(All the suggested products are genuinely recommended based on experience. None of the products mentioned are sponsored or affiliate links.)
Always check the care label instructions when handling delicate fabrics such as silk, wool, cashmere, angora or mohair.
Water can permanently alter the texture and sheen of silk. Silk pieces should never be machine washed. If dry cleaning isn't possible and washing at home is your only option, use cold water and a gentle detergent and wash by hand.
Wool, cashmere, angora and mohair should also ideally be dry cleaned, although some sweaters or skirts can sometimes be hand washed. When doing so, always use cold water and lay the piece flat to dry to prevent shrinkage and maintain its shape. Hanging any kind of knitwear (specially with the added weight when wet) can distort the fabric. Coats and jackets made from these fibers should always be dry cleaned since they have more complex stitching that could completely distort when you use water (using the Sanytol Textile Disinfectant Deodorizer spray that I mention in the "lingering or musty odors" section in between cleaning appointments).
If you have a wool piece that shrunk, soak it for a few minutes in a small tub of lukewarm water mixed with a couple of spoonfuls of hair conditioner, gently stretch it in all directions, and lay it flat to dry. This won't fully restore its original shape, but it can help with minor shrinkage.
