Cleaning all natural fibers is a different process when in the raw state, i.e. before carding, spinning, plying, setting the twist, all steps in producing yarn, and when the fiber has been incorporated into an article of clothing.

Cashmere is particularly tricky in this regard. With today's busy lifestyles, many people resort to drycleaning cashmere products and, in particular, cashmere sweaters. Drycleaning is fine for any woven articles; in fact, it is essential to dryclean or the woven items may lose their shape. However, knitted items, such as cashmere sweaters, benefit from a careful handwashing. They will last longer and retain their loft and luster much better if you handwash.

Select a natural, undyed soap. Be sure to let your soap dissolve thoroughly before immersing your cashmere sweater. Carefully move the sweater about in the cool water for several minutes. Then drain and rinse. Keep rinsing until the water is clear. Then lay out and "block" the sweater until dry. When your sweater is dry, you may feel the need to touch it up a bit with an iron. This is not a problem if you are careful to never apply the iron directly to the cashmere. Instead, use a thick, undyed towel as a buffer and press down selectively at seams and areas, such as the sleeves, that may require flattening.

Follow the steps below to keep your wool in mint condition - looking and feeling great - wherever you go and whatever you do.

Empty the pockets - Or they could end up bulging or sagging.

Brush it - To remove surface soil that might become stains later on. Dust and dirt can dull the appearance of fine wool fabrics.

Treat stains immediately -Rinse small stains with cold water, seltzer and blot dry with a clean cloth, never with paper towels.

Air it- Lay knits flat on a bed for an hour or so to get rid of any odors, such as cigarette smoke.

Check the label -Always read the washing instructions on the label inside the garment. They'll vary depending on the type of wool outfit you have bought. Some are hand wash or dry clean only, others like Total Easy Care and Easy Care & Wear can just be thrown in the washing machine and tumble dryer, then go!

Dry away from direct heat -If your wool gets wet, dry it immediately away from direct heat - never in front of a fire, on a radiator or in strong sunlight. Don't tumble dry it unless the label says you can.

Store it - For long-term storage, dry clean first to keep moths at bay. This removes the body oils they're attracted to. All types of wool can be folded and stored with fresh cedar blocks or mothballs.