How to Store Cashmere: Keep Moths Out and Its Shape In

To store cashmere well, wash or air it clean first, fold it flat (never hang it), and keep it in an airy cotton or muslin bag somewhere cool, dark and dry — with cedar or lavender nearby to deter moths. The two things that ruin stored cashmere are moth larvae, which feed on natural fibres, and hangers, which drag a knit out of shape over months. Get those two right and a jumper comes out of summer exactly as it went in. Here is the full method, season to season.

First, always store cashmere clean

This is the step people skip, and it is the most important. Clothes-moth larvae are drawn to the traces of body oil, perspiration and food that a worn garment carries — even when it looks perfectly clean to you. Those invisible residues are what turns a wardrobe into a feeding ground.

So before a piece goes into storage for the season, wash it or have it cleaned. There is no need to re-learn the method here — our step-by-step guide to washing a cashmere sweater covers water temperature, drying flat and everything in between. Make sure the garment is completely dry before it is packed away; even slight damp invites mildew and makes fibres more inviting to pests.

Fold, never hang

Cashmere has almost no memory for a hanger. Hung on a peg or a wire frame, the weight of the knit slowly pulls down through the shoulders, leaving two little bumps and a stretched neckline that no wash will fully undo. Heavier pieces distort fastest.

Instead, fold each garment loosely along its natural seams and lay pieces flat, heaviest at the bottom of the pile. Avoid hard creases by folding along different lines each season, and don't stack the pile so high that the lowest jumpers are crushed. The same gentle-keeping logic runs through our complete pashmina care guide — fine knits and fine weaves both prefer to lie down rather than hang.

Choose storage that lets air move

Stored cashmere needs air around it, which rules out the two things most people reach for: plastic tubs and vacuum bags. Sealed plastic traps any residual moisture against the fibre and can leave it smelling stale or, worse, spotted with mildew. Vacuum bags do the same and crush the loft that gives cashmere its softness.

Reach instead for natural, unsealed materials that let air circulate:

• Cotton or muslin garment bags — the ideal home for a folded jumper; they keep dust off while air still passes through.
• Acid-free tissue between folds for pieces you especially want to protect from creasing.
• A cotton pillowcase — a perfectly good stand-in if you don't have a dedicated bag.

Keep the whole lot somewhere cool, dark and dry. Warmth and humidity speed up both mildew and moth activity, so an interior drawer or shelf beats a loft, a garage or anywhere against an outside wall that runs damp.

Keeping moths out — cedar and lavender, not mothballs

It helps to know your enemy. It isn't the fluttering adult moth that eats your knitwear; it is the larvae, which feed on the keratin in natural fibres like cashmere, wool and silk. They love dark, still, undisturbed corners — exactly the conditions of long storage. Prevention rests on two ideas: give them nothing to eat (hence storing clean), and make the space unwelcoming.

• Cedar blocks or rings carry an aroma moths dislike. It fades over a few months, so refresh the scent with a light sand or a drop of cedar oil each season.
• Dried lavender sachets work on the same principle and smell far nicer to you than to a moth. Refresh them yearly.
• Regular disturbance. Moths want to be left alone. Simply taking a stored pile out, shaking it and refolding it every few weeks breaks their cycle.

We would steer you away from traditional mothballs. They rely on strong chemical vapours, the smell clings to soft fibres, and they are best kept away from living spaces. Cedar and lavender do the deterring job without perfuming your cashmere with anything harsh.

One honest caveat: no home deterrent is a guaranteed kill. Their job is to make cashmere a poor choice for a moth — clean storage in a sealed-but-airy bag is what does the heavy lifting.

A simple seasonal storage checklist

When it is time to pack cashmere away for spring and summer, run through this:

1. Wash or clean every piece, and let it dry fully.
2. De-pill lightly if needed, so nothing goes into storage rough.
3. Fold flat along the seams; slip acid-free tissue between folds for the special pieces.
4. Place each in a cotton or muslin bag — never sealed plastic.
5. Tuck in fresh cedar or a lavender sachet.
6. Store cool, dark and dry, heaviest pieces at the bottom.
7. Every few weeks, open up, shake out and refold.

When the cold returns, take pieces out a day before you plan to wear them and let any storage creases relax — a brief airing, or a few minutes flat, is usually all it takes.

If you find moth holes

Small holes don't have to mean the end of a garment. First, isolate the piece so nothing spreads, then deal with any larvae: a spell in the freezer for a few days, or a warm wash and dry, will see them off. Once it is clean and clear, a small hole in a knit can often be rewoven or invisibly mended by a specialist — a repair well worth it on genuine cashmere. Our care guide covers the wider habits that keep pieces in wearable condition for years.

Frequently asked questions

Can you store cashmere in plastic containers or vacuum bags?

It's best not to. Sealed plastic traps moisture against the fibre, which can cause mildew and stale odours, and vacuum bags crush the loft that makes cashmere soft. Use a cotton or muslin bag that lets air circulate instead.

How do I keep moths out of my cashmere?

Store everything clean, since larvae are drawn to body-oil residue; keep it in a cool, dark, airy spot; and add cedar or dried lavender as a deterrent. Taking the pile out to shake and refold it every few weeks also disrupts moths, which prefer undisturbed corners.

Should I fold or hang cashmere?

Always fold. Hanging lets the weight of the knit pull the shoulders and neckline out of shape over time. Fold loosely along the seams and lay pieces flat, heaviest at the bottom.

Do I really need to wash cashmere before storing it?

Yes. Even a garment that looks clean carries traces of oil and perspiration that attract moth larvae. A wash before storage removes that food source and is the single most effective moth-prevention step.

How long can cashmere be stored?

Indefinitely, if it is stored well — clean, folded, in an airy bag somewhere cool and dry, with the pile disturbed occasionally. Cashmere kept this way lasts for many years and many seasons.

Good storage is quietly generous: it hands you back exactly what you put away. A jumper folded clean in a cotton bag, a piece of cedar tucked alongside, waits out the warm months and returns soft and true to shape. For the seasons it is in wear, the Lumusae care instructions keep it at its best. And if you are still choosing the pieces worth keeping this carefully, our cashmere knitwear and shawls are undyed, handwoven in Nepal, and made to be stored and worn for a very long time.