Ania's Finds

Cashmere is the ultimate luxury fabric — soft, warm, lightweight, and unfortunately, a little high-maintenance. Treat it wrong and it pills, stretches, shrinks, or turns into a felted brick. Treat it right and the same sweater can look brand new for a decade or more.

Here’s the no-nonsense guide I wish someone had handed me when I bought my first (very expensive) cashmere sweater.

1. Wear It More, Wash It Less

Cashmere doesn’t need to be cleaned after every wear. Unlike cotton, it’s naturally odor-resistant and antimicrobial. Spot clean small marks and air it out overnight (preferably outside on a dry day or near an open window). Most sweaters only need a real wash 3–6 times per season.

2. Hand-Washing Is Still King (and Easier Than You Think)

Yes, you can carefully use a machine (more on that later), but hand-washing gives you total control and virtually zero risk.

Step-by-step hand-wash method:

• Fill a clean basin or sink with lukewarm water (30 °C / 86 °F max).
• Add a tiny amount of cashmere-specific or gentle wool detergent (I love The Laundress Wool & Cashmere Shampoo or Soak — no rinse versions are even easier).
• Submerge the sweater and gently swish for 2–3 minutes. Never wring, twist, or scrub.
• Let it soak 5–10 minutes max.
• Drain and refill with clean lukewarm water to rinse. Repeat until water runs clear.
• Gently press (don’t wring) to remove excess water. Roll the sweater in a clean white towel and press again.

3. The Front-Loader Machine Hack (If You’re Brave)

Some modern cashmere can go in the machine — check the label first. If it says “Dry Clean Only,” believe it.

Safe machine rules:

• Use a mesh laundry bag.
• Wool or Delicate cycle, cold water, low or no spin.
• Cashmere/wool detergent only.
• Reshape and flat-dry immediately after the cycle ends.

4. Drying Is Where Most People Ruin Cashmere

Never, ever hang a wet cashmere sweater. Gravity + water = stretched shoulders and ribbing forever.

Correct way:

• Lay flat on a clean towel or drying rack.
• Reshape gently to original dimensions while damp.
• Roll and press with towels to speed drying.
• Keep away from direct heat or sunlight (radiators, dryers, and sun = shrinking and fading).

5. Pilling: It Happens. Here’s How to Deal

All cashmere pills a little at first — it’s excess fiber working its way out. After 3–5 wears it usually stops.

Tools that actually work:

• A cashmere comb (my favorite inexpensive fix)
• A battery-powered fabric shaver (Gleener or Conair) for heavy pilling
• Gently go in one direction; don’t attack it like you hate the sweater.

Pro tip: Pill less by wearing a smooth long-sleeve underneath the first few times and avoiding rough bags and seatbelts.

6. Storage Rules So Moths Don’t Eat Your Investment

Moths love clean cashmere more than dirty (they’re after the keratin).

Summer storage checklist:

• Make sure it’s 100 % clean and completely dry.
• Fold (never hang — shoulders get pokey).
• Store in a breathable cotton bag or sealed plastic bin with cedar blocks/rings or lavender sachets (replace every season).
• I add a few silica packets to control humidity.

7. Quick Fixes for Common Disasters

• Small stain → Dab (don’t rub) with a little wool detergent on a damp cloth.
• Shrinkage → Sometimes you can “un-shrink” by soaking in lukewarm water with hair conditioner for 15 min, then gently stretching back to shape while damp and pinning on a towel.
• Hole → Take it to a professional re-weaver or learn basic darning with matching cashmere yarn.

8. Bonus Longevity Tricks From People Who Own 20+ Cashmere Sweaters

• Rotate your sweaters — give each one 24–48 hours to “rest” between wears.
• Steam instead of iron (hover a steamer 2–3 inches away).
• Invest in a good cedar closet or cedar balls — moths hate them and they smell amazing.

Treat cashmere like the luxury item it is — a little extra care goes a ridiculously long way. Follow these steps and that $300 sweater will still look perfect when everything else in your closet has been replaced twice.

Now go enjoy being the coziest (and best-dressed) person in the room this winter.

Got a favorite cashmere brand or secret tip? Drop it in the comments — I’m always looking for new ways to baby my collection! 🧶