lustrous when it’s washed with a mild shampoo and lukewarm water. Dry cleaning cashmere would be a bit like using harsh chemicals on your hair. Fine every once in a while, but best to stick to water and a specially formulated shampoo for regular washing.