Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

How to Wash a Cashmere Sweater Without Ruining It

Knit cozy sweater folded in a pile on wooden background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Look, we get it: it can be tempting to never want to wash your best cashmere sweaters. Maybe you had a traumatizing moment with stray knitwear making its way into the dryer. Or maybe you just spent a ton on fancy cashmere and don’t want to risk ruining your investment. We’ve all been there. But the fact remains: sooner or later things are going to get stinky or, even worse, stained and you’re going to need to figure out how to wash cashmere sweaters.

Before you ask, yes you can dry clean cashmere sweaters. (You can dry clean basically anything if you really want to, frankly.) In fact, that little tag inside the waist of your sweater would tell you that’s what you’re supposed to do. Dry cleaning’s got a dark side, though: they use a ton of harsh chemicals to get the stains and odors out of your gear. Over time, these chemicals will start to break down the fibers in your favorite sweater and before you know it, you’ll be way worse off than if you just gritted your teeth and learned how to clean a cashmere sweater yourself in the first place.

So let’s get to it. No time like the present to learn how to clean cashmere sweaters after all.

The Best Way: How to Hand Wash Cashmere Sweaters

Cashmere may be a versatile material to wear, but it’s delicate as all hell. Makes sense if you think about it; anything that feels that soft would require an equally soft touch to keep it looking its best. So if you were wondering, “can you hand wash cashmere?,” the answer is a resounding “yes, please.”

The process is relatively simple, actually. Start by filling up the tub, the sink, or some other large vessel with lukewarm water. Once it’s full, add in one load’s worth of gentle, cashmere-safe detergent — you’ll find our favorite picks below — and mix it up until you get some suds. Then it’s time to start dunking. Working one garment at a time, dip your cashmere sweaters into the soapy water until they’re fully submerged and swirl them gently for about a minute. You want them good and soaked.

Once all your sweaters are in the tub, leave them to soak for up to 30 minutes. That’ll give the detergent time to do its job. After that, drain the water and rinse off your cashmere thoroughly with cool water. You want to get rid of all the suds.

At this point, you’re going to want to wring out your sweaters. Do not wring out your sweaters. This will stretch out the knit and leave your cashmere deformed and ill-fitting. Instead, ball them up and squeeze as much water out of them as you can. Now you’re ready for drying.

The Easy Way: How to Machine Wash Cashmere

Need to clean your cashmere sweaters, but don’t want to do it by hand? A washing machine is still an option, but there are some measures you should take to keep your cashmere as safe as possible. First off, we’d suggest investing in a mesh laundry bag — that’ll keep the cashmere fibers from coming into contact with the washer’s machinery and wearing or snagging. Second, you’ve got to make sure the machine’s on its gentlest cycle. Make sure the water temperature is set to cold and the spin’s on low, otherwise you risk shrinking or felting your sweaters. Finally, take your sweater out to dry the second that buzzer rings to reduce any creasing. And don’t you dare think about throwing it straight into the dryer.

How to Dry Cashmere

Where a lot of people go wrong isn’t actually in how they wash their cashmere, it’s how they dry it. Our advice: stay away from the dryer. The hot air inside is notorious for shrinking sweaters down to unwearable sizes, even if they’re set on a supposedly wool-safe setting. It’s just not worth the risk.

For a gentler drying process, re-shape your sweater into how it looked before you began washing, lay it out on a drying rack, and let it air dry. This can take up to 8 hours, or longer if it’s a particularly thick sweater. Yes, it’s a slow process but it’s the only way to ensure your sweater fits properly when all’s said and done.

Speaking of, don’t hang your sweater on a hanger to dry, as that’ll stretch out the fabric. Not to mention, you’ll get these weird bumps on the shoulders from the corners of the hanger. (We’re speaking from experience, here.)

If you need your sweater to dry more quickly, lay it down between two dry towels and roll all three up like a sleeping bag. Then unroll it, replace the towels with fresh dry ones, and repeat. This won’t get all the water out of your sweater, but it will help reduce the amount of time on the drying rack.

