Cashmere has a reputation: precious, delicate, complicated. Two-thirds of that is true. Precious, yes; delicate, a little; complicated, it is not. It only requires five habits, and those are quickly learned.
1. Air out instead of washing
First, the most important rule: Cashmere needs to be washed much less often than you think. The fiber neutralizes odors on its own; a night by an open window or on a hanger in the bathroom replaces washing in most cases. Every wash avoided is extended life for the sweater.
2. If washing, then cold and by hand
Cold water, a mild wool detergent, gently press through instead of rubbing or wringing. No hot water, no normal machine wash. Heat and friction are the two things cashmere truly resents.
3. Dry flat, never hang
Wet cashmere is heavy and deforms under its own weight. Therefore: lay flat on a towel, pull into shape, let dry. Never on a hanger, never on the heater, never in the dryer. The dryer is the quickest way to turn a size L into a size for nobody.
4. Pilling is normal and solvable
Small knots after the first few wears are not a quality defect, but a natural behavior of fine fibers at friction points. A cashmere comb removes them in two minutes. After the first few weeks, it will naturally lessen.
5. Store correctly
Folded on a shelf, not hung (Rule 3 also applies when dry). Store clean and dry over the summer, preferably with a piece of cedarwood next to it, which repels moths without smelling like mothballs.
That's all. Five habits, none of which take more than a few minutes, and a sweater that would last one season becomes one that looks better after ten years than many new ones.
