Now that the holiday season is over and post-Christmas sales have wound down, many of us have accumulated a cashmere piece, or in some cases, many cashmere pieces. These luxuriously soft, yet pricey sweaters do require a bit of upkeep. Let's go over some tips for keeping those cashmere pieces in great condition for seasons to come!
Pilling: How to Handle
Most cashmere pills to some degree or another. Higher quality cashmere is less likely to pill, but still requires gentle and adequate care. If you find that your cashmere has begun to pill, gently shave off the pills with a razor meant specifically for this purpose. J. Crew, for example, offers cashmere that tend to pill, but also sells a kit meant to remove these pills. Do not pull on the pills, you will stress the remaining fibers, wait until you have a chance to shave them.
Dry Clean Only? Really?
If your cashmere comes with a "Dry Clean Only" label, you'd be best off following those instructions. If you prefer to handwash your cashmere, do so gently in cold water with a soap meant for cashmere. Squeeze out some of the moisture when you've finished, and then lay your cashmere flat as it dries. Hang-drying cashmere can ruin the shape and strength of the fibers.
One great way to dry off your cashmere after a gentle hand-washing is done simply, using just a towel. Lay out the towel on a flat surface and place the cashmere on top of it, also laying flat. Roll the towel and the cashmere piece up as if you were rolling a poster. Squeeze the rolled-up towel gently, removing the water. Once the excess water has been removed, lay the cashmere flat to dry. This should not take long, as cashmere holds in very little water, and it should prevent pilling.
Some cashmere-lovers have found success with the at-home dry cleaning kit, Dryel. Dryel is simple to use and does not harm your sweaters. Not to mention, it's cheaper and less of a hassle than going to a dry-cleaner!
