To avoid unpleasant surprises, it is often advisable not to machine wash your cashmere. But is it really forbidden?
The cashmere sweater has it all. Warm and light, elegant and soft, this woolen knit is highly desirable, and has established itself as a must have in the wardrobes of trend followers or those who want to stay warm in winter. Its only flaw: it is a particularly fragile material. But for those who are still reluctant to succumb to it for the sake of ease, know that it is not contraindicated to put your cashmere in the washing machine. It is even rather recommended to preserve it, since the drum of the washing machine is more regular than when washing a garment by hand. However, you must have in mind some rules. Starting with the program you are going to choose.
Exit the classic washing program: to preserve your cashmere, and even any garment made of wool, it is better to opt for a delicate program, special wool for example, because fragile materials should not be washed at a high temperature, at the risk of shrinking. To prevent it from getting caught in the drum of your washing machine, slip your sweater into a lingerie net, or even into a pillowcase. For detergent, you can opt for the one you use regularly. For the most perfectionists, it is possible to use a special wool detergent. Be careful however, do not add softener: your cashmere is quite soft, and above all, the softener will tighten the stitches by causing them to shrink, causing the opposite effect by making it feel felted.
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Which temperature to choose?
Then select the special wool program of your washing machine, cold or at 30°C maximum, with a spin that does not exceed 600 revolutions. Once clean and wrung out, put your cashmere to dry, always flat, so as not to deform it, and on a cotton towel which will quickly absorb the water in your sweater. Moreover, know that this material loves water which contributes in particular to preserving it. Thus, it is recommended to wash your cashmere fairly regularly, after having worn it three to four times. And a little tip if you finally want to take the plunge and succumb to this cuddly toy: cashmere tends to shrink during the first wash. It is therefore better that they are not too adjusted on the first fitting.