HOW TO STORE YOUR CASHMERE

(WITHOUT THE MOTHS)

Cashmere doesn't like being ignored. Shove it in a drawer for four months and you'll pull it out in September with pilling, a faint mustiness, and — if you're unlucky — a moth hole exactly where you'll notice it most.

The good news: proper summer storage takes about twenty minutes, and most of it is common sense. Here's how we do it.

START CLEAN, NOT JUST TIDY

Never store cashmere that's been worn since its last wash. Body oils and any trace of perfume or deodorant are exactly what moths are drawn to — they don't eat cashmere for the fibre, they're after the residue on it. A gentle hand wash or a proper cashmere-safe dry clean before it goes away is non-negotiable, even if the piece looks clean to the eye.

Let it dry fully and flat before it's folded away. Any lingering damp is an invitation for both moths and mildew.

FOLD, DON'T HANG

Hanging cashmere for months stretches the shoulders and neckline out of shape — you'll notice it the moment you next wear it. Fold gently instead, along the natural seams where possible, and store flat.

BREATHABLE STORAGE

Skip the sealed plastic bags and vacuum-storage bags you might use for other clothes. Cashmere needs to breathe. A cotton garment bag, a linen storage box, or even a clean pillowcase works far better than anything airtight — trapped moisture is worse for the fibre than a bit of dust.

BRING IN THE CEDAR

This is the single most effective, least fussy thing you can do. Cedar doesn't kill moths, but it disrupts the pheromones they use to find fabric and lay eggs — so it works as a deterrent, not a trap. A few cedar blocks or rings tucked into your storage box or drawer do the job.

Cedar does fade over time, though. Give the blocks a light sand every couple of months to refresh the scent and the oils — a dulled block is doing far less work than a fresh one.

THE CASHMERE SPRITZ

Alongside the cedar, a light natural spritz gives your pieces a refresh over the summer and adds another layer of moth deterrence — lavender and cedarwood are both scents moths actively avoid. It's also a great way to freshen up your cashmere between wears, or if that barbecue smell is lingering longer than you'd like. 

THE RECIPE:

1 cup distilled water

1 cup vodka or distilled vinegar

10 drops cedarwood essential oil

10 drops lavender essential oil

Combine in a small spray bottle, shake before each use, and mist very lightly over folded pieces every few weeks — held at a distance, never soaked. Let it air dry fully before closing the storage box again.

CHECK IN ONCE A MONTH

Set a reminder to open the box, give everything a gentle shake out, and re-mist if needed. Moths and their larvae need weeks of undisturbed fabric to do real damage — a monthly check is usually enough to catch anything early and keep the cedar working as it should.

Do this properly in June, and the piece you pull out in September will feel exactly as it did the day you put it away — ready for the season it was made for.

Made in Scotland, made to last well beyond one season.