Taking Care of a Merino-Cashmere Sweater

Folding wool sweaters prevents stretching.

Both merino and cashmere are types of specialty wool fibers. Merino wool comes from the fleece of Merino sheep while cashmere is from the fine underhair of the Kashmir goat. Australian Wool Innovation notes that Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel forever changed women’s fashion when she began designing clothing using knitted merino wool jersey in 1916. Wool has since become a fashion staple, widely used in a variety of garments, including sweaters. Once you have invested in a merino-cashmere blend sweater, proper care can help it last a lifetime.

Things You'll Need

• pH neutral, wool-safe soap
• Water
• Clean, dry bath towel
• Acid-free tissue paper
• Canvas or muslin storage bag
• Cedar sachet or mothballs

Instructions

1. Air out your merino-cashmere sweater after wearing it. To remove odors and refresh the sweater, lay it on a clean, flat surface in a well-ventilated room for one to three hours. This will make frequent washing less necessary.

2. Rinse with cold water to spot clean stains as quickly as possible. Warm or hot water may set the stain. Different stains require different treatment (see Resources).

3. Fill your sink with clean, lukewarm water to wash your merino-cashmere sweater. Add a pH neutral wool-safe soap according to the directions on the soap's packaging. Generally, 2 to 3 tsp. of soap in 2 gallons of water is enough to clean one wool sweater. Agitate the water to disperse the soap.

4. Submerge your sweater in the soapy water and allow the sweater to soak for 20 minutes.

5. Drain the water from the sink. To rinse the sweater, fill the sink with clean lukewarm water, then drain. Fill and drain two or three times until the water runs clear and all bubbles are gone.

6. Press as much water as possible from the sweater without wringing or twisting the fabric.

7. Remove the sweater from the sink and lay it flat on a clean, dry bath towel.

8. Roll up the towel and press to remove excess water.

9. Unroll the towel and lift the sweater. Place it flat on another clean, dry bath towel.

10. Reshape the sweater and leave it on the towel, away from direct sunlight and heat, to air dry.

11. Fold the sweater with acid-free tissue paper and store it in a canvas or muslin clothing bag with a cedar sachet or mothballs. This storage method will help your merino-cashmere sweater retain its shape while reducing the risk of damage from moisture and pests.

Tips & Warnings

• Dry clean your merino-cashmere sweater only when tough stains make doing so a necessity. Dry cleaning fluids can actually attract moths.

• Avoid hand washing merino-cashmere blends with detergent-based cleansers. Detergents will strip the fabric of its natural oils and harden the fibers.

• Allow your sweater to rest for 24 hours in between uses. Resting allows the wool fiber to recover its original shape.

• Do not hang merino-cashmere knits. Hanging you sweater can leave it stretched and misshapen.

• Washing merino-cashmere sweaters with every wear is unnecessary.

• Woven merino-cashmere blends must be dry cleaned. Ensure that your merino-cashmere sweater is knit, not woven, before hand washing it.

• When wet, both merino and cashmere will shrink if exposed to direct heat. Allow damp wool to air dry to avoid shrinkage.

References

• Australian Wool Innovation Limited: Australian Merino History
• Australian Wool Innovation Limited: Care: General
• Woolcrafting: Want to Wash Wool Clothing?
• Cashmere and Camel Hair Manufacturers Institute: Garment Care

Resources

• Australian Wool Innovation Limited: Care: Stain Removal
• Australian Wool Innovation Limited: Wool Care Guide