With the sun hidden away and the biting cold setting in, one is bound to be miserable. However there is an upside to it as this gives you an excuse to layer up. So whip out those cashmere sweaters, cardigans and coats that have been locked up in storage. One thing with winter wear especially cashmere is that they require more maintenance than other fabrics as there is the constant issue of mildew and moths destroying the beautiful fabric. Cashmere is one luxury fabric that works as a winter warmer and also oozes sophistication. By following a few simple steps, you can ensure that your cashmere woollen remains looking brand new.
Washing your cashmere: Hand washing is the easiest way. Fill up your tub with cool to lukewarm water and add a small amount of baby shampoo.
Soak your piece for up to five minutes in the water, rinse and then leave to dry on a flat surface. Stretch it out slightly and weigh down the edges if necessary. This is to maintain the shape.
Never twist or rub the cashmere. To remove excess water scrunch the sweater into a ball and squish it between your hands.
Comb your cashmere: It may sound silly but combing your sweater with a cashmere comb can help in removing any bobbles before washing. Brush the sweater daily to remove any excess lint and hairs but always gently.
De-pilling it: Pilling is the result of friction when you wear cashmere that causes small balls of fibre to appear. After wearing it a few times, you may find quite a few of these fibre balls popping up. You can pick them off by hand or buy special cashmere combs that remove them gently.
Rotate: Give a break to the cashmere and wear other woolens so that the cashmere doesn’t lose its shape overtime.
Storing it: Before storing your cashmere, give them a quick clean to make sure there are no food stains or fragrance such as perfumes or bath oils as this will attract moths.