The Cashmere Killer

posted on October 15, 2008

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It’s fall. The temperature has fallen along with the leaves and you are looking forward to a little style change. It’s cashmere weather. You swim through the dusty bunnies under your bed to pull out the box where your prized possessions are stored. You fling open the box to discover that something else likes your sweaters as much as you do, even more so since they have eaten holes right through them. Moths. You could kill them if you could find them. The trouble is you will never find them. The creatures that are munching on your cashmere aren’t the harmless moths fluttering around your porch light on a heavenly summer night. No, it is their delinquent offspring. Moths lay eggs in your sweaters. How they end up there I have no idea. The eggs hatch and the larvae eat the unseemly detritus you left behind on your sweater last spring when you packed it away. Food, drink, and sweat constitute gourmet meal time for baby moths. If you don’t have the luxury of installing a cedar-lined closet, the only way to get rid of these devilish creatures is two pronged. The first tried and true method is the old reliable stinky moth balls. You will smell like a grandmother when you wear this and that’s not really what you want. The second method is to clean your sweaters before you put them away and then seal them in airtight plastic bags with cedar balls or packets called Moth-Away bags. I recommend that you do not dry clean cashmere. Most dry cleaners have no idea how to care for cashmere and the first casualty of incompetent dry cleaning is that trademark softness. Cashmere becomes stiff and scratchy when poorly dry-cleaned. And if that happens, what was the point of doling out the dollars for cashmere in the first place? You could have bought Shetland wool at a quarter of the price. Buy classic styles in classic colors in cashmere and with the right cleaning, these investments will last you the rest of your life. SP found this helpful article on www.knitalteration.com

Cashmere sweaters may be hand washed with a gentle cleanser such as baby shampoo or Ivory flakes. Hand washing keeps them softer longer but can change the shape of your sweaters if not done carefully. It is recommended that you soak sweaters in sudsy, lukewarm water for five minutes, then gently “squish” your sweater to let the suds soak through the fibers. Rinse in lukewarm water until the suds are completely removed and the water is clear, using the same “squishing” action, never wringing. Roll the sweater in a towel to remove the extra moisture and to speed the drying process. Lay it flat to dry and block into the desired shape, using special care, as wet cashmere fibers can weaken and stretch out of shape. Your sweater will take the shape that it’s put into when it’s dried, so this is an important part of its care. Once it’s thoroughly dried, it can be delicately tumbled in a home dryer at a cool temperature (air dry, no heat) to make the fibers “bloom.” Put the sweater inside-out in a pillow case with the end tied off. This gives it room to tumble.

For full article: http://www.knitalteration.com/sweater_care.html

SP recommends: Mothballs if you (or your friends) don’t mind the smell. Moth-Away Bags from www.containerstore.com are effective and inexpensive but you have to change them every season as they lose their effectiveness. Cedar hang bars are good to hang next to your cashmere jacket or suit.

** Update- A reader writes: If you’re looking for professional care of your fine cashmere items – look to wet-cleaning as an alternative to traditional dry-cleaning. Wet Cleaning uses water, detergents and surfactants that are safe for the natural fibers and dyes, and conditioners to return cashmere to better than new condition. The garments are then dried to typically 10% moisture level, then air dryed and blocked to exactly the measurement of a new garment. Many ‘dry-cleaners’ do not have the knowledge, experience or desire to go through this effort for your garment. Look to third party organizations like www.americasbestcleaners.com to find a high end capable garment care professional in your city.