Care Guide: Wool, Cashmere & Camel Hair
Wool, cashmere, and camel hair are natural fibers, and they respond well to gentle, regular care. Looked after well, a Murmurs piece softens with use and keeps its shape for years. This guide covers pilling, airing, spills, cleaning, and storage, with the care instructions for each piece in one place.
Always follow the care label on your piece first. The guidance below is general. Where a label and this guide differ, the label is correct.
Last updated: September 2026
Care Instructions by Piece
| Piece | Fiber content | Cleaning | Storage note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hush Wool Throw Blanket | 100% wool | Dry clean only | Fold or roll |
| Hush Petit Office Blanket Wrap | 100% wool | Dry clean only | Fold or roll |
| Lilt Lambswool Blanket | 90% lambswool, 10% cashmere | Dry clean recommended | Avoid hanging for long periods |
| Drift Lambswool Cape | 90% lambswool, 10% cashmere | Dry clean recommended | Avoid hanging for long periods |
| Ember Wool Cashmere Cape | 90% wool, 10% cashmere | Dry clean recommended | Store folded or gently rolled |
| Ember Oversized Wool Scarf | 90% wool, 10% cashmere | Dry clean recommended | Store folded or gently rolled |
| Wool & Camel Hair Drape Vest | 95% wool, 5% camel hair | Dry clean recommended | Fold to store; avoid hanging for long periods |
| Murmur Baby Camel Hair Cape | 50% baby camel hair, 50% wool | Dry clean only | Store folded or gently rolled |
| Veil Baby Camel Hair Blanket | 50% baby camel hair, 50% wool | Dry clean only | Store folded, away from moisture |
| Whisper Long Cashmere Scarf | 100% cashmere | Dry clean only | Fold or roll |
| Whisper Triangle Wrap | 63% polyester, 21% wool, 16% modal | Hand wash cold, hang to dry; cool iron on low if needed; no tumble dryer | Fold or hang |
The Whisper Triangle Wrap is the only piece in the line that can be washed at home. Everything else goes to a dry cleaner for a full clean.
Understanding Pilling
Pilling is a natural characteristic of wool, cashmere, and camel hair, not a defect. Pills form when short, loose fibers work their way to the surface through friction and tangle into small balls. They appear first where the fabric is rubbed most: at the edges of a blanket, where a cape rests on the shoulders, and anywhere a bag strap or coat sleeve crosses it.
Even fine fibers can pill during the first weeks of use. Most pilling at this stage comes from short fibers left over from spinning and weaving. Once those have worked loose and been removed, pilling usually slows and the surface settles.
Removing Pills Safely
A fabric shaver (also called a lint shaver or de-piller) or a cashmere comb is the safest way to remove pills at home.
- Lay the piece flat on a clean, firm surface.
- Hold the fabric taut with one hand and move the shaver or comb across the surface in short, light strokes. Do not press down.
- Work in one direction rather than back and forth.
- Empty the shaver's collection chamber often so it keeps working well.
- Do not use disposable razors or scissors. They can catch and cut the fabric.
A lint roller will lift surface lint and stray fibers, but it will not remove pills. Go over areas that pill every few uses during the first weeks, then as needed.
Airing Between Uses
Airing is the most useful everyday care for wool, cashmere, and camel hair. After use, lay the piece flat or drape it over a chair in a well-ventilated room, away from direct sunlight, for a few hours before putting it away. This lets moisture evaporate and light odors fade without cleaning.
Natural fibers need cleaning much less often than cotton or synthetics. Regular airing can extend the time between cleans considerably.
Spills
Act quickly, but act gently.
- Blot. Do not rub. Use a clean, absorbent cloth or paper towel to lift as much of the spill as you can. Rubbing pushes liquid deeper into the fibers and can cause felting.
- Work from the outside edge of the spill toward the center so it does not spread.
- For water and other clear spills, blotting is usually enough. Let the area air dry flat.
- For coffee, wine, oil, makeup, or any colored spill, blot off the excess and take the piece to a dry cleaner as soon as you can. Do not use solvents or stain removers at home. They can damage the fibers or set the stain.
Cleaning
Every piece except the Whisper Triangle Wrap is dry-clean only or dry-clean recommended. Check the table above or the care label. Keep all of them out of the washing machine and the tumble dryer. Wool, cashmere, and camel hair firm up and shrink in a warm, agitated wash, and the change cannot be reversed.
Between cleans, airing is usually all a piece needs. To remove creases, hold a handheld steamer a few inches from the fabric, without pressing, and let the piece dry flat before folding it.
Choose a dry cleaner with experience in fine wool and cashmere. Show them the care label so they know the exact fiber content.
Storage
How you store a piece matters as much as how you clean it.
- Fold or roll rather than hang. Over time, hanging can stretch capes, blankets, and scarves out of shape. Fold gently and store flat, or roll loosely from one end.
- Keep pieces in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place, away from direct light, which can fade color.
- For seasonal storage, use a breathable cotton or linen bag rather than sealed plastic, which traps moisture.
- Moths are a risk for all animal fibers. Make sure a piece is clean before storing it, because moths are drawn to body oils and food traces you may not see. Cedar blocks or lavender sachets may help deter moths. Refresh cedar each season, and check stored pieces now and then.
When to Use a Specialist Cleaner
- Stains that remain after gentle blotting
- Oil, wine, coffee, makeup, or other colored spills
- At the end of a season of regular use, before storage
- Whenever you are unsure. It is safer to ask a specialist than to risk damaging the piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wash a wool blanket at home?
Not a Murmurs wool, cashmere, or camel hair blanket. The Hush Wool Throw Blanket and Hush Petit Office Blanket Wrap are dry-clean only, and the Lilt Lambswool Blanket is dry-clean recommended. Warm water and agitation make wool shrink and felt, and the change is permanent. The Whisper Triangle Wrap is the one Murmurs piece you can wash at home, by hand in cold water.
How do I remove pills from cashmere?
Lay the piece flat, hold the fabric taut, and use a fabric shaver or cashmere comb in short, light strokes in one direction. Do not use razors or scissors. Pilling is usually heaviest in the first weeks and slows once loose fibers have worked free.
How often should I dry clean a wool cape or blanket?
Less often than you might think. Air it between uses and blot spills when they happen. For many people, one professional clean at the end of the season, before storage, is enough. Clean it sooner if there is a stain or a spill you could not blot out.
How do I get creases out of a wool or cashmere piece?
Hold a handheld steamer a few inches from the fabric, without pressing, then let the piece dry flat. Creases from folding often fall out after a few hours of airing. For the Whisper Triangle Wrap, a cool iron on low works as well.
Why is my new wool or cashmere piece pilling?
Short fibers left over from spinning and weaving work to the surface during the first weeks of use. This is normal for natural fibers and is not a sign of poor quality. Remove the pills with a fabric shaver or cashmere comb, and pilling will usually slow.
How should I store a cashmere scarf or wool cape?
Clean it first, then fold or loosely roll it and store it flat in a breathable cotton or linen bag, somewhere cool and dry. Avoid long-term hanging and sealed plastic. Cedar or lavender may help deter moths.
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Questions about caring for your Murmurs piece? Get in touch. We are happy to help.
