HOW TO WASH IT —

Hand washing your cashmere garments in cold water with a gentle, natural soap is always best. Gently squeeze the suds through the cashmere taking care not to rub it to reduce the amount of pilling. Soak for up to at least 20 minutes to increase its fluffiness. Rinse the garment in cool clean water, squeezing without twisting.

You can dry clean your cashmere sweater, but we recommend you hand-wash all your cashmere items. Remember that cashmere comes from goats and goats’ fur, like human hair, becomes fluffier and more lustrous after it’s washed.

Bonus tip: time is the best fabric softener. Adding fabric softener will likely have the opposite effect. If you prefer to machine wash, we recommend a good washing machine with a ‘wool’ program or ‘gentle’ cycle, with cold water and gentle spinning.

WHEN DRYING YOUR CASHMERE, BE GENTLE AND PATIENT —

Cashmere is at its most delicate when the fibers are wet, so this stage requires the most care. Lay the garment out on a clean towel and carefully roll it up to remove excess water. Smooth the garment back into its original shape and allow it to dry naturally, lying flat and in a shady spot.
Be patient; it may take some time, but the result is worth the wait.

IRON IT… CAREFULLY —

Use the lowest heat setting on your flat iron, for wool and silk. At all times, avoid direct contact between the fabric and the iron’s sole. We recommend placing a piece of slightly wet cotton between the iron and your cashmere wool. This will help ease the fibres back into place making sure that the fluffy characteristics of your cashmere piece are protected by the low heat.

DON’T WEAR AND WASH —

We recommend airing your garment after each wear and cleaning it just after a few wears. Before washing, keep your cashmere garments in a separate basket to make sure they’re not accidentally bundled into your mixed loads of laundry.

SHAVE IT REGULARLY —

Pilling is a natural process and is a characteristic of the fabric. It usually appears when your cashmere is brand new and in areas that are prone to rubbing, such as under the arms or where you carry your handbag. We recommend using a sweater stone, razor blade or comb. Gently pass through the garment across the pilled area to remove loose fibers.

STORAGE: CASHMERE LIKES TO LIE DOWN —

Cashmere should be stored lying in a drawer or on a shelf. If you place it on a hanger, it will lose its shape. Cashmere wool is also sensitive to light and pressure. For this reason, we recommend putting your wool in a dark, lightproof wardrobe and on top of everything else.

Bonus tip: to keep your cashmere moth-free we recommend placing ceddar wood balls in your drawer or storage box, fragrant sacks filled with lavender or dried orange peel.

HOW TO WASH IT —

Hand wash with warm water and a gentle soap. Don’t leave it soaking, as that can cause yellowing. Gently massage your t-shirt in water, then rinse it thoroughly using clean, cold water.
If you have a good quality washing machine, you can wash your sea island cotton essential on the ‘wool’ or ‘gentle’ cycle, ideally in a dedicate bag for extra protection. We recommend using a 30°c cycle to help protect its precious fibers and the environment.
Dry cleaning can help to remove certain stains and can also help prevent shrinking or stretching. However, unless your t-shirt is heavily soiled, a gentle wash at this cooler temperature will usually suffice.

Bonus tips: avoid using too much detergent as it can leave white cotton looking grey or yellowed and, when machine-washing, avoid overfilling the machine as your clothes need to circulate properly to get properly clean.

HOW TO DRY IT —

When it comes to drying your Sea Island cotton Essentials, you should avoid using a tumble dryer which can degrade the fabric. Remove all excess water by rolling them in a fresh towel and squeeze. Avoid any excessive wringing, which can stretch the fabric. Reshape your t-shirt by shaking it out from the hem, then lay it flat to dry in an airy space.

Bonus tip: if your white t-shirt is looking a little faded, the uv rays from the sun can help to whiten the fabric naturally.

IRON IT —

Your Sea Island cotton Essential can be ironed on a warm heat. Cotton in particular benefits from adding some steam or water before ironing, to help smooth and flatten the fibers.

WASH ONLY WHITES TOGETHER —

A safety rule when washing your Sea Island cotton essentials is to wash like with like: if you want your white cottons to stay brilliant and bright, you need to wash them strictly with other white items to prevent any color leaching.

HOW TO AVOID SHRINKAGE AND REMOVE STAINS —

Cotton shrinks naturally, which often happens during the first few washes. You can help to reduce this by using cold or warm rather than hot water and avoiding tumble drying which is the major cause of shrinkage and damage – particularly when it comes to finer yarns such as sea island cotton.

The first rule of dealing with stains is to act immediately. Blot the stain, dabbing with a clean cloth or towel. Then add some mild soap and gently work it in to remove as much stain as possible. Sometimes, you may need a commercial stain remover but avoid using chlorine bleach-based products. If your lmh essential is heavily soiled, you may need to pre-soak it before washing it.

Bonus tip: you can try mixing some baking soda into a paste with some water, and then applying it to the stained area. Allow it to dry, then simply brush it off.

STORAGE —

Simply store your clean cotton pieces in your wardrobe, out of direct sunlight. When storing t-shirts, it’s best to fold or roll them and stack them on a shelf or in a drawer. Hanging them can cause the fabric to stretch or become misshapen over time, but if you do need to hang your t-shirts use wide hangers and insert the hanger from the bottom up.