How to Care for Cashmere: Washing, Storing & De-Pilling a Sweater That Lasts
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by Shopify API
5 min reading time
A practical care guide that clears up the fear around owning cashmere - how to hand wash, store, de-pill, and rescue a favorite knit so it stays soft for years. It speaks directly to shoppers who hesitate on premium knits because they worry about upkeep.
Cashmere has a way of asking nothing of you and giving everything back. One pair of soft sleeves, one warm collar, and suddenly the coldest morning feels manageable. It is why a well-loved knit becomes the piece you reach for first - and why so many of us hesitate to buy one at all.
There is a quiet worry that sits behind most cashmere purchases: what if I ruin it? What if it shrinks, or pills, or loses that cloud-soft feel? The truth is gentler than you expect. With a few simple habits, a cashmere sweater can stay soft and beautiful for years - and caring for it is far easier than the myths suggest.
This guide walks through washing, drying, folding, and de-pilling your knits, so you can wear your favorites without a single worry.
Why cashmere needs a little extra care
Cashmere comes from the fine undercoat of mountain goats, gathered once a year and spun into yarn that is remarkably soft, breathable, and warm. It is a natural fibre - which is precisely why it asks for more considered handling than, say, a synthetic blend.
The good news: this care is gentle and quick. Cashmere is not fragile in the fragile sense. It simply responds best to patience. Treat it the way you might a favorite book or a well-made coat - with small, consistent gestures - and it will meet you with years of warmth.
How to wash a cashmere sweater
Washing is the step that scares most people, yet it is simple once you know the basics. Cashmere should almost never go in the washing machine, and it should never, ever go in the dryer.
Hand washing, step by step
Fill a clean basin or sink with lukewarm water - comfortable on your wrist, not hot.
Add a small amount of a gentle wool or cashmere wash. A few drops go a long way; you are not cleaning a shirt after a long day, just refreshing the fibre.
Turn the sweater inside out and submerge it, pressing the water through gently. Do not scrub, wring, or twist - cashmere dislikes aggression.
Let it soak for roughly ten to fifteen minutes, then rinse in fresh lukewarm water until the water runs clear.
Lift the sweater out and press the excess water out with your hands.
To remove most of the remaining water, lay it flat on a clean towel, roll the towel up, and gently press. This is the kindest way to dry the bulk.
When the label says dry clean only
Some of our knitwear - including pieces blended with other delicate fibres - is best trusted to a professional dry cleaner. When a label asks for dry cleaning, take it at its word. It is the surest way to protect yarns you may not be able to identify by hand.
How to dry, fold, and store a cashmere sweater
Drying is where most knits come to grief. Hanging a wet cashmere sweater will stretch it out of shape under its own weight. Instead:
Reshape the sweater while it is still damp, then lay it flat on a dry towel or a drying rack, away from direct heat and sunlight.
Flip it once halfway through so both sides dry evenly.
Never use a tumble dryer, radiator, or hook.
Once dry, your sweater is ready to rest. Fold it rather than hang it - hanging can pull the shoulders out of line over time. A folded sweater kept in a drawer or on a shelf, with a little cedar for good measure, stays softer and keeps its shape far longer. If it is a piece you wear only in winter, drawer or shelf storage is all it asks for.
Light pilling is natural - even the finest cashmere fuzzes a little with wear. It is a sign the fibre is moving, not that the sweater is worn out.
How to de-pill a cashmere sweater
De-pilling is the quickest, most satisfying care habit there is, and it keeps your knit looking fresh between washes.
Lay the sweater flat on a clean surface.
Use a cashmere comb or a fabric shaver, working in one direction with light, even strokes.
Keep the fabric tensioned - hold the area flat beneath your hand - so the comb lifts only the loose fuzz, never the yarn beneath.
Work gently over the areas that rub most: the cuffs, the sides, and the neckline.
A few minutes every few wears is usually enough. With regular, light de-pilling, you will rarely need anything more than maintenance. Some of our knits feature natural fibres, like recycled cashmere, which behave beautifully with exactly this kind of care.
Caring for cashmere is caring for yourself
There is something quietly comforting about tending to a well-made garment - running a comb over the sleeves, folding it with care, setting it in its place for the next cold morning. It slows the day down. It reminds you that some things are meant to last.
Cashmere was never designed to be disposable. It was made to be worn near you, season after season, until it feels like a second skin. With a little patience, it rewards you with softness that only deepens with time.
So take a breath. Wear the sweater. And when the day ends, give it the same gentle kindness it has given you. It is easier than you think - and worth every careful moment.
