How to Wash Cashmere Sweaters Without Ruining Them

Hand-wash cashmere knits in cold water with a detergent made for wool or cashmere, never wring or twist them, press the water out with towels and dry them flat (CCMI). The mistake to avoid is warm water plus rubbing: together they tangle the fibers into a smaller, denser fabric (the American Cleaning Institute).

Woven cashmere, such as coats, scarves and throws, is a different case: the cashmere industry's trade group says to dry-clean it (CCMI).

Key takeaways

Use cold to lukewarm water, no warmer than about 95°F, and rinse at the same temperature.
Use a wool or cashmere wash, not dish soap, shampoo or an enzyme detergent, and never chlorine bleach.
Machine-wash only when the care label allows it: Hand Wash or wool cycle, cold water, mesh bag.
Roll the sweater in a towel to remove water, then dry it flat away from heat and sun. Never tumble dry.
Store cashmere clean, folded and sealed; to kill clothes moths, freeze it bagged at 0°F for a week.

What is cashmere, and why does it shrink in the wash?

Cashmere is the fine, dehaired undercoat of the Cashmere goat. Under the Wool Products Labeling Act, fiber can only be labeled cashmere if its average diameter is 19 microns or less (the FTC). That makes it a specialty wool, and it is a protein fiber like sheep's wool (CCMI; the American Cleaning Institute).

Most of it comes from China, Mongolia, Afghanistan and Iran, combed or sheared during the spring molt. One goat yields only about 0.1 to 0.2 kg of underdown a year, against 2.5 to 4 kg of wool from a fine-wool sheep (CCMI).

Shrinking happens in three steps, according to the American Cleaning Institute:

Water swells the fibers, and hot water swells them more.
Detergent and agitation let the swollen fibers slide over each other and tangle.
Drying locks the tangle in place, leaving a denser, smaller fabric.

That is why every cashmere method uses cool water and as little rubbing as possible. Protein fibers also weaken when wet and are damaged by alkaline products and chlorine bleach (UGA Extension).

Is it better to hand wash or dry clean cashmere?

For knitted cashmere, hand washing is the standard advice; for woven cashmere, dry cleaning is (CCMI). Knits such as sweaters, cardigans and hats can be hand washed, and some can go in machines with special cycles (CCMI).

Read the label wording closely. Under the FTC guidance, a maker that writes "Dry Clean Only" must have proof that washing would harm the garment. A label that just says "Dry Clean" does not warn against washing, and the FTC notes that many cashmere items can be washed safely at home (the FTC).

"Dry Clean Only": take it to a professional dry cleaner.
"Dry Clean" on a knit: hand washing is a reasonable choice, at your own risk.
Woven coats, blazers and scarves: dry-clean them (CCMI).
Blends: follow the label, since the other fiber may change the care.

More than 4,100 laundromats in the LaundroMaps directory list dry cleaning among their services, as of October 2026 (LaundroMaps directory data). Our guide to what "Dry Clean Only" means covers the label in depth.

How do you wash a cashmere scarf?

Most cashmere scarves are woven, so Johnstons of Elgin, a Scottish cashmere mill, recommends dry cleaning them and asking for the "F" (hydrocarbon solvent) method. Between cleanings, shake the scarf out and hang it in moving air (Johnstons of Elgin).

For a small mark, dab with a cloth dampened in cold water, and use a little cashmere shampoo if the stain is oily. Test bright colors first by pressing a damp white cloth on a hidden spot; if dye transfers, have it dry-cleaned (Johnstons of Elgin).

How do you hand wash a cashmere sweater?

Fill a clean basin, soak the sweater briefly in a wool detergent, then rinse and press out the water without wringing. These steps combine guidance from CCMI, Johnstons of Elgin, Woolmark and UGA Extension:

Check the label and turn the sweater inside out (Woolmark).
Fill a sink or basin with cold to lukewarm water and dissolve a wool or cashmere wash in it.
Submerge the sweater and let it soak for about 10 minutes (Woolmark).
Squeeze the suds gently through the fabric. Don't rub, wring or stretch it (Johnstons of Elgin).
Rinse in water of the same temperature until no suds remain (Johnstons of Elgin).
Press out the water against the side of the basin, then move on to drying.

Sources differ on temperature. CCMI says cold water. Johnstons of Elgin says lukewarm, 35°C (95°F), with the rinse at the same temperature. Either works; the risk is warmer water and sudden temperature changes, so stay at or below 95°F and keep wash and rinse matched (the American Cleaning Institute).

What detergent should you use on cashmere?

Use a product made for wool or fine fabrics. the American Cleaning Institute explains that these washes are pH-neutral and built for cool water, while ordinary detergents are mildly alkaline, which can change the shape of protein fibers.

Skip enzyme detergents: protease enzymes attack protein stains and can't tell them apart from protein fibers (the American Cleaning Institute).
Skip chlorine bleach: it damages wool-type fibers (UGA Extension).
Use a small amount: strong detergent strips lanolin, the fiber's natural softener (the American Cleaning Institute).

Can I use Dawn dish soap to wash my cashmere sweater?

It's not recommended, and the same goes for baby shampoo. the American Cleaning Institute advises against hair shampoo, soap, homemade recipes and hand dishwashing liquid for wool. They lack the water-softening and dye-dispersing ingredients that fine-fabric washes contain.

Can 100% cashmere be machine washed?

Yes, if the care label allows it and your washer has a gentle enough cycle. The cashmere trade group notes that knits can be machine washed on special cycles in some models (CCMI). Machine washing is safe only when the garment's care claim says so (Woolmark).

