Cashmere Care

How to wash your Cashmere

  • Hand wash in lukewarm water using your hair shampoo. Be sure to dissolve the shampoo thoroughly then put the throw/blanket into water. Rinse with hair conditioner, this makes your cashmere softer. Wash colored garments separately.
  • Do not bleach.
  • Squeeze gently, do not twist or wring.
  • Dry flat after removing excess water, away from direct heat and sunlight.
  • Press with damp cloth, using a cool iron.

Machine wash:

  • Turn garment inside out and place in a net washing bag to avoid friction.
  • Wash on the gentlest cycle in lukewarm water (about 30°c) with soap made for wool and cashmere
  • Dry flat on a dry towel or on a rack (do not hang)  
  • Avoid any heat source and direct sunlight

How do you care for silk cashmere?

Always use cold water and gentle agitation when washing cashmere by hand, and don't leave items to soak for longer than 30 minutes. Keep in mind cashmere and wool fibers tend to tighten up naturally when wet, so it's important to gently reshape them before laying them flat to dry.


How to store your Cashmere

  • Before storing your precious cashmere in basements or attics, check carefully for leaks, dampness and sunlight.
  • Fold clothes or pack them neatly in tissue paper or plastic bag and store them in a closet away from light, dust and dampness.
  • Cleaning before storage is recommended, as fresh stains that may not yet be visible will oxidize and become fixed during storage, they may also be the food for moths. Moths have a discerning palate, they feast only on natural fabrics. Mothballs (naphthalene) and cedar chips are standard protection from moth infestation of woolens.
  • To store a pure cashmere item during summer, the most important thing is to keep moisture away, so please do not store your cashmere in a damp place. A well-sealed plastic storage box or bag (available in most stores) is good enough.
  • To keep moths away, the first thing to make sure is that the cashmere is clean before long-time storage. Pay close attention to any food stains as moths are particularly attracted to our normal food proteins and cooking oils. Those moth proofing products are helpful, or simply spray some perfume on a piece of paper and put the paper next to your cashmere inside the box.

Ironing:

  • Heat the iron at the correct temperature setting
  • Favour the use of steam iron
  • No steam iron: Cover the garment with a slightly damp cloth to prevent the heat from scorching the fibres.
  • Steamer: steam from the inside of the garment when it's hanging


Preventing and Removing Pilling

Caused by rubbing and friction on the fabric's surface, pilling is most likely to occur under the arms and on the underside of sleeves, but it can also occur in other areas where purse straps, jewelry or other clothing may rub against the garment. Low-quality cashmere is especially prone to pilling as it is composed of mainly short fibers. High-quality cashmere products such those found at Snapdragon Designs will not pill excessively when properly cared for.

A certain amount of pilling is normal on garments made of natural knit fibers like cashmere, even on high-quality products such as ours. These can be safely picked off by hand.

How to Prevent Pilling:

  1. Always purchase high-quality cashmere.
  2. Keep your cashmere clean.
  3. Always hand-wash with a high-quality cashmere shampoo.
  4. When hand-washing, never rub or twist the surface of your cashmere garments; always use a squeezing motion.
  5. Avoid wearing purse straps directly on your cashmere garment.


How to Remove Pilling:

  1. Lay your garment out on a flat surface.
  2. Gently pick the pills off by hand.
  3. Use a pilling comb to gently remove pills.