The Best Way to Store Cashmere for Summer

Why Cashmere Care Matters

Caring for cashmere in summer keeps your favorite pieces soft and like new far longer than if you just stash them in a closet for months. We’ve seen folks buy pristine Italian sweaters only to pull them out next fall with odd smells or tiny holes, which feels like losing a friend. Cashmere is gentle and a little particular, a bit like homegrown tomatoes or the vintage linen napkins our mothers hid in the pantry. Many of us invest in thoughtfully made, true cashmere for how it feels and how it holds up if you give it some love. Our approach is practical: preserve what’s special and keep those well-made garments at their best, season after season.

Cleaning Before Storing: The Foundation Step

The best way to store cashmere starts before you even think about bins or boxes. Always clean your cashmere thoroughly before tucking it away until fall. Even if you only wore that sweater to brunch, invisible food bits or natural skin oils can attract moths like magic. We’ve learned after years in Italy that hand-washing with a gentle soap, think of something you’d trust with baby skin, keeps fibers soft. Rinse carefully in lukewarm water and lay the sweater flat on a clean towel. Resist the urge to hang, as gravity will pull the knit out. For more guidance, take a look at our Women’s Cashmere Links Stitch Duster Cardigan and see the kind of structure that benefits from this treatment.

Choosing the Right Storage Place

Store cashmere in a place that stays cool and dry all summer. We tend to steer clear of basements or attics because the humidity can turn sweaters musty, like old books left on a porch. Closets that don’t get blasted by sunlight work best. Line storage containers with acid-free tissue paper or use cotton bags instead of plastic, which tends to trap moisture and set the stage for mildew. A simple cedar ball or a lavender pouch helps, a trick our Italian grandmothers swore by. Aromas should be subtle, not overpowering. Cashmere is sensitive, and sharp scents sometimes leave their own mark on the fabric.

How to Fold and Arrange Cashmere

Folding cashmere doesn’t need to be precious or intimidating. Lay each piece flat, fold sleeves across the chest, then fold the body in thirds. Heavy-handed folding can leave creases, but loose stacking, like how you’d handle good hand towels, prevents odd lumps or stretching. We love using the same method for our Ultralight Cashmere Raglan Crew Neck Sweater, which is surprisingly airy and easy to stack. Don’t sandwich items too tightly. If you’re storing scarves along with sweaters, keep them at the top for easy access in case of a cool summer night.

Moth Prevention, the Old-Fashioned Way

To keep cashmere safe from moths, old Italian houses rely on simple, practical solutions. After cleaning and folding, tuck in a few cedar chips or a cotton bag filled with dried lavender. We’ve found that these little tricks work best when the bag or sachet isn’t touching the knit directly. You want gentle coverage. Check every so often, maybe around mid-summer, to air garments out or replace the sachets. A bit of fresh air, just for a few hours, can make a difference. And if scarves are in the mix, our gray cashmere scarves are a good candidate for these tried-and-true rituals.

When to Unpack and Enjoy Again

There’s a familiar excitement in unpacking carefully stored cashmere as autumn calls. Pieces come out as soft as when they went in, often carrying a gentle trace of cedar or the lightest whiff of lavender. For us, this is the reward for taking a few careful steps in summer. Following the best way to store cashmere each year means your favorite sweaters, duster cardigans, and even those lightweight scarves keep their shape and feel in season after season. When you see your knits ready for another year, you might even find a story or two woven in, a bit like opening a hope chest filled with memories.

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