4 Tips to Make Your Cashmere Last Longer
Do you own a cashmere sweater, cardigan, poncho, or wrap? Then you know the item is warm, light, soft, and silky. A natural protein fiber that is durable, despite its fine and delicate fibers, cashmere is a type of wool sourced from cashmere and pashmina goats. According to a well-known American luxury cashmere clothing brand, there are three things to look for when shopping for cashmere.
Ensure your cashmere is responsibly sourced.
Ply, gauge, and weight matter.
If the price seems too good to be true, check the fabric content, it might be a cashmere blend.
Are you wondering why weight, ply, and gauge are important? Ply and gauge are terms describing how cashmere fabric is structured, while the weight of the cashmere product directly determines its value. Once you purchase cashmere items, how do you make them last longer? We offer four tips.
How Often Should You Wash Cashmere?
Cashmere is a soft, luxurious material that deserves to be treated gently. There is no need to wash a cashmere garment after every wear unless you prefer it. Before washing any item, read the care label, as washing instructions vary. Quality cashmere should never be cleaned in a washing machine, as it damages the delicate fabric. You can hand wash small pieces, but avoid exposing wet cashmere to direct heat as it might shrink the cashmere fibers.
Is your cashmere sweater pilling? It happens when groups of broken or short fibers tangle together to form a tiny knot and is caused by rubbing when you wear the item. Use a quality cashmere comb to remove the pills.
When to Dry Clean Cashmere
Every manufacturer has specific care instructions for their clothing and home décor items. When the care instructions state that a cashmere item is ‘dry clean only’, it cannot be hand washed or machine washed but should be dry cleaned by professionals such as Hometown Cleaners. Cashmere jackets with a lining, for example, should definitely be dry cleaned.
At Hometown Cleaners, we take the greatest care with all luxury items, whether silk, wool, or cashmere. Does your cashmere dress have delicate embellishments? We know how to clean garments with beads, sequins, lace and more, as we offer professional wedding and cocktail dress cleaning services.
How to Store Cashmere?
The way you store cashmere contributes to its longevity. Wash the items before putting them away for the winter, as moths are attracted to any residual body and product odors. Store the clothing folded in a drawer or on a shelf in a dry, cool room with little natural light. Hanging cashmere items stretches the fabric, and the clothing loses shape.
Did your luxury cashmere garments arrive in a bespoke linen or cotton storage bag? It is an ideal choice, as these fabrics allow airflow while plastic causes the items to sweat. If you enjoy the smell, place a cedar ball in the drawer or on the shelf where you store your cashmere.
How a Professional Laundry Service Can Help
How can a professional laundry service help make your cashmere last longer? By using only the highest quality products on your cashmere clothing. Sustainability is very important to Hometown Cleaners, which is why we redesigned and implemented new systems that use less energy and generate less waste. Our state-of-the-art dry cleaning and washing machines use only hypoallergenic, biodegradable organic solvents and detergents.
Hometown Cleaners also offers a free pick-up and delivery service to all clients for their convenience. Book the service online, and we will contact you to make the necessary arrangements. For a contactless service, leave your garments at a designated location, and we will return them there once everything is taken care of.
Hometown Cleaners is a family business with more than sixty years of experience providing professional dry cleaning and laundry services. Is your granddaughter getting married? Give her the gift of wedding gown cleaning and preservation, a service we enjoy offering. We also clean silk, wool, and leather. When your cashmere items need attention, entrust them to Hometown Cleaners. Contact us today.
