How to wash a cashmere coat in a washing machine?

How to wash a cashmere coat in the washing machine Before you wash your cashmere coat in the washing machine, you need to be thoroughly prepared. If you immediately throw the item into the drum and add the first powder that comes to hand, then instead of expensive and chic-looking cashmere you will get a shapeless and colorless something. Therefore, products made from combed mountain goat wool require special care, which will not spoil the natural softness and silkiness of the material. How to deal with stains, why and how dangerous washing in a machine is - we will look in detail in this article.

Determining how to wash

Not every cashmere coat can survive machine washing. It all depends on the composition of the material: if, in addition to fine wool, there are synthetic fibers and threads, then you can use the machine. There is no need to conduct an examination yourself - just look at the internal label of the product. Washing in a machine will not harm if the tag has one of the following designations:

PAN – acrylic;
PU – polyurethane;
NY – nylon;
MA – modified acrylic;
EL – elastane;
RA – polyamide;
LY – lycra;
PL – polyester.

It’s another matter when the tag only says “WS” or “WS 100%”. This means that the coat is made of 100% cashmere and will not withstand automatic washing. The limitation is explained by the use of a special product called dublerin in production, with which the material is impregnated to retain a given shape.

When using a washing machine, dublerin is easily washed out of the fibers, which leads to severe deformation and “turning” of the collar, cuffs and hem.

We also pay attention to other symbols on the label. If the tag contains a schematic image of a basin with a hand dipped into the water, then the cashmere coat can only be washed by hand. When the basin is crossed out, self-cleaning is prohibited - you must use dry cleaning services.

Preparing the item for washing

If the coat has no “contraindications” to automatic washing, you can begin the cleansing process. But first, the item should be prepared for loading into the drum to reduce the risk of damage and spoilage.

Remove all fur inserts, accessories and edges from outerwear, especially if they are made of natural material. Spending time in the washing machine will worsen their appearance, and when this is not possible, it is better to avoid washing them.
Remove buttons, brooches, and decorative elements from the product that could come off when the drum rotates and ruin the coat. It is also undesirable to leave metal elements on clothes, as they rust in water and can “give” cashmere unpleasant stains.
Check all pockets and lining to avoid small or sharp objects getting into the tank and drum.
Turn inside out, after fastening the buttons, rivets and zippers.

The last thing you should take care of is a special protective bag. You can purchase it at a hardware store or replace it with a pillowcase/duvet cover. You just need to choose the “protection” according to size and carefully place your cashmere coat in it.

What are we going to wash with?

It is equally important to choose a detergent wisely. Regular washing powder is too aggressive, so you should look for a special detergent for washing cashmere products. There are many options for such gels, but it is better to pay attention to the following brands:

Wellery "Delicate wool". It is a gel product intended for wool, cashmere and silk. Deals with stains of any origin without damaging the fabric structure. Its advantage is that intensive cleaning does not wash out the color of the material.

Wellery is approved for use manually and in automatic washing machines.

"Emulsio". A universal gel that can be used for both hand and machine washing. It does not foam much, is completely washed out of the fibers and perfectly removes even stubborn stains. It is hypoallergenic and suitable for children's clothing and people sensitive to chemicals and fragrances.
Almacabio. Product for the most delicate wool materials - cashmere, silk and merino. Completely natural, biodegradable and absolutely safe. It has an antibacterial effect and is suitable for hand and machine wash.

The listed products are expensive, but practice shows that cheaper analogues often wash out poorly, leave streaks on the fabric and cannot cope with serious stains. Such savings can lead to significant financial losses in the form of a damaged cashmere coat.

Which program should I choose?

Now let's decide on the mode. Ideally, you should choose a special Cashmere program. But this is not always possible, since such a button is present only in the latest models of washing machines. More often there are alternatives close to it - “Delicate Wash” and “Wool”. They set the most optimal conditions for washing, but it is better to double-check that in the settings:

the water temperature settled to 30-40 degrees;
spinning and drying were cancelled;
rinsing is turned off.

Don't forget to calculate the weight of the item. Cashmere is highly absorbent and becomes very heavy when wet. Therefore, it is not recommended to load large coats into drums with a maximum load of up to 7 kg. Otherwise, the clothes will not be able to be fully washed, and exceeding the permissible load will lead to an imbalance in the automatic washing machine and mechanical breakdowns.

Wash by hand

If the manufacturer does not recommend loading a coat into an automatic washing machine or you decide to minimize the risks, then it is better to choose hand washing. This will require more time and effort, but will increase the chances of a clean and undeformed product. You just have to follow a certain order:

Fill the bath with cold water at a temperature of up to 30-40 degrees.
Pour a small amount of special gel. As a rule, it is enough to halve the “machine” dose. It is not recommended to exceed the volume - concentrated solutions are fraught with stains and “soapy” stains.
Soak the coat for 15 minutes.
It is easy to walk over contaminated areas with a soft sponge, following the direction from top to bottom.
Drain the dirty water from the bath and get clean water.
Rinse thoroughly.

It is forbidden to strongly rub, twist or wring cashmere products - the maximum impact can be pressing and squeezing.

Even hand washing can damage cashmere. Remember that this material easily loses not only its shape, but also its color. The fact is that fibers are dyed with weak dyes, which are quickly washed out of the fabric structure. Therefore, it is better not to experiment with an expensive and new coat, but to seek professional help from a dry cleaner.

How to dry a coat correctly?

In addition to careful washing, a cashmere coat also requires special drying. The shape, color and safety of the product also depend on the drying technology, since there are many nuances and dangerous aspects. Thus, the wrong approach will lead to untidiness and deformation of outerwear, which will not please its owner at all. But drying at home is possible if you follow the following recommendations: dry the coat on a horizontal surface

You cannot use artificial heating sources - only natural air and sunlight.
The wet item is first dried horizontally and only in a semi-moist state is hung on hangers until completely dry.
The ideal place to dry a cashmere coat would be a balcony or a ventilated room.

Horizontal drying goes like this: carefully place the wet coat on a proportionate terry towel or sheet and wrap it in a moderately tight roll. As soon as the fabric absorbs some of the moisture, change the base to a dry one. Next, we unroll the bundle again and place the cashmere item on dry cotton cloth or hang it vertically on hangers until completely dry.

It is possible to wash a cashmere coat at home, but only focusing on the condition of the fabric, the existing label and the recommendations given above. Then the expensive material will be cleaned without problems or transformations.