And there you have you, you’ve successfully washed (and dried) your cashmere sweater.

The Best Detergents for Washing Cashmere

The key word in picking the right detergent for cleaning cashmere sweaters is “gentle.” Regular detergents can be too rough, damaging the natural fibers and stripping away cashmere’s sought-after softness. So what you’re looking for are cleaners specially formulated for knits and delicate fabrics.

The Laundress Wool & Cashmere Shampoo

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Laundress takes a lot of care in how they make all their products, including this special wool and cashmere blend. The gentle formula is plant-derived to clean and preserve wool, cashmere, merino, and mohair, plus it smells like a morning walk through the woods.

Woolite Delicates Hypoallergenic Liquid Laundry Detergent

Image used with permission by copyright holder

It’s all in the name, really: Woolite works wonders at lightly cleansing wool, cashmere, silk, and other more delicate (read: expensive) fabrics without fading colors or softness.

Soak Wash Rinse Free Wash for Handknits

Image used with permission by copyright holder

You know how you normally have to rinse the soap out after washing? Soak does away with that step. Their environmentally friendly soap is designed to not require rinsing — just soak, squeeze out the excess, and you’re all set.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Stephen Praetorius
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Stephen Praetorius is a freelance writer and editor with near-boundless interests. His work's been featured in publications…
Porsche, TAG Heuer team up for Carrera Chronograph honoring the 911, a timeless classic
A gorgeous timepiece in honor of a true classic
TAG Heuer Porsche watches on wheel

There are fewer sports cars as iconic and persistent as the Porsche 911. Performance has improved, and some features like natural aspiration and air cooling have gone the way of the dinosaurs -- but at its core (and in its styling), the 911 is pretty much the same rear engine beauty that Porsche unveiled back in September 1963. It is currently celebrating its 60th anniversary, as is a much-loved piece of chronography -- the TAG Heuer Carrera.

So it’s only fitting that TAG Heuer, an equally iconic Swiss watchmaker with strong racing links, has partnered up with Porsche to commemorate the German company’s flagship motor. The “Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche” is a beautiful chronograph and a fantastic bit of engineering. Its styling manages to cram in more references to the 911’s 60-year history than we can count without looking garish or overstated.

Read more
Panerai releases its 2023 Navy SEALs dive watches, and they’re incredible
You could also buy the full Navy SEALs experience
Panerai's 2023 Navy Seals watches

If you’re a fan of diving and American special forces units, then it’s time to celebrate. Panerai has released its latest range of Navy SEALs dive watches, and they look good. Four new timepieces are available, though that availability is limited with three of the watches and extremely scarce with the fourth. The whole thing is part of a collaboration that started in 2022 and adds to the already wide range of luxury Panerai watches.

The most limited new watch in Panerai’s Navy SEALs comes bundled with a chance to be miserable on a beach. If you’re one of the 50 people who will ultimately spend $53,200 on the 47mm Submersible Chrono PAM01402, you’ll get more than just the watch. The luxury timepiece comes with a matching travel pouch, an NFT, a collection of “artwork,” and the chance to experience “Navy SEALs Training.”

Read more
Dress shirt sale: Save on Kenneth Cole, Calvin Klein, and Tommy Hilfiger
A smiling man wearing a blue shirt in the city.

Amazon has a great sale on dress shirts right now with up to 49% off select brands. If you're keen to look smarter without spending a fortune, this is your chance. We've picked out a few highlights from the sale below but we strongly recommend you click the button below to see what exactly is out there. With brands like Kenneth Cole, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and Van Heusen all featuring, there's something for every taste here.

What to shop for in the Amazon Dress Shirt sale
Anyone seeking some of the best clothing brands for men will also want to save cash along the way. The Amazon dress shirt sale makes that possible. For instance, you can buy a

Read more