Contrary to popular belief, cashmere is actually a sturdy material just like wool. You can use some laundry methods that involve heat application on it and it would prove game!
One example is pressing cashmere to remove wrinkles. You can choose to use iron, or better still, steam.
Cashmere is best steamed to release wrinkles as opposed to ironed which can easily cause scorching or burning of fibers or even shiny marks to develop on the ironed areas. When steaming cashmere, make sure to hang it from a rod or hook so gravity pulls down on the fabric and facilitates the process of wrinkle removal.
Below, we’ll discuss more on how to properly steam cashmere as well as iron it.
Steaming is the best way to relax cashmere fibers
When it comes to releasing wrinkles and fold marks on cashmere, the best way to do it is using a steamer. You can use the steam feature of a pressing iron or you can use a steamer specifically designed for steaming clothes.
The general idea about steaming is to use heat to relax fibers on clothes that are out of orientation. But one should also know that the use of too much heat can cause scorching or burning of fibers too.
Below, you’ll learn how to properly steam cashmere using a steamer or the steam function of a pressing iron.
How To Properly Steam Cashmere
Hang the cloth on a drying rack or from a hook
Whenever you’re steaming clothes, make sure to hang them from something to be able to access all sides of the clothes. Hanging them also has the benefit of aiding wrinkle release much faster because the moisture adds extra weight to the fabric which gravity loves to pull, thus releasing the fold marks and wrinkles.
You can hang cashmere on a shower curtain rod, clothes dryer or a hook.
Prepare your steamer and use it
It is of course expected that you know the do’s and don’ts of using a steamer. If you don’t, read the product manual of your specific product and prepare the steamer accordingly, then power it on and use it as instructed by the manufacturer, making sure that the nozzle of the steamer never makes direct contact with the surface of the fabric which can cause the fibers to burn.
Always keep the nozzle at least 1 inch away from the steamer.
Allow garment to dry
After steaming, your clothes will be a bit dampened, so you want to allow them to dry properly before wearing or storing them to prevent the fabric from smelling.
If you have a standing fan, use it to facilitate drying, if not, lay the garments flat on a clothes rack to dry. Make sure you place the clothes rack in a shaded area as putting cashmere directly under the sun can cause shrinkage as well as “yellowing”.
You can also Iron
When ironing cashmere, use the steam feature if you can, it’s better than dry ironing.
To iron cashmere, use temperatures no more than medium, which is about 300°F, and make sure there is a pressing cloth placed between the garment and the pressing iron to further reduce the risk of burning or scorching, or the creation of shiny marks on the fabric.
Place the garment on a pressing board covered with thick fabrics. Place a pressing cloth over the cashmere and begin to iron. Move the pressing cloth as you move the surface of the iron to a new section of the cloth and continue doing so until you finish ironing. Avoid leaving the pressing iron for more than 10 seconds in a particular place.
Final Thoughts
You can absolutely steam cashmere, and steaming is in fact the best way to remove wrinkles on it. When steaming cashmere, make sure to avoid placing the nozzles directly on the surface of the cloth as that can cause scorching or burning of the fibers.
Another option you have when it comes to releasing wrinkles on cashmere is to use a pressing iron. If your iron has a steaming function, then things get even better and safer.
When ironing cashmere, always place a cloth between the cashmere and the pressing iron as a safety precaution (it doesn’t matter if you have a cloth placed in between). Make sure the cloth underneath the cashmere too isn’t one that runs color, as it can end up transferring it’s dyes onto the cashmere.
