Love your cashmere gloves but don't know how to wash them? Here'sfoolproof advice for how to best clean your cashmere gloves and keep them pristine.
Cashmere is a fabric made from the undercoat of cashmere goats. It’s incredibly soft, warm and surprisingly durable. The care tags on most cashmere clothing will instruct you to dry clean, but dry cleaning solvents are tough on the fibers, causing them to dry out and break:
- When you think about it, it doesn’t make sense that water and cashmere should not mix:cashmere goats get wet. Gloves get wet.
Knowing how to clean cashmere gloves is important, as all you need is a gentle fabric soap or baby shampoo, water, a basin and a clean towel to restore and clean your gloves to their previous splendor.
Stain removal
For the best success in removing stains, don’t let them sit.
- Tackle stains when they occur by blotting with plain soda water and a clean rag. If necessary, use a gentle laundry detergent or baby shampoo to spot clean the stain.
Launder by hand
Cashmere sweaters and accessories (like hats and scarves) can go in the washing machine, but you may prefer to wash expensive or delicate items by hand.
Leather gloves are often lined with cashmere. You cannot machine-wash leather.
- Turn the gloves inside out to expose the cashmere lining.
- Lather up a clean rag with soapy water and gently scrub the fabric.
- Rinse the rag and wipe until the soapy residue is gone.
- Try not to soak the gloves, as you don’t want too much water on the leather.
- Squeeze out any moisture, and lay them flat to dry on a clean towel.
To hand wash larger items like sweaters:
- Fill a sink or basin with cool water and a few drops of detergent or baby shampoo.
- Add the garment, gently swirling and pushing the water through the fabric.
- Remove any musty odors during hand washing by mixing in a quarter cup of vinegar. Let it soak for 10–15 minutes, then empty the basin.
- The fabric will be heavy now that it’s wet, so take care to prevent stretching.
Small items can be rinsed under cool running water, squeezing out the water until soapy bubbles disappear.
- For sweaters and other large apparel, refill the basin with clean, cool water and press through fabric until all signs of soap are gone.
- Gently squeeze out water, never wring or twist.
- If necessary, roll the garment in a clean, dry towel to remove excess moisture.
- Lay flat to dry.
Machine washing
- Put small items in a mesh laundry bag to prevent them from getting tangled.
- Cashmere is sensitive to heat, so always choose cool water settings with a small amount of laundry detergent designed for delicate fabrics.
- Remove promptly once the spin cycle is finished.
- Never put cashmere in the dryer. Lay flat to dry.
Cleaning cashmere gloves at home will help preserve them for years to come. Your fingers will thank you when you have pristine cashmere gloves to protect them in the winter!
