How to Wash Cashmere | Keep It Soft, Not Ruined

Cashmere feels luxurious, but it is surprisingly delicate. One wrong trip through the washing machine can shrink it into a child’s sweater or leave it feeling like felt. The good news is that washing cashmere correctly is simple once you know the steps, and you can keep your favorite sweaters looking new for years.

What Is The Best Way To Wash Cashmere?

The best and most consistently recommended method is to hand-wash your cashmere in cool or lukewarm water using a gentle wool or cashmere-specific detergent. This approach gives you full control over the process and is much gentler on the delicate fibers than a machine.

Here is the step-by-step process experts agree on:

• Fill a basin or sink with cool water and add a small amount of gentle detergent—about a tablespoon is a good starting point.
• Submerge the sweater and gently move it through the water. The soak time is short, ranging from about 5 minutes (as recommended by J.Crew) up to 30 minutes for a deeper clean.
• Rinse thoroughly in fresh, cool water until no soap remains. You may need to repeat this step a few times.

Do not rub, scrub, stretch, or wring the fabric. All of these actions will distort or felt the delicate fibers.

How To Dry Cashmere Without Stretching It

Drying cashmere the wrong way will ruin its shape, so this step is just as critical as the washing itself. The golden rule is to never hang a wet cashmere sweater.

After rinsing, follow this safe drying sequence:

1. Press the water out by gently squeezing the garment, but never twist or wring it.
2. Roll the sweater in a clean, dry towel to absorb the remaining moisture. This is the method recommended by J.Crew and other major retailers.
3. Lay the sweater flat on a fresh, dry towel, shaping it back to its natural form.
4. Let it air-dry away from direct heat and sunlight. Depending on the thickness, it can take up to 24 hours to fully dry.

Lifting a dripping-wet sweater by the shoulders is a common mistake—the weight of the water will stretch the fibers and permanently misshape the garment.

Can You Machine Wash Cashmere?

Yes, but only if the care label on your cashmere explicitly permits it. For machine-washable items, you must use the most delicate settings available to protect the knit.

When the label gives you the green light, use these settings:

• Cold water or a maximum of 30°C (about 86°F).
• The delicate or wool cycle with the lowest spin speed possible (about 600 rpm max).
• Place the sweater inside a mesh laundry bag to protect it from snagging.
• Wash cashmere items together, and avoid washing them with anything that has zippers, buttons, or rough textures.

Never use fabric softener. Multiple sources warn that it can damage or thin out the knitwear. If you’re looking for a detergent that matches these requirements, our roundup of the best detergents for wool and cashmere can help you choose the right one.

What Are The Most Common Cashmere Care Mistakes?

Avoiding a few common mistakes will keep your cashmere from being ruined in the wash. The most frequent errors include:

• Rubbing or scrubbing the fabric while washing, which causes felting.
• Wringing out a wet sweater to remove water.
• Hanging it to dry, which stretches the garment out of shape.

Finally, always check the care label first. A “wash by hand” instruction is not universal—some cashmere blends are strictly dry-clean-only, and ignoring that label can void the garment’s integrity from the first wash.