How to Clean & Care for Wool and Cashmere
Wool is lovely to wear, but is an expensive fabric, and not always so easy to take care of!
But your wool garments will get dirty, and you’ll need to clean them in the appropriate way to make sure that you can wear your favourites for more than one season.
Learning how to wash wool and cashmere properly greatly reduces any damage that can be done to the fibers during the cleaning process.
How to Wash Wool and Cashmere Clothes
To help wool clothing and cashmere last longer, only wash them when necessary. Prolong the time between cleanings as long as possible. Wash them after every few wearings (between seven to 10, if possible), or one final time at the end of the season. The self-regulating fibers don’t need to be laundered as often as other materials. Every time you clean a wool garment, a little bit of damage is done to the fibers.
Read the instruction label first to see what the manufacturer suggests.
Ideally, wool and cashmere clothes should be hand-washed, though they probably can be machine-washed on the delicate cycle with a shampoo formulated for these garments, even if the tag indicates the fabric is not machine-safe. Dry cleaning is also an option, but this gets pricey.
If you have a two-piece wool ensemble, always wash both pieces at the same time. This will keep the color and wear more consistent.
To help wool clothes keep their shape, always empty pockets and remove any accessories that might pull on the fibers like belts and jewelry.
Remove pilled fabric, lint, and pet hair with a fuzz remover and fabric shaver product, or use cellotape.
Wool is best air-dried. It's best to not place any wool or cashmere garment in an automatic tumbledryer—you might end up with a shrunken garment that is often impossible to restore. Some garments can be dried on the tumble-dry setting, but always check the care label for specifics.
Structured wool clothes, such as outer coats, blazers, and men's suit coats, should always be dry-cleaned. While the exterior wool fabric is washable, the fabrics used to create the inner structure may be destroyed or become misshapen when washed. There is no way to reverse the damage once this happens.
For heavier wool clothes, use a soft-bristled garment brush after wearing to remove surface dust and soil. Allow at least 24 hours for wool outer garments between wearings, so the fibers can dry from any moisture from the body or outside sources and relax back into their original shape. If they get wet, hang them on a sturdy wooden hanger and dry them at room temperature - away from direct sunlight or heat.
How to Hand Wash Wool/Cashmere
Follow these tips for the best results when hand washing wool.
Squirt a bit of delicate liquid wool detergent, such as Woolite into a sink or basin.
Fill with tepid water - wool is sensitive to water temperature and may shrink if washed in hot water.
Turn the garment inside out.
Submerge it and swish it around to allow the soap to penetrate the fibers. Agitate the water surrounding the garment—not the garment itself—to distribute the soap. Do not rub the fabric together.
Let the garment soak for 10 to 30 minutes.
Rinse it twice under cool water to remove all soapy residue. The item may release excess dye into the water, so don't panic if the water is colorful when you remove the garment. You're unlikely to notice any color loss once the item is dry.
Don’t wring out wool clothing. Instead, press or squeeze out as much water as you can. Lay wool items flat on a towel and roll the towel up to remove the extra water.
Transfer the item to a drying rack or lay it flat on a dry towel in a spot to allow it to air-dry. Best is to not hang to dry if you want to avoid stretching. Carefully adjust the shape of the garment to ensure it is evenly stretched as it dries.
Place it away from direct sunlight and heat sources which can damage, shrink, or yellow the clothes.
How to Machine-Wash Wool and Cashmere Clothes
Some wool items are machine washable, which is the most convenient option. But launder them with care, always following the product label's directions.
Turn wool clothes inside out.
Put delicate garments in a mesh bag to protect them from harsh agitation, and put the mesh bag in the washing machine.
Add a mild liquid detergent like Woolite to the machine.
Wash on the delicate cycle/wool cycle/hand wash cycle, using cold water. Add an extra rinse to the wash cycle.
Remove the bag from the machine, and pull out the item. Lay the garment flat on a clean towel and roll it up to remove the extra water.
Transfer the item to a drying rack or lay it flat on a dry towel to allow it to air-dry.
Place it away from direct sunlight and heat sources, which can damage, shrink, or yellow the clothes.
Wrinkles and Creases
Once dry, use a steamer to get rid of wrinkles. Both wool and cashmere fibers can be damaged by the high heat of an iron.
If you must use an iron, turn the item inside out and use the coolest setting. Lay a thin pressing cloth on top of the garment. Apply low, moist heat to the top of the cloth for no more than 10 seconds at a time.
Storing Wool and Cashmere
Air out wool sweaters after each wear. This freshens them up before storing them.
To help wool clothes keep their shape, always empty pockets and remove any accessories that might pull on the fibers like belts and jewelry. Button or zip clothes to help them keep their shape and prevent wrinkles.
Never hang wool on clothes hangers. Wool and cashmere clothing shouldn't be hung in storage, as this will cause the item to lose its shape. Instead, fold them and store them in a cedar dresser drawer or in baskets on a rack.
The exception is jackets or suits that can be hung with a solid, structured hanger.
Store wool and cashmere garments in a cool, dry location. Heat and humidity can cause damage to the fabric.
For long-term storage, fold the items carefully and place them in a breathable cotton garment bag or an airtight plastic bin. Avoid plastic storage bags, which trap moisture and increase the risk of mildew and discoloration. (For an extra layer of protection, you can wrap the pieces in acid-free tissue paper and add silica gel sachets.)
Pests like moths, carpet beetles, and silverfish love to lay eggs in and nibble on the natural fibers of wool and cashmere. To keep them at bay, place wool garments in the bin and add a bug deterrent, such as cedar balls or herb sachets that contain one-half cup lavender, mint, rosemary, thyme, or cloves.
Treating Stains on Wool/Cashmere Clothing
Always attack a stain as quickly as possible—any stain is removable if you treat it early enough. Have you spilled red wine at dinner? Immediately start flushing out the stain under cold water or spot-clean stains as they happen so you don’t have to wash the garment so often by blotting with water and mild soap. The quicker you act, the more likely the stain will come out.
Pretreat stains before washing, following the guidelines for the specific type of stain.
There are a few fool-proof treatments for stain removal: heavy-duty laundry detergent, dish soap, or a commercial stain remover. Any of these should be effective at removing most stains. Read the stain-removal product label carefully to ensure it can be used on wool or cashmere clothing. Test the product in an inconspicuous spot such as an inside seam, before use.
If the stain is fresh, blot it with a clean cloth. Work the stain remover into the dirty area by gently rubbing it on the fabric with your fingers. Don't scrub at the spot with a brush, which can mark the fabric. Follow up by washing the item carefully. For extra tough stains, rinse the garment in warm water. Otherwise, launder as usual in cold water.
Stay away from chlorine bleach, as even dilute solutions of chlorine bleach will cause permanent yellowing, color loss, stiffening, and weakening of wool.
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