Soft, supple cashmere has a wrinkle-free reputation, but even this classic fabric can't hold up to extremes. If you wad your cashmere sweater in a travel bag or sloppily fold your favorite scarf and stick it under a pile of jeans, your duds will likely need ironing. Despite popular misconceptions, you can indeed iron cashmere, but you have to take a few special considerations into account before getting steamy.

Clean your iron thoroughly if necessary; delicate cashmere is susceptible to ironed-on stains. Scