How To Care For Various Types Of Poncho Fabrics
Posted on: 24 August 2016
An easy way to look stylish while staying warm in the fall and winter is by wearing a poncho. A poncho is a blanket-style garment with a slit in the top, which you slip over your head. Ponchos typically don't have any sleeves, so they are great for layering over a variety of tops and sweaters.
Bohemian-inspired ponchos are available in a wide range of fabrics, including cashmere, cotton and Alpaca wool, so it's important to care for each one differently. For instance, washing a cashmere poncho and a cotton poncho in the same way can lead to damaging results.
Here are some tips for caring for different types of poncho fabrics:
1. Cashmere Ponchos
Cashmere is a super-soft type of wool, and is one of the most delicate clothing fabrics. When it comes to washing a cashmere poncho, you need to do it by hand rather than in the washing machine. You can also dry-clean cashmere, but hand-washing it will take less time and money, and can be just as effective.
Start by filling a clean sink or wash basin with warm water, and mixing in a few drops of a gentle cleanser, such as baby shampoo or a mild dishwashing soap. Place the cashmere poncho into the water and gently agitate it with your hands to work out all of the dirt and debris.
Then, rinse the poncho with plain warm water and then lightly wring it out to remove excess water. Spread the damp poncho out on a absorbent towel, turning over it after a few hours. Repeat the process until it is completely dry. Avoid hanging the poncho to dry, as hangers can leave stretch marks in the cashmere.
2. Cotton Ponchos
If you have an all-cotton poncho, such as a cable-knit sweater style, you can wash it in your washing machine following the manufacturer's recommendations. If it's a white poncho, only wash it with other white fabrics, as even light-colored clothing items can stain.
Wash the poncho in cool or warm water on your machine's gentle cycle using a gentle detergent. Unless you want to shrink a cotton poncho that is too big for you, dry it in the same manner as its cashmere counterpart, by laying it flat on a towel and turning it over as needed.
3. Alpaca Wool Ponchos
Made of the warmest of the three fabrics, an Alpaca wool poncho is ideal for cold winter days. Wash the wool garment in the same way as the cashmere poncho, but don't agitate it or wring it, as these actions can damage the fibers.
After hand-washing the poncho, very gently squeeze out the excess water and lay it down on an absorbent towel to dry, reshaping it as necessary through the drying processing.
For more care tips or to buy some new ponchos for the season, check out companies like Velvet Bungalow.
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