Pashmina is one of the world’s most luxurious fabrics. It’s unbelievably soft, smooth, lightweight, and warm. These qualities have made pashmina a highly coveted commodity across the globe for centuries.
The wondrous fabric deserves to be treated with the utmost level of care. In order to maintain pashmina’s beautiful appearance, it’s important to practice specific care methods. Find out exactly how to wash and care for your pashmina pieces in our guide below.
How To Wash Pashmina
Pashmina scarves are soft and delicate, which means they must be handled gently. Always wash your pashmina pieces by hand instead of in the washing machine. Use these techniques to ensure your pashmina retains its exquisite texture:
- Fill a large bowl with lukewarm water. Excessively cold water won’t clean your pashmina very well, while hot water may shrink the wool. If you can’t get room-temperature water, keep the temperature on the cool side.
- Add a few drops of baby shampoo to the bowl and stir it in. Baby shampoo is a gentle formula that will work much better for your pashmina than the harsh chemicals found in conventional laundry detergent. You can also use a specialized cashmere soap, but it’s not a necessary purchase.
- Remove any stains by dabbing them with a stain-removing wipe. Be sure to dab, rather than rub, to avoid pilling. If you don’t have stain-removing wipes, you can create your own by adding a small amount of liquid stain remover onto a paper towel or a clean cloth. Try to remove stains as soon as you notice them, as this gives you the best chance of complete removal.
- Gently swirl the scarf around the soapy water. Avoid pulling, tugging, and wringing the pashmina in water. These motions can cause the scarf to lose its shape. Always be as gentle as possible when washing pashmina. If you’re washing more than one garment at a time, start with the lightest color and work your way up to the darkest.
- Rinse out your scarf in a bowl filled with fresh water. Pour out all the soapy water from the bowl, rinse it out, and refill it with clean water. Submerge your scarf and gently massage it until the soap is completely gone. Avoid placing the scarf under running water, as it can ruin the pashmina. You may need to repeat this step several times until all of the soapy residue is removed from your scarf.
- Squeeze out the water by gently bunching up your scarf. Curl it into a ball and squeeze so that water drips out. Don’t twist or wring out the pashmina. You can also press the scarf against the side of the bowl to release water.
- Roll the scarf in a towel to get more water out. Lay the towel down flat on a clean surface, and place your pashmina on top of it. Apply light pressure to the top of the rolled towel so that water squeezes out of the scarf and onto the towel. If you like, you can repeat the process with a second dry towel, but this isn’t a necessary step.
- Air dry your scarf by laying it flat onto another dry towel. Be sure to place it in a spot where the scarf won’t be accidentally stepped on. Smooth out the scarf to avoid any wrinkles. The scarf should be dry within a day. Avoid hanging your scarf to dry, as it will pull at the fibers.
Alternatively, you can take your pashmina pieces to the dry cleaner’s if you don’t want to hand wash them. Always let them know that it’s a pashmina or cashmere piece so that they treat it accordingly. You may want to research dry cleaners that specialize in cashmere to ensure your pieces will be in good hands. Just be aware that dry cleaning pashmina isn’t a one time occurrence. You shouldn’t hand wash a pashmina that has been dry cleaned, since the chemicals could cause a negative reaction and ruin your scarf. Choose your preferred cleaning style, and stick to it.
How To Store Pashmina
Prolong the life and quality of your pashmina by storing it in a cool, dry place. Avoid areas with dampness or exposure to sunlight, as both of these things can damage the garment’s texture. Always fold your pashmina pieces instead of hanging them, as hanging causes the fabric to stretch and lose its shape.
Protect your pashmina by storing it in a muslin cloth; this will keep moths at bay while preventing pilling. You can also add in a lavender or lilac sachet to repel moths and add a pleasant fragrance to your scarf.
It’s helpful to periodically aerate and comb your pashmina pieces to keep them looking like new. If you feel that they are really in need of special attention, you can always take them to a cashmere specialist for restoration.
Remember that pashmina scarves and garments are investment pieces that deserve extra love and care. Treat them well, and you’ll be able to enjoy them for decades to come.