HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR CASHMERE?

Cashmere is a precious and noble fibre that requires special attention. To keep the softness and quality of your jumpers for years, VUE SUR MER has some tips for you.

Washing

Contrairement aux idées reçues, le cachemire est une fibre naturelle qui raffole de l’eau. Plus vous laverez votre cachemire et mieux il se portera. Pour conserver sa douceur et sa souplesse, il est donc généralement préconisé de le laver à l’eau froide après l’avoir porté deux à trois fois minimum. Concernant les techniques, l’idéal est de mettre votre pull à la machine. Mais cette matière peut également se laver à la main en faisant preuve d’un peu de délicatesse.
So you have a choice:

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- Select a "wool" or "delicate" programme, cold and never exceeding 20 C° and a gentle spin at maximum 500 rev/min.

- Use a small dose of special wool detergent or a special Cashmere shampoo adapted to the fragility of the knitwear.

- To avoid any risk of deformation, place your Cashmere piece in a wash bag or special cover that will protect it from possible snags.

- Never add fabric softener. This enemy will eventually deform your jumper and damage its fibres.

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- Wash your Cashmere in cold or slightly warm water to avoid ruffling the knitwear.

- Never add fabric softener to the water as this could permanently damage your piece.

- Quickly soak your Cashmere in the water then massage, dab and gently pat the fibre without ever wringing it.

- Rinse your jumper in clear, cold water.

- Then wring out your Cashmere with a terry towel.

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As water-hungry as it may be, Cashmere doesn't need to be washed too often either. To keep its shape and softness, it's sometimes best to space out the time you wear it and let it rest for 24 hours before wearing it again. If your Cashmere only suffers from residual odors such as food or tobacco, airing it out for a few minutes outside will restore its freshness.

Drying

Cashmere is sensitive and delicate and is a fibre that dreads the sometimes too energetic drying stage. To avoid distorting your piece, you should therefore always skip the tumble dryer. Instead, wrap your jumper in a terry towel and squeeze it gently without wringing it out. When your Cashmere has disgorged, lay it flat on a towel away from light sources and/or heat that could deteriorate its color and quality. Also, never hang your jumper on a hanger or rack to dry. This will only stretch the knitwear and distort the design.

Tidying up

Cashmere is our favorite material for the cold, but it is also the moths’ favorite dish. Fond of this luxurious knit, these little insects don't hesitate to make a real feast of your jumper. To avoid holes, make sure you don't expose it. Instead, place your dry, clean Cashmere in boxes and/or airtight covers, stored flat in your cupboards. (Tip: if you don't have one, you can always put your Cashmere in a pillowcase and close it tightly.) To keep moths away, we recommend natural methods such as cedar balls or lavender. These two moth repellents are not only environmentally friendly, but also give your Cashmere a pleasant, fresh scent.

Pilling

Pilling is a maniac's enemy, but it is natural and unavoidable. And even better, they are a sign of high-quality Cashmere. Their appearance is linked to several factors such as excessive material, the rubbing of fibres against each other or against more abrasive surfaces (denim jackets, shirts, fabric chairs or sofas, etc.), but also to the knitting of the Cashmere itself.

Indeed, it is important to know that Cashmere yarn is made from short and long fibres. Once spun, the latter are twisted to ensure a dense knit and better stability of the stitch. But obviously, this technique means that the shorter fibres escape from the knitting as they are rubbed together and therefore form pilling.

No need for panicking, the shorter fibres will gradually wash out and therefore create less pilling. However, if the pilling persists, you can always remove it by hand or with a Cashmere comb by gently rubbing the affected area to remove the excess material and restore your jumper's shine. There are also electric jumper shavers that can remove small fluffy items very quickly. But using this accessory can be risky for your Cashmere. So make sure you use it occasionally in the direction of the fibre and without pressing too hard to avoid snagging.

Eloise Pirard