How to Store Cashmere Between Seasons

A good cashmere sweater is one of the quiet luxuries of a wardrobe. It is soft, warm and light, and with proper care it can stay beautiful for many years.

Most damage to cashmere does not happen while you are wearing it. It happens in the months it spends folded away. Moths, damp, crushed shelves and stretched shoulders can undo a fine piece long before its time. A little care at the change of season makes all the difference.

Clean Every Piece Before It Goes Away

Never store cashmere dirty, even if it looks clean. Traces of body oil, perfume and food are invisible to you but attractive to moth larvae, which feed on the keratin in natural fibres and are drawn to soiled spots.

Hand wash each piece in cool water with a gentle wool or cashmere wash, or use the wool cycle on your machine if the care label allows it. Do not wring or twist the fabric. Press out the water, roll the sweater in a clean towel, then lay it flat to dry away from direct heat and sunlight.

If a piece is labelled dry clean only, or you are unsure, take it to a cleaner you trust. Either way, make sure it is completely dry before it goes into storage, because trapped moisture invites mildew.

Fold, Never Hang

Cashmere is a knit, and knits stretch under their own weight. A sweater left on a hanger for months will develop pointed shoulders and a longer, looser shape that rarely recovers fully.

Lay each piece flat, fold the sleeves across the back, then fold the body in half or in thirds. For particularly fine knits, place a sheet of acid free tissue paper between the folds to soften the creases and protect the surface.

Stack folded pieces with the heaviest at the bottom and the lightest on top, and avoid piles so tall that the lower layers are crushed.

Choose Breathable Storage

Natural fibres need to breathe. Plastic boxes and vacuum bags trap moisture and can leave fibres flattened and creased, so they are best avoided for long periods.

Instead, use cotton or linen storage bags, or a lidded box lined with clean cotton. Zippered fabric bags keep out dust and insects while letting air circulate. Label each one so you do not need to open everything to find a particular piece.

Store your cashmere somewhere cool, dark and dry. A wardrobe shelf or a drawer in a bedroom is ideal. Attics, basements and garages tend to swing between heat, cold and damp, which is hard on delicate fibres.

Keep Moths at Bay

Clothes moths are the greatest threat to stored cashmere. Prevention is far easier than repair.

Cedar blocks, cedar balls and lavender sachets are popular, gentle deterrents. Refresh cedar by lightly sanding it every few months to release its scent, and replace lavender when it fades. These natural options repel rather than kill, so they work best alongside clean clothes and sealed fabric bags.

Vacuum drawers and wardrobe floors before you put your knitwear away. Moth eggs and larvae often hide in corners and seams, and a clean space removes them before they can settle into your favourite sweater.

Check In During the Off Season

Do not simply forget about your cashmere until autumn. Open your storage bags every month or two, give each piece a gentle shake and look for small holes, loose fibres or webbing. Catching a problem early can save the rest of your collection.

Bringing Cashmere Back Out

When the cold returns, unfold each piece and let it air for a few hours. If folds remain, hold a steamer a short distance away or hang the sweater briefly in a steamy bathroom, then lay it flat again.

Small pills may appear on areas that rub, such as under the arms. Remove them gently with a cashmere comb rather than a razor. Treat your cashmere well between seasons, and it will reward you for winters to come.

Which pieces in your wardrobe do you treasure most? Explore more guides to caring for fine things here at L'éclat Magazine.