To wash cashmere, use cold water (20°C maximum) and a wool or cashmere detergent. By hand, soak the sweater for 20 minutes, then gently press out the water without wringing it. In the machine, choose a wool cycle at 20°C with little or no spin. Always dry it flat, away from any heat.
You have just treated yourself to a beautiful cashmere sweater and the first wash makes you nervous? Good news: cashmere is far less fragile than its reputation. It even loves water. In contact with it, the fiber revives and regains all its softness. Follow the guide.
No time to read? The essentials in 3 points
- Cold water only. 20°C maximum, by hand or on a wool cycle, with a cashmere detergent. Never fabric softener.
- Never wring or twist. Press the sweater gently between your hands, then roll it in a towel to absorb the water.
- Always dry flat. On a towel or a drying rack, away from radiators and direct sunlight. Never in the tumble dryer, never on a hanger.
Before you start: check your cashmere quality
Every Linnea Lund piece is made from SFA-certified cashmere, knitted in Italy, and washed before it is sent to you so the fiber shows its full color and softness. The care label tells you everything, but here is the summary by quality.
| Linnea Lund quality | How to wash it |
|---|---|
|
Stockholm, Malmö, Uppsala, Äre 100% cashmere |
By hand or in the machine, wool cycle, 20°C max |
|
Falsterbo, Kiruna 70% cashmere, 30% silk |
Hand wash only |
|
Gotland 75% linen, 18% cashmere, 7% silk |
Hand wash only |
For all qualities: do not bleach, do not dry clean, do not tumble dry, do not wring or twist. Find every detail on our cashmere qualities and care page.
How often should you wash cashmere?
A cashmere sweater can be worn 2 or 3 times before washing. A cashmere t-shirt, worn next to the skin, is washed after each wear, because the fiber does not like perspiration. Between two wears, let your piece breathe: avoid wearing the same one two days in a row.
How to hand wash cashmere (our favorite method)
- Fill a basin with cold water and add a little cashmere detergent.
- Turn the sweater inside out and submerge it. Let it soak for 20 minutes, no longer.
- If there is a stain, dab it gently with your fingertips. Do not rub: friction makes the knit twist and felt.
- Rinse in cold water until the water runs clear.
- Press the sweater gently between your hands to remove the excess water. Never wring it.
- Lay it on a dry cotton towel, roll the towel up while pressing, and let it absorb the water.
- Unroll and lay the sweater flat to dry (see below).
How to machine wash cashmere
- Put the sweater in a laundry net, or in a pillowcase closed with a rubber band, to protect it from the drum.
- Do not overload the machine: a few delicate pieces at most.
- Add a cashmere or wool detergent. No fabric softener.
- Choose a "wool" or "delicate" cycle at 20°C maximum.
- Turn off the spin, or set it to 400 rpm at most.
- Take the sweater out as soon as the cycle ends, roll it in a towel, then dry it flat.
👌 Pro tip from Christina, a Linnea Lund customer: "I wash my sweaters in the machine, inside a large laundry net of about 60 × 60 cm, on the wool or delicate cycle. When I wash navy, I put two of my navy cashmere sweaters in together, with just one tablespoon of Charlotte's organic cashmere detergent. What's so great about the net is that the sleeves don't twist or stretch: the sweater keeps its shape. Then I lay it flat on a towel, and it takes about 10 to 15 hours to dry completely. Charlotte said it, but you have to try it to believe it: the more you wash it, the softer the cashmere gets."
How to dry cashmere without deforming it
Lay the sweater flat on a towel or a drying rack and gently reshape it with your hands: shoulders, sleeves, hem. Let it dry naturally, away from radiators and out of direct sunlight. A wet sweater is heavy: on a hanger, it would stretch out of shape. And forget the tumble dryer, it is the first cause of shrinking.
👌 Charlotte's tip: "I wash by hand when I only have one sweater to wash. A basin of cold water, a little detergent, 20 minutes, and that's it. It's like getting a brand new cashmere after each wash!"
5 mistakes to avoid
- Washing in hot water, or above 20°C.
- Rubbing a stain or wringing the sweater.
- Using a regular detergent, bleach or fabric softener.
- Drying on a radiator, in the sun or in the tumble dryer.
- Hanging a wet sweater on a hanger.
After the wash: steam, comb and store
To smooth your cashmere, use plenty of steam and very little heat: a steamer, or an iron on low with a damp cloth between the iron and the knit. If small pills appear over time, a cashmere comb removes them in a few strokes. Then store your sweater folded, never hung. For storage, moths and pilling, read Charlotte's complete cashmere care guide.
Looking for a new favorite? Discover our women's cashmere sweaters and men's cashmere sweaters.
Frequently asked questions about washing cashmere
Can you put cashmere in the washing machine?
Yes. Use a wool or delicate cycle at 20°C maximum, a laundry net and little or no spin. Cashmere and silk blends are the exception: wash them by hand.
What temperature should you wash cashmere at?
Cold, 20°C maximum. Hot water makes the fibers shrink and felt.
Can cashmere go in the tumble dryer?
No, never. The heat and the tumbling shrink the fiber. Always dry it flat.
Should cashmere be dry cleaned?
No, we do not recommend it. Cashmere loves water: a gentle wash at home keeps it softer than dry cleaning.
My cashmere sweater shrank in the wash. Can I save it?
Often, yes, if the knit has not felted. Follow our three methods to save a shrunken cashmere sweater.
Any other question about caring for your cashmere? Write to us at info@linnealund.com.