September 2026 · By the Quinn team — an independent cashmere house since 2003, knit in Inner Mongolia
Your cashmere has been in a drawer since April. The next six weeks — before real sweater weather arrives — are when a half hour of care decides whether your knits open the season soft and shaped, or pilled, musty and mysteriously holey. Here's the checklist we use ourselves.
The 30-minute version: unpack everything now (not in November), check seams and underarms for moth damage in daylight, hand-wash anything you stored unwashed, comb off pills, and re-fold into a breathable bag with fresh cedar. Details below.
1. Unpack now — moths love an undisturbed drawer
Moth damage happens in the dark, in stillness, over months. Take every piece out, shake it, and inspect it in daylight — look along seams, under arms, and anywhere the knit sat folded against itself. Finding a hole in September means a repair before the season; finding it in November means a scramble.
2. Found a hole? Freeze first, repair second
Seal the piece in a bag and freeze it for 72 hours — that ends any active larvae. Small holes reweave nearly invisibly at a knitwear repair service. And wash everything else that shared the drawer; moths spread quietly.
3. Wash before first wear — even if it looks clean
Anything stored unwashed is carrying spring's body oils — exactly what moths and mustiness feed on. Hand-wash cold with a gentle wool wash, press the water out in a towel (never wring, never hang wet), and dry flat. Cashmere comes out of a proper wash softer — washing is care, not risk. Full method in our cashmere care guide.
4. De-pill with a comb, not a razor
A cashmere comb lifts pills without cutting the knit; razors and shavers thin the fabric and shorten its life. Two gentle passes over high-friction areas — underarms, sides, cuffs — and a five-year-old sweater looks close to new.
5. Re-store the off-season pieces properly
Summer-weight pieces going into storage: clean, folded, breathable cotton bag, fresh cedar (sand old cedar lightly — it loses scent in months). Skip airtight plastic; trapped moisture does its own damage.
6. Audit what's worth replacing
A knit that's thinned at the elbows or lost its shape gave you its seasons. If something needs replacing, early fall is when full size and color runs are in stock — see the new season's sweaters and our guide to the best cashmere sweaters for fall 2026.
Cashmere care FAQ
How often should I wash a cashmere sweater?
Every three to five wears is plenty — cashmere is naturally odor-resistant. Hand-wash cold with a gentle wool wash or baby shampoo, press (never wring) the water out, and dry flat away from heat and sun.
Is pilling normal on cashmere?
Light pilling in the first weeks is normal on any cashmere — it's short fibers working free and it stops. Remove pills with a cashmere comb, not a razor. Persistent heavy pilling usually means short-fiber yarn, not bad care.
Can moth holes in cashmere be repaired?
Small holes, yes — a knitwear repair service or reweaver can close them nearly invisibly. Catch them early: freeze the piece for 72 hours in a sealed bag to stop any active larvae, then repair.
How should cashmere be stored?
Folded, never hung — hanging stretches the shoulders. Store clean (moths seek body oils, not the fiber itself) in a breathable cotton bag with cedar; airtight plastic traps moisture.
More from Quinn: Caring for Your Cashmere · The Cashmere Quality Guide · Shop Cashmere