How to wash cashmere sweaters

For years I have been taking my sweaters to the dry cleaners, spending a lot of money and time and have sweaters that don't smell clean and soft.

When visiting a wholesale cashmere sweater dealer in Paris he told me his wife only washes her sweaters and they become more and more soft!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Access to washer with hand wash cycle or facilities to wash sweater by hand, sink or bucket.
• Towel
• Flat drying rack in dryer or other location with air circulation.
• Laundry detergent

1. Turn sweater right side out and remove any balls or pilling with a disposable razor. Remove spots or stains with OxiClean or the same laundry detergent you will be using to wash.

2. Put sweater in washer, use the "Hand Wash" or "Delicate" cycle. If this is not an option wash in a bucket or sink. Use only cold or warm water, regular laundry detergent is fine, as long as it has no bleach.

3. When sweater is washed and rinsed squeeze, NOT WRING, until most of the water is removed. Place sweater on bath towel 4 inches from the end, pressing flat into shape with your hands and arranging sleeves along body of sweater. Roll up the towel and stand on it to press out as much water as possible.

4. Unroll and lie sweater on drying rack and dry on medium heat until dry. Or place on drying rack with air circulating around it.

Tips & Warnings

• You can wash several sweaters in one load and dry individually, meanwhile having the sweaters towel dried and on a hanger that evenly supports the weight, while waiting it's turn in the dryer.
• Be careful not to wash light and dark colored sweaters together, as colors may run.

[almommabear]

on 11/14/2008 That sounds great! I just realized the sweater I bought was cashmere and I thought I had to dry clean it only! Thanks for the tips!