How To Wash A Cashmere Scarf

The wool used to make soft, luxurious cashmere clothing comes from the Cashmere goat. Although Cashmere goats are sheared for their hair in such regions of the world as New Zealand, Australia and Iran, cashmere sweaters and scarves are typically made from the goats' naturally-shed hair, collected during their molting season. The scarves made from this type of wool remain the most warm, long-lasting, and expensive and call for extreme care. Care instructions on the tags of cashmere clothing usually read "dry clean only." However, delicate cashmere scarves require gentle care and cleaning to maintain their soft, long-lasting quality. Hand wash your cashmere scarves for the safest care.

Instructions
One:
Hand wash your cashmere scarf in cold water using mild detergent, baby shampoo or soap flakes. Do not use fabric softener, bleach or a detergent containing bleach.
Soak the scarf in lukewarm water for five minutes.
Rinse the scarf in lukewarm water several times. Do not wring the scarf.
Roll the scarf up in a towel to remove excess water. Use a second towel if the first becomes too damp and if you still need to remove excess water.
Lay the scarf flat on a fresh towel to dry. Do not hang the scarf to dry, as this will cause the fabric to stretch and lose its shape. Keep the scarf away from heat and sunlight while drying.

Two:
NEVER place cashmere items in the washer or dryer. Hand washing works best.
When hand washing use lukewarm water and a very mild soap or shampoo (such as Neutrogena or Dove). Gently work the suds through the fabric and rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. NEVER wring or twist the material as it will lose its original shape.
When drying cashmere, gently squeeze excess water (again, do not wring or twist). Lay the item out on a clean towel, adjusting it to its original shape, and roll the towel up, jelly roll style, with the cashmere item in the middle. Apply pressure to the towel, and unroll, laying the item flat again on another clean dry towel to finish air-drying.

Tips & Warnings
Hand wash an older cashmere scarf first, rather than a newer or favorite scarf.
Do not twist, wring or rub the scarf to remove excess water.
Do not store your clean cashmere scarf by hanging it up. Fold and place flat in a dresser drawer.
Always clean your cashmere scarf before storing it and place lavender sachets or cedar chips/blocks wherever you store the clean scarf. This will keep moths away.
Do not wash cashmere scarves in a washing machine. This will distort the fabric and ruin your scarves.