As cashmere fibres are shorter than wool, pilling is normal, but it can be removed easily with a cashmere comb, or a little machine, such as this one works wonders and makes your chunky cashmere look new again.Â
HOW TO WASH CASHMERE?
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Preparation before washing: Turn the garment inside out to prevent pilling and general abrasion.
The best washing method: Cashmere is a protein fiber, much like our own hair and responds well to the same gentle washing approach. JasminBrunner.TheLabel garments are a cashmere /wool mix and therefore more durable than 100% cashmere sweaters.
This means, other than with usual cashmere items, our sweaters can be washed in your washing machine â BUTâ you must wash on a delicate cycle at maximum 30 degrees. Warm temperatures or too much spinning will cause any knitwear to shrink. We recommend placing your sweater in a large delicates washing bag (image). You can order yours here.Â
Do not tumble dry and avoid hanging, as this can misshape your knits
Best detergents & washing temperatures: the âbest temperature is cold. We would recommend Wool Lite or Cashmere Shampoo. Tablets might be too harsh.
HOW TO DRY CASHMERE?
Do not tumble dry and avoid hanging as it can misshape your knits
Step 1: Lay out on a large towel and let dry naturally.
Step 2: Press to remove water, repeating, if necessary. Another tried and tested method is rolling the towel up, jelly-roll style, with the cashmere item in the middle. Apply pressure to the towel then unroll, laying the item flat on another clean towel to finish air-drying.
Step 3: During the drying process, gently reshape by hand. Never wring or twist the material as it will lose its original shape.
HOW TO STORE AND MAINTAIN CASHMERE?
 Store in a breathable sweater storage bag, preferably not plastic as air needs to circulate. Keep your wardrobe and storage area clean and dust free.
Store your cashmere clean in a drawer or storage box with cedar balls. These are great to store with cashmere as moths donât like the smell. Â
Get into the habit of opening your drawers once a month and giving your cashmere pieces a good shake.
Caring for your silk scarf – and storing it correctly
Silk is an investment. Itâs a fabric that should be bought with a long-term relationship in mind. We believe in the slow fashion movement, where items are made with care and sustainably. Proper care and storage will help keep your investment pieces relevant beyond a season. And how you store, wear, and wash your silk will also help the longevity of your silkâs life. Thatâs why, when talking about caring for your silk weâre talking about a 360° approach.
When it comes to washing your silk scarf leaving it to the experts at the dry cleaners is the absolute best way to extend the life of your silk and keep its subtle luster and delicate hand feel (especially if weâre talking stains). However, if you ever find yourself in a jam or want an at-home way to freshen your silk, then here is how you can safely hand wash your favorite scarf:
Hand Wash  Â
Youâll want to make sure to read the detergent label before using it on your silk. Words like âsuitable for silkâ and âdelicatesâ are your best friends when it comes to washing silk by hand. Bleach will damage your silkâs fibers so itâs always a big no.
- Place your silk scarf in cold water with a mild silk-friendly detergent.
- Leave to soak (no more than 5 minutes).
- Swish the scarf slowly and gently.
- Rinse with fresh water
- To help keep its hydrated feel, use a fabric conditioner in the final rinse (or even a small amount of hair conditioner).
- Rinse well in cold water.
- Ball your scarf together to remove excess moisture (wringing your silk out will damage its fibers). Then lay it flat and roll it in a towel to absorb any lingering moisture.
- Lay flat to dry.
Wrinkles and Creases
Most wrinkles in silk can simply be steamed out, but not everyone owns a steamer. A great steamer hack is to hang your scarf in the bathroom and let it steam while you take a hot shower.
If you canât steam the creases out then here are a few tips on how to safely iron your silk:
- Set the iron to low heat (or the silk setting).
- Iron silk only once itâs dry and be sure to put a cloth between the silk and the iron.
- Do not spray or wet silk while ironing, you may get water-stains.
Storing
To avoid ironing, the best solution for your silk is to store it by hanging it in a cool dry place. Silk creases so itâs best not to fold or leave it bunched up for long. If youâre storing your scarf for a long period of time then make sure itâs clean and stored in a breathable fabric bag (avoid plastic ones because they lock in moisture). Another tip for long-term storing is to store your silk scarf away from the sun to avoid fading the colour and weakening the fibre. Silk is a protein, this means it can attract moths so, if you add a natural moth repellent into the bag your scarf will be sure to thank you.
Silky pouches are ideal for the storage of silk scarves.
Sources: https://www.grana.com and https://scarf.yournextshoes.com
Here are the Donâts and Doâs in a nutshell
- Never overlook the care instructions
Sad to say, but most people end up making this mistake. Overlooking the care instructions because youâre too lazy or too busy to do so may cost you a fortune especially if your scarves are made of silk. Â Always, as in, always, read the care instructions provided before doing anything. That means if the label says âDry Clean Onlyâ, then be sure to take your scarf to the cleaners.
- Donât put your silk scarf in the washing machine
Scarves that can be washed will hold up longer if you hand wash them instead of putting them in the washing machine. Silk, in particular, requires gentle washing to keep its fibers intact.
- Do not wring, twist, or rub the silk scarf while washing
It doesnât take a genius to know that silk is a very delicate fabric, hence, you have to wash it gently. That basically means you should never wring, twist, or rub the silk scarf if you want it to maintain its shape and keep the fabric intact (silk fibers can loosen when compromised). Squeezing out the water gently is one way of drying the scarf. But an even better way is to lay it flat on a dry towel, then press and roll the towel to squeeze out the water.
- Never put your scarf in the dryer
Of course, you shouldnât put your silk scarf in the dryer. Why would you? Intense heat can make silk lose its lustre and possibly shrink. Not only that, but it can also cause the fibers to break. Air drying your scarf is always the best option because it is the most gentle. But be sure not to make mistake number 5 below.
- Never expose to direct sunlight
Again, intense heat can damage the silk fibers. Plus of course, thereâs the fact that direct sunlight can make a fabric lose its colour.
- Never use harsh chemicals on your scarf (bleach, perfume, etc.)
Harsh chemicals can compromise silk fibers and can even cause stains or unwanted spots. Thatâs why itâs always best to keep the bleach away from your scarf when washing it. And always remember NOT to spray perfume onto it too.
- & 8. Donât iron your silk scarf when it is dry AND Donât iron on high heat
If you must remove wrinkles on your silk scarf, never iron it while it is dry. Iron while damp. Donât spot damp either, as these could create circle or round marks that are ugly. Lastly, never use high heat when ironing silk. Make sure iron is set on âcoolâ.
- Donât wash with other colours
Just to be safe, never wash your silk scarf with other colours for two simple reasons, you donât want other colours to bleed into your scarf, and neither do you want colours from your silk scarf to bleed into other garments or scarves that you wash it with.
- Never store your scarf in a damp place
As you know, silk is a natural fiber much like wool. That means it is prone to deterioration and moths. Please donât use mothballs to save your scarves because they will smell terrible afterward.
Instead, keep them in airtight containers or boxes that are clean and dry. Also, you can try using natural lavender sachets that repel moths, if you have to. You may also hang your silk scarves, but make sure the area where you will hang them is clean, dry, and airy.
