We are increasingly concerned about the clothes we buy, taking a special interest in ensuring that they last as long as possible to, among other things, respect the environment. For this reason, every day we focus more on quality rather than quantity and many of our "star" garments are made with natural fibers and fabrics . If you are a cashmere and wool lover, it is important that you know how to wash this type of delicate clothing so that it always looks impeccable and lasts much longer.

Contrary to popular belief, you can wash your cashmere and wool clothes at home. What's more, wool and cashmere love water and even improve with washing. As they are delicate fibers, you only have to take into account some easy tips and, above all, respect some guidelines that we will tell you below:

How often should I wash my wool and cashmere clothes?

There is no need to wash your cashmere and wool sweaters after each use. Of course, between each use we recommend that you hang your garments, if possible, outdoors so that they can ventilate and preferably at night or in the shade to avoid sources of heat or possible discoloration. To preserve the quality and beauty of your jerseys , it is enough to wash them every 3 or 4 uses .

Avoid dry cleaning.

Although many manufacturers recommend it on the label, avoid dry cleaning your wool and cashmere garments. In addition to being harmful to the environment, solvents used in dry cleaning can damage, weaken and destroy fibers.

Machine wash.

It may surprise you but it is the safest way to wash wool and cashmere . Nowadays washing machines have specific programs for delicate garments, hand wash cycles or special programs for wool. They are very suitable for washing your delicate garments since the speed and regularity of the drum allow the garments to be gently stirred to clean them thoroughly, protecting the fibers and preventing them from breaking. The cycles of these programs are usually short, between 30 and 60 minutes , and the spin speeds are 800 RPM , ideal for removing excess water without damaging your clothes. As for the temperature, although by default it is locked at 40ºC, we advise you to wash cold to avoid the risk of shrinking your favorite sweaters.

You can clean several items at the same time, always being careful not to overfill your washing machine or mix colors. Wash your clothes inside out and put them in a net or pillowcase to avoid rubbing against other clothes. That's one of the things that hurts sweaters the most.

Hand cleaning.

However, if you prefer to wash your woolen garments by hand, we advise you to first dilute the soap in cold water, never more than 40ºC . Immerse your garment in the water and let it soak for about 15 minutes. Gently remove the garment with your hands to remove dirt. Be especially careful not to break the fibers. Under no circumstances do you have to twist your clothes. To rinse, remove the garment, empty the soapy water container and refill it with clean water, soaking the garment again to rinse it. Repeat this operation until the water is free of foam. Then, drain very carefully.

What detergent to use?

To preserve the fibers, it is important to use a very mild and natural soap . Our laundry soap for silk and wool Nº13 is made with olive oil, saponified cold. This process allows all the properties of olive oil to be preserved: it cleans, nourishes and cares for the most delicate fibers . Never use detergents with enzymes: they destroy the wool protein. There is no need to use fabric softener either, olive oil provides the necessary hydration.

It is very important to respect the recommended doses since too much detergent could damage your clothes.

How to dry my wool and cashmere garments?

Drying should always be flat , on top of a cotton towel that allows water to be absorbed and thus accelerate drying. Let your wool and cashmere garments dry away from the sun or any other heat source. Never let your sweaters dry on a hanger, they could become deformed. And of course, never in the dryer.

How to iron wool and cashmere?

If you have left your clothes to dry flat, they most likely do not need to be ironed. Once dry, they will be ready to use or store again.

However, if you want to iron them, do it better with a steamer than an iron. If you use an iron, do so at the lowest temperature, without pressing, placing a damp cloth between the iron and the garment to prevent the fibers from being crushed.

Tips for storing and protecting wool and cashmere.

You should always store your sweaters folded. If you leave them hanging on a hanger, they will lose their shape prematurely. The ideal is to store them in a drawer or a breathable cotton bag . Never in a plastic bag that could alter the colors and facilitate the development of mold.

Natural fibers attract moths, especially when dirty. Therefore, it is convenient that you keep your clothes clean. You can add cedar balls and spray your clothes with our closet purifying perfume Nº210 . Its smell of cedar, mint and lavender scares away moths and insects , in addition to leaving a pleasant aroma.

To take care of your garments, it is advisable that you remove the pills that may form as well as the hairs with a specific comb for cashmere. Do it carefully and calmly so as not to damage your clothes. Do not use an adhesive roller, it would leave traces of glue on your clothes, which attracts even more dust.

Finally, in case of stains, treat them as soon as they appear. If it can be before they dry. Our Castile soap stick Nº03 with olive oil, it is perfect for removing all types of stains in total safety.

In short, it is important that you wash and store your wool and cashmere clothes correctly so that they last as long as possible. In this way, you will maintain the flexibility, shine, shape and color of the fabrics. And may wool and cashmere become your best allies.