Gentle care - care instructions for cashmere products

Kashmir wool is one of the warmest natural fibers in the world. The warmth is due to the fluffiness of the fiber, which creates small air pockets that act as insulation against the cold. Due to the softness and fluffiness, all cashmere knits are sensitive to pilling, but that is not a fault but a feature and with good care, the knit can be made to look neat again. As the fibers settle over time, pilling also decreases.

Lint removal
When lint occurs, it can be removed with a knitting comb designed for cashmere products or a clothes brush. The knit is combed or brushed in the direction of the knit and loose lint is collected. Pimpling decreases with use. However, a soft sweater always lints if it gets rubbed by, for example, a bag with a rough surface.

Ventilation and washing

• All woolen knits benefit from ventilation. Knitwear also enjoys rest between uses, so you should always air out the product after use and only put it in the closet after a short break to wait for the next use.
• We recommend a 30-degree wash for all Kaiko knitwear, either by hand or with the wool/delicate wash program with knitwear of the same color.
• The importance of the detergent is enormous, because ordinary laundry detergent eats away the keratin in the wool and hardens the fiber. That's why we recommend wool detergent, Marseille soap or baby shampoo as a detergent for cashmere products.
• When washing in the washing machine, it is important that the spin is set to low. Knitwear must also not be dried in a tumble dryer.
• Washing the knit sets the fibers, so at least in the beginning it is worth washing the knit a few times so that the fibers settle and the pilling stops.
• Washing vinegar can be used to rinse the product, but we recommend leaving out other rinsing agents.
• Especially when you wash the sweater by hand, it remains dripping wet and it is difficult to move it to dry. The knitwear must not be spun dry, because then the knitwear may stretch. That's why you should spread the sweater on a towel and roll the towel and squeeze the excess water into it. And after that, spread the sweater flat to dry. The sweater must not be dried in direct sunlight.
• All woolen knits can be modified when wet, for example if the sleeves seem too short or the hem of the knit is loose, you can gently stretch/squeeze it into the shape you want when it is wet.
• For stains, we recommend treating the stain with Marseille soap before washing.
• The sweater can be ironed with two points of heat. A clothes steamer is also a handy device for ironing and ironing knitwear.

Contrary to what is often thought, cashmere knitwear is not sensitive to water, but can even improve over time with moderate washing. In open water, the fibers are free to straighten and bulge and thus soften. Washing also helps the fluff of fibers on the surface of the new knit to come off or stick to the surface of the knit and to reduce pilling.