Turn it inside out and zip it into a mesh laundry bag to stop tangling and stretching (Whirlpool; Woolmark).
Add a wool detergent (Woolmark).
Pick the gentlest cycle: a wool or Hand Wash cycle, or cold Delicates if you have neither (Woolmark).
Remove it promptly and dry it flat.

On Whirlpool washers, the Hand Wash cycle uses cold water, low agitation and a slow spin or no spin, and the company lists cashmere as a fit. Delicate uses gentle agitation and a slightly faster spin (Whirlpool).

Laundromat washers don't always offer a hand-wash or wool setting, so check the machine before you load cashmere. If it has none, hand wash the cashmere at home. Our guide to hand washing clothes covers the sink setup.

Prefer to hand off the rest of the laundry? More than 6,700 laundromats in the LaundroMaps directory list wash and fold, as of October 2026 (LaundroMaps directory data). A wash-and-fold service can take the everyday load; keep cashmere out of the bag unless the shop confirms it hand washes.

How do you dry cashmere?

Flat, on a dry towel, away from heat. CCMI says to press the water out with towels and let the garment air-dry completely on a flat surface.

Lay the sweater on a thick towel, roll it up and press. Don't twist (CCMI).
Move it to a fresh, dry, flat towel on a table or drying rack (CCMI).
Reshape it: square the shoulders, straighten the sleeves and ribbing. Extension specialists call this blocking (UGA Extension).
Dry it in the shade, away from radiators and direct sun (Johnstons of Elgin; Woolmark).

Can you put cashmere in the dryer?

No. Johnstons of Elgin says never to tumble dry cashmere, and dry heat also damages wool-type fibers (UGA Extension). The heat and tumbling repeat the conditions that cause felting (the American Cleaning Institute).

How do you get stains, wrinkles and pills out of cashmere?

Treat each one gently: spot clean stains with cold water, steam out wrinkles and comb off pills.

Stains: dab with a cloth dampened in cold water; for oily marks, dab with a little cashmere shampoo. Spot test bright colors first (Johnstons of Elgin).
Wrinkles: steaming works better than pressing (CCMI). If you iron, use a steam iron and a press cloth on the wrong side (UGA Extension). Our steamer vs. iron guide compares the two.
Pills: pull them off by hand, or use a comb or a battery-operated fabric shaver gently (Woolmark).

Pills form where the fabric rubs during wear: elbows, underarms and the sides of the body (Woolmark). To reduce them, wash inside out and skip fabric softener (Woolmark). The cashmere trade group adds that high-quality garments are less prone to pilling (CCMI).

How often should you wash cashmere, and how should you store it?

Wash cashmere knits after about three or four wears, the schedule Johnstons of Elgin recommends. Letting a wool garment rest at least 24 hours between wearings helps it recover (UGA Extension).

Don't skip washes to save the fabric. A dirty garment attracts moths (CCMI), and clothes moth larvae do more damage to fabric with food or perspiration stains (UC IPM).

How should you store cashmere?

Clean it first: washing or dry cleaning before storage kills eggs and larvae and removes the perspiration odors that attract them (University of Kentucky entomologists).
Fold it on a shelf, not on a hanger (CCMI).
Seal it: an airtight container or sealable garment bag keeps moths out (UC IPM; CCMI).
Treat cedar as a bonus: Johnstons of Elgin sells cedar balls as a repellent, but UC IPM says cedar oil kills only small larvae and loses its effect after several years.

Why put cashmere in the freezer?

Freezing kills clothes moths at every life stage, which is useful if you find holes or larvae. University of Kentucky entomologists say to hold items at 0°F or colder for at least one week, or at -20°F for 72 hours.

Seal the sweater in a plastic bag to prevent frost and condensation (University of Kentucky entomologists).
Freeze it for at least a week at 0°F (University of Kentucky entomologists).
Thaw it in the bag for about 24 hours before unwrapping (University of Kentucky entomologists).

Hot water also kills moths, but it takes 20 to 30 minutes at 120°F or above, which wool-type knits can't tolerate (UC IPM). For sheep's-wool sweaters and blankets, see our guide to washing wool without shrinking it.

Frequently asked questions

Will cashmere shrink if you wash it?

It can if the water is warm and the fabric is rubbed or tumbled, because heat and agitation tangle the fibers. Cool water, a wool detergent, gentle squeezing and flat drying keep a cashmere knit at its size.

Will water ruin cashmere?

No. Water alone doesn't ruin cashmere, and the FTC notes many cashmere items can be washed safely at home. The damage comes from heat, agitation, alkaline or enzyme detergents, and dryer heat.

Why can a cashmere sweater cost $2000 or $30?

Fiber quality, purity and supply all vary. A goat yields only a small amount of underdown each year, and only fiber averaging 19 microns or less can legally be called cashmere. Blends must state their percentages, so read the label to see how much cashmere you are paying for.

What are the downsides of cashmere?

It pills where it rubs, it attracts clothes moths, especially when stored dirty, and it shrinks or felts with heat and agitation. It also needs hand washing or a gentle machine cycle and flat drying.

How many years does a cashmere sweater last?

No independent standard gives a lifespan in years. How long one lasts depends on fiber quality and care: regular gentle washing, removing pills, and clean, sealed storage that keeps moths away.

How we researched this

We read the care guidance of the Cashmere and Camel Hair Manufacturers Institute, the FTC's cashmere labeling guidance, the American Cleaning Institute's notes on protein fibers, University of Georgia Extension's fiber guide, and clothes moth guides from UC IPM and University of Kentucky entomologists. We used makers only for their own products: Johnstons of Elgin on its cashmere and Whirlpool on its washer cycles. Where sources disagreed, as on water temperature and cedar, we say so. We cited 12 pages plus our directory data; we did not lab-test any method. Researched October 2026.

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