How to Wash Wool and Cashmere Sweaters and Shawls at Home in Pakistan: 7 Steps and Care Label Symbols

To wash a wool or cashmere sweater or shawl at home, use cool or lukewarm water, a mild wool detergent and no rubbing, then press the water out in a towel and dry it flat in the shade. Check the care label first. Two bars under the wash tub symbol mean the gentlest machine cycle, the one meant for woollens, and a hand in the tub means hand wash only. Most woollen damage in Pakistani homes comes from hot water, wringing and drying in strong sun.

Winter clothes come out of the trunk in November across Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and the north. A good wool shawl or cashmere sweater can last for many winters, but one hot wash can shrink it for good. Here is how to wash, dry, de-pill and store woollens so they are ready again next year.

Read the care label before you wash

The care label tells you the hottest water and the gentlest treatment the garment can take. Follow the label rather than guessing from the fabric name. The symbols below follow the international care labelling system run by GINETEX.

If the label shows only a circle and a crossed-out tub, take the item to a dry cleaner. This is common on heavily embroidered shawls and lined wool coats.

Hand wash a sweater or shawl in seven steps

Hand washing is the safest method for cashmere and fine wool shawls. It takes about half an hour plus drying time.

1. Turn it inside out and close any buttons or zips.
2. Fill a clean bucket or basin with cool or lukewarm water. It should feel neither warm nor cold to your hand.
3. Add a small amount of mild wool detergent or a gentle liquid detergent and mix it in before adding the garment.
4. Press the garment under the water and let it soak for a few minutes. Gently squeeze the suds through it. Do not rub or twist.
5. Rinse in fresh water at the same temperature. A sudden change from warm to cold water can make wool felt and shrink.
6. Press out the water by squeezing gently, then roll the garment inside a dry towel and press on the roll.
7. Dry it flat on a fresh towel or a flat rack, in the shade, pulling it gently back into shape.

Woolmark, the wool industry body, recommends "a neutral, mild wool detergent" and says wool needs washing less often than cotton, because it resists stains and odour naturally. Airing a sweater on a balcony in the shade for a few hours often freshens it enough between washes.

Machine washing woollens without shrinking them

You can machine wash wool only if the label allows it. Use the wool or delicate cycle, which matches the two-bar tub symbol, and cold or low temperature.

• Put each sweater in a mesh laundry bag or an old pillowcase tied at the end.
• Choose the lowest spin speed. A fast spin can stretch and felt the fibres.
• Wash woollens together, not with jeans or towels, which rub and cause pilling.
• Never use the dryer unless the label shows a tumble dry symbol. Most wool labels cross it out.
• Skip bleach. Chlorine bleach damages wool and cashmere.

If you are buying a new machine, our guide to checking a washing machine for its PSQCA standard explains what the mark means.

Remove pilling and press without shine

Pilling, also called bobbling, is the small fuzzy balls that form where wool rubs, such as under the arms and at the sides. It is normal, especially on soft cashmere, and it does not mean the garment is fake.

Lay the sweater flat and remove pills with a sweater comb or a fabric shaver, using light strokes in one direction. A clean disposable razor also works if you hold it almost flat and go slowly. Do not pull pills off by hand, which tugs the fibres and makes more.

For creases, steam is better than pressing. Hang the sweater in the bathroom after a hot shower, or hold a steam iron just above it. If you must press, use the low wool setting, turn the garment inside out and place a thin cotton cloth between the iron and the wool so it does not go shiny. Our guide to checking an iron for a PSQCA licence covers safety marks if you are replacing an old iron.

Store woollens so moths do not reach them

Clothes moths and carpet beetles feed on wool, and they are drawn to sweat and food marks. The most important rule is simple: store woollens only after they are clean and fully dry.

• Wash or dry clean each piece before you put it away in spring.
• Fold sweaters and shawls instead of hanging them, so the shoulders do not stretch.
• Store in clean cotton bags or airtight boxes, not in damp trunks or sealed plastic left in the sun.
• Add cedar wood blocks or dried neem leaves in a cloth pouch. Many families use these as a traditional deterrent.
• Take everything out once or twice in summer, shake it and air it in the shade on a dry day.

Check the winter 2026 cold outlook to plan when to bring the heavy pieces out, and our city minimum temperature guide for cold nights.

Common questions

Can I wash a cashmere sweater in the washing machine?

Only if the label allows it. Use the wool or delicate cycle with cold water, a mesh bag and the lowest spin. Hand washing is safer.

Why did my wool sweater shrink?

Hot water, rubbing, wringing or a sudden change in water temperature makes wool fibres lock together and shrink. This is called felting and cannot usually be reversed.

How do I dry a wool shawl?

Roll it in a towel to press out water, then dry it flat in the shade. Hanging a wet shawl stretches it, and strong sun can fade the colour.

What does two lines under the wash tub mean?

It means a very mild washing cycle, the gentlest machine setting, used for example for woollens.

How do I stop moths eating my winter clothes?

Store woollens clean and dry, in cotton bags or airtight boxes, and air them in the shade during summer. Moths are drawn to dirty, stored wool.

Is pilling a sign of fake cashmere?

No. Soft, real cashmere pills easily, especially in the first few wears. Remove pills gently with a sweater comb or fabric shaver.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

We read the care symbol meanings on the GINETEX care labelling page (ginetex.net) and the wool care advice on Woolmark's care page (woolmark.com) on 4 November 2026. The step-by-step methods are general home care guidance and were not tested on a particular garment. Always follow the care label sewn into your item, which takes priority over any general advice.