Contrary to popular belief, cashmere is actually durable and easy to take care of. Therefore, your babies’ cashmere bodysuits and kids’ cashmere sweaters will last FOREVAAA.
Furthermore, just like fine wine, cashmere gets better with time and can easily be passed down from one sibling to another, or to anyone that will appreciate this timeless fabric.
Step 1: Fill a basin or clean sink with lukewarm water, turn your garments inside out and add a small amount of gentle, dye-free detergent or eco-friendly baby detergent. I love using baby shampoo - it smells so good! Cashmere is a natural fiber, treat it like you would treat your baby’s skin!
Step 2: Gently swirl for 1 minute, and let it soak for a minimum of 5 minutes to help loosen the dirt. Avoid friction, rubbing, wringing or twisting, as this causes pilling to occur.
Step 3: Gently squeeze and rinse, first with warm water, and then finish with cold water. Fabric softener can be used if you wish.
(A friend told me she uses a salad brisker to dry her cashmere sweaters. Spins until damp! I have never tried this technique so I can’t vouch for it!)
Here is what I recommend when drying cashmere garments:
Step 4: Gently press your cashmere to let out excess water, be careful not to twist or stretch.
Step 5: Lay the sweater flat on a thick, dry towel. Roll the towel up like a yoga mat - pressing as you go.
Step 6: Unroll and lay flat in its natural shape to air dry.
Let's start with what causes pilling (pilling is normal for any natural fiber). Pills appear when groups of short or broken fibers tangle together in a tiny knot or ball - a pill. These can form from rubbing, abrasion or just during normal use. Use our Mila Christina cashmere comb which is an essential tool to have for any cashmere owner and will keep your little one’s cashmere looking like new. Like squeezing black heads, yanking pills from your cashmere with your fingers is VERY tempting. RESIST, as this will damage the yarn.
Cashmere fibers are very light and delicate, it will inevitably pill in areas predisposed to friction, i.e.: under the arms. You can help reduce pilling by turning the garments inside out before washing and reducing the wash frequency. Always remember to put cashmere garments in an extra-large mesh bag when using the washing machine to avoid friction with other garments.
If your little one has outgrown the sweater and you are saving it for your next baby or plan to give to someone else that will make good use of it, then you have to give it a good clean, de-crease, de-pill, and gently put it away for hibernation. Do not hang cashmere - pure cashmere sweaters and accessories have the tendency to grow and lose shape when left to hang.
After cleaning, fold and store it, preferably, in a cotton bag (plastic bags are ok as well, but not for more than 3 months) to keep the cashmere sweater looking like new. Storing it in a cotton bag also prevents moths from snacking on your child’s cashmere sweater. Toss a cedar ball or a sachet with dried lavender leaves in with your garments (avoid direct contact with the cashmere). These are natural moth repellents.
The same goes for the place you will store the bag containing the cashmere sweater. Ensure you have removed any dust and that it’s not damp, and your cashmere will last for years!
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