How to Care for Cashmere to Keep It Soft and Pill-Free

Don’t Store Your Cashmere Dirty

To avoid moth-eaten cashmere, never storing your pieces dirty is key. "Moths eat microscopic particles of skin on clothes," designer and eponymous brand founder Olivia von Halle tells Byrdie. To avoid this problem, she recommends keeping worn but clean items on a separate chair in your room until they're ready for a wash, as well as investing in moth protection care tools like the ones by Total Wardrobe Care.

Follow the Label's Cleaning Instructions

Reading the label and following the instructions is key to keeping any of your favorite items in their best shape, and this tip is especially true with cashmere. "Cashmere pieces are so special that it's really key to care for them the right way, to ensure their beauty lasts forever," Halle tells us. "The instructions on the labels are specifically tailored to the product and material, so it is important to follow them—not all kinds of cashmere require the same care. For example, we recommend storing our SilkCash flat and folded as, if hung, it will stretch and lose its shape over time. PureCash, however, may be hung. It's the little things that make the difference over time."

Don’t Over-Wash It

Cashmere doesn't need a wash after every wear. In fact "due to cashmere's more delicate nature, you should avoid washing it too frequently," Karen Millen's brand director, Natasha Hackett, tells us. "It's recommended that you wash it approximately every four wears."

If you get a stain on your cashmere piece, spot-treating can easily do the trick without a complete wash. When it's finally time to wash your cashmere, dry-cleaning is an option, and that's probably ideal for high-priced heirloom pieces. You can also often hand-wash your piece with a delicate detergent, but always double-check the brand's washing recommendations first. As for detergents, The Laundress's Wool & Cashmere Shampoo is a high-rated option (I've used it and had great results), and DedCool's Dedtergent is also safe for use on cashmere.

When hand-washing a cashmere piece, avoid soaking it too long (the max should be 30 minutes). Also, when removing the access water, never wring it out. What I do instead is roll my pieces up like a burrito and gently press the water out. 

Invest in a Pilling Tool

When I took out my pair of Theory joggers and saw pilling, I was alarmed at first. Actually, though, pilling is a normal part of the life of cashmere, and there are steps you can take to remove it. "Cashmere is generally more prone to pilling not because of its quality—it's just a natural process that happens when the fibers in the yarns rub against each other, and this usually occurs when you wear it a lot," Halle explains. "The best way to reinvigorate them if any pilling happens over time is to use an electric fabric shaver." Try Steamery's Pilo 2 Fabric Shaver or Conair's Battery-Operated Fabric Shaver next time you get pilling on cashmere or another knitwear piece, and see if it improves the look.

Always Fold and Store Your Pieces

Hanging cashmere like your other knitwear might feel like the best way to store it, but Hackett says to always fold it instead. "The gravity from hanging can pull it out of place," she explains. "When folding a cashmere [sweater], you should fold the arms under the [sweater], then horizontally fold it in half to keep any creasing lower." Additionally, when storing cashmere for long periods, she recommends placing it in a cotton or linen bag with a proper closure: "This allows the air to still get in, whilst avoiding the risk of moths ruining your pieces."