How to Care for Your Pashmina So It Lasts for Decades

1. Wash rarely, and always by hand

Pashmina doesn’t need frequent washing — airing it out after wearing is usually enough. When it does need a wash, fill a basin with cool water and a drop of mild wool shampoo or baby shampoo. Swish gently for a few minutes. Never wring, twist, or scrub: press the water out softly between towels instead.

Never machine wash, and never use hot water or bleach. Heat and agitation are what felt and shrink fine fibers.

2. Dry flat, in the shade

Lay the shawl flat on a clean towel, reshape it gently with your hands, and let it dry away from direct sun. Hanging a wet pashmina stretches it out of shape under its own weight. Sunlight fades natural dyes over time, so shade is always kinder.

3. Store folded, never hung

Fold your pashmina loosely and store it in a breathable cotton bag — never plastic, which traps moisture. Add a cedar block or dried lavender to keep moths away; they love pure animal fiber as much as you do.

Hanging stretches the weave over time, so folding is the rule — with as few hard creases as possible.

4. Don’t fear a little pilling

Tiny pills in the first weeks of wear are completely normal — they’re just short fibers working their way out. Never pull them. Glide a cashmere comb or a clean razor lightly over the surface and they vanish. After the first de-pilling, it rarely happens again.

5. Wear it wisely

Spray perfume and apply lotions before you drape your shawl, not after — chemicals and fibers don’t mix. Give it a rest between wears so the fibers can recover their bounce, and keep it away from Velcro, rough jewelry, and bag straps that snag.

6. Steam, don’t iron

If your shawl gets creased, hang it in a steamy bathroom for ten minutes or hold a steamer a few inches away. The wrinkles fall out on their own. A hot iron pressed directly onto pashmina can scorch it permanently — steam is always the safe choice.