Caring For Your Cashmere

Cashmere knitwear can be hand washed or dry cleaned.  At pink zebra, we recommend hand washing following these simple guidelines -

Steps:

1. Use a detergent specifically intended for delicate garments.
2. Fill your sink or basin with lukewarm or cool water, depending on the garment’s washing instructions.  Add the recommended amount of delicate garment detergent to the basin.
3. Briskly run your hand through the water to distribute the detergent and generate suds.
4. Submerge the garment and gently squeeze the suds through it.  Don not rub, wring or stretch the garment.
5. Let it soak for 15-20 minutes.
6. Drain the sink and rinse your garment with lukewarm water until the water rinses clear.
7. Gently press water out of the garment and place it lengthwise on a clean, dry bath towel.  Saturated garments should not be lifted before excess water has been gently squeezed out, as they may stretch.  (A short, light spin in a delicates bag in a washing machine will remove most of the water – but please, use gentle SPIN function ONLY to remove water – do not wash your sweater in the machine!)
8. Roll up the towel.  Press with your palms to squeeze out any excess water.
9. Remove the garment from the towel and smooth it out so it is back in its original shape.
10. Lay the garment flat on a dry towel and let it air-dry, or use a drying rack if you have one.
11. When dry, press lightly with cool iron, if desired.

• Dry-cleaning cashmere is also a viable option.  However, as cashmere is a delicate fibre, excess chemical treatments may shorten your garment’s life.
• To prolong the life of your garment, hand wash after 6-7 wears.
• Store folded, with cedar balls to avoid moths.

• After wearing your new cashmere garment for the first few times you may find small balls of fibre forming on the surface.  These small balls or ‘pills’ are caused by some of the loose fibre tangling together as areas of your garment are rubbed during wear.
  
  This ‘Pilling’ is not indicative of inferior quality – it is an inevitable consequence of the careful processing of this very fine fibre.  Pills can be easily removed gently by hand or by using a ‘defuzzit’ device.  You will find that, removing the pills in this way, the garment will actually consolidate and soften in handle & touch.  Like fine wine, cashmere will improve with age if cared for properly.
  

• Sunlight can fade your sweater, and other heat sources may wear fibres prematurely.  It’s better to let your sweater dry naturally indoors, away from sunny windows and heat vents.

1. Always turn jeans inside-out before washing them.
2. Separate from other colors.  When washing your jeans for the first time, always wash them on their own as excess dye may bleed into other garments. Darker denim is best washed before wear to avoid rub off.
3. Machine wash in cold water or hand wash.  Always use cold water to maintain the colour of your jeans. .
4. Preferably, use a laundry detergent specifically made for denim.  We recommend The Laundress Denim wash (available at Pink Zebra).  A detergent for dark laundry works too.
5. Never use bleach. (Unless you want the acid wash look!)
6. Do NOT soak.
7. Remove from wash and shake out any folds.
8. Dry inside out and away from direct sunlight. Hang them separately as colour might transfer onto lighter garments when damp
9. AVOID the dryer.  Especially for stretch jeans.  Drying will cause the stretch to deteriorate over time.  If you put your jeans in the dryer because you want them to shrink back down, STOP.  They will do this if you just let them air dry.  The dryer also causes fading. If you must tumble dry, use the lowest heat setting.
10. Light iron with lots of steam, if desired

• Dry-cleaning denim is also a viable option, if you want to maintain the darkness of the denim.
• Washing will spring them back into shape if they have stretched a little.
• You can wear your jeans several times between washing to help them mould to the shape of your body and retain the darkness of the wash.
• Over time washing and wear will gradually fade and soften the fabric of your jeans.