Washing cashmere in a washing machine

Natural cashmere is an expensive and rare material. In order not to spoil items made from this delicate fabric, many use dry cleaning services, entrusting care only to specialists. This approach is the most correct, but, unfortunately, it is not available to everyone.

If it is not possible to take the item to a professional service, you will have to remove dirt from the material yourself. Let's figure out whether cashmere is allowed to be washed in a washing machine, or whether only gentle manual cleaning is acceptable.

Pre-preparing the item

Cashmere clothing is expensive, so caring for it must be very careful and as gentle as possible. Before washing an item, be sure to read the label. It provides basic recommendations for washing, drying and ironing the product.

Even one wrong wash can turn a chic cashmere sweater into an ordinary rag, which is why it is so important to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for caring for the fabric.

Before you start washing, you need to inspect the item. If pellets appear on the material, they should be removed with a special device. Machines for removing “lumps” from fabric are sold at any hardware store.

The next stage is the fight against stains. Since cashmere is a very soft and delicate fabric, it is prohibited to use aggressive stain removers and products containing chlorine. There are several ways to remove dirt:

• if the stain is fresh, hold the sweater over a boiling pan of water. After steam treatment, the contamination will “soften”. All that remains is to iron this section of fabric from the inside out with an iron heated to the minimum temperature;
• stubborn, old stains are removed with a delicate washing gel or dishwashing liquid. A few drops of the composition should be applied to the problem area and the concentrate should be left to “work” for half an hour. Then the product is washed off with warm water;
• traces of fat are removed with regular soda. It is necessary to pour it onto the stain, wait about three hours and shake off the excess from the material.

There is no need to try to remove the stain by forcefully washing cashmere. The fabric will certainly stretch and become covered with pellets from such exposure. It is better to choose one of the acceptable gentle methods of combating pollution.

What to wash with?

It is important to choose the right detergent for washing cashmere items. For home care of delicate fabrics, a special gel for wool and silk is most suitable. Regular washing powder should not be used. Its granules do not completely dissolve in cool water, become clogged with fabric fibers, are difficult to rinse out, and can ruin the appearance of the product.

Among modern means you can choose:

• liquid "Stork Cashmere";
• Burti Wolle & Seide gel for wool and delicate fabrics;
• BioMio Bio-Sensitive with natural cotton extract;
• Nordland balm for wool and silk;
• liquid "Vorsinka".

If you don’t have a gel for washing delicate fabrics on hand, you can use liquid soap.

You can also wash cashmere with a softening hair shampoo. Some housewives successfully practice this method of cleaning. It is important that the product does not contain dyes or aggressive components that can damage the fabric.

Is it permissible to use a washing machine?

It is preferable to hand wash any delicate fabrics.This method is considered the most gentle, since it is possible to ensure a minimum time for cashmere to remain in water and the most gentle processing of the material.

However, the manufacturer himself allows some cashmere items to be machine washed. If there is no symbol on the label prohibiting loading the product into the drum, you can safely use the washing machine. It is important to follow several rules when automatically washing cashmere:

• the water heating temperature should not exceed 30°C;
• The item should be turned inside out before loading into the machine;
• It is advisable to put the cashmere product in a special mesh bag for washing;
• You should set the most gentle mode. The “Wool” program, delicate or hand wash are suitable;
• Use only liquid detergents;
• Be sure to turn off automatic spin. During intensive rotation of the drum, the fabric may be damaged, which is why it is so important to disable this function.

Also, do not use the drying mode in the washing machine. During such processing, a cashmere item may shrink by a couple of sizes.

After the cycle is completed, you must carefully remove the product from the drum and allow the water to drain naturally. Then the item is laid out on a terry towel, all creases and folds are straightened out. The top of the cashmere is covered with a second towel and rolled into a roll. After two hours, you can take out the sweater and lay it out on a horizontal surface in a well-ventilated area for further drying.

Traditional wash

You can wash almost all types of clothing by hand, with the only exception being a cashmere raincoat or coat. It is better to take outerwear made from natural expensive material to the dry cleaner.

When washing cashmere by hand, you should also follow certain instructions. The basic rules are:

• be sure to prepare the item for washing - clean off the pellets, remove stains;
• Turn the clothes inside out. This will reduce the likelihood of lint tangling during washing and will help avoid damage to the pattern embroidered on the sweater;
• Use only mild liquid detergent. Suitable gel or balm for delicate fabrics, baby soap or regular shampoo that does not contain dyes;
• wash cashmere in cool water, no more than 30°C. High-temperature washing causes fabric shrinkage and disrupts the fiber structure;
• during the process, clean the product carefully, do not twist or rub the fabric with force;
• if the item is heavily soiled, you can soak it in a soapy solution for half an hour and then wash it;
• Cashmere items should be rinsed several times in cool water;
• You can add a softening conditioner or a spoonful of glycerin to the rinse water. This will keep the cashmere soft and smooth.

It is important not to twist the clothes when spinning. Simply hang a sweater or skirt on the side of the bathtub and wait for the water to drain. Next, also place the product between two towels, roll it up, and then lay it out to dry on a horizontal surface.

You can also care for cashmere clothing at home; the main thing is to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on the label. When loading into the machine, it is important to choose the most gentle mode and turn off the spin cycle. It is also necessary to ensure that the water is not hotter than 30°C and use liquid detergent. Don't forget about drying rules. Then the item will retain its original appearance for a long time.

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