Cashmere Care Guide: Washing & Storage in the UAE

Cashmere has a reputation for being difficult. It is not — it is just unforgiving of the two things most people do to it: hot water and hanging.

Wash it more often than you think

Dirt and body oils are what attract moths and dull the fibre, so leaving cashmere unwashed to protect it is counterproductive. Wash after every three or four wears, or sooner if it has been against bare skin.

Hand wash in cool water

Fill a basin with cool water and a small amount of gentle detergent or a dedicated wool wash. Submerge the piece, press it gently a few times, and leave it for around ten minutes. Do not rub, wring or twist — agitation is what causes felting, not water. Rinse in clean cool water until no suds remain.

A machine wash on a wool cycle at 30°C or lower works for most modern cashmere, but hand washing is the safer default for finer knits and printed pieces.

Dry flat, never on a hanger

Press the water out between two towels — again, no wringing. Then lay the piece flat on a dry towel, reshape it with your hands, and leave it away from direct sun and radiators. Hanging wet cashmere stretches the shoulders permanently.

Deal with pilling, do not panic about it

Pilling is normal on natural fibres and happens most where fabric rubs — under the arms, along the sides. A cashmere comb or a fabric shaver removes pills in a few passes. Do it dry, and go gently.

Storing through a Gulf summer

Humidity and heat are the real risks here. Store cashmere clean, folded, and in a breathable cotton bag rather than plastic, which traps moisture. Keep it out of direct sunlight, which fades dyes faster than washing does. Cedar blocks are a reasonable moth deterrent; strong-smelling mothballs tend to leave the smell behind in the fibre.

A note on printed and dyed pieces

Deep colours and prints can release a little dye on the first wash. Wash them separately the first time and skip any soaking longer than about ten minutes.

Shop cashmere at JUVISRAS: KUJTEN · All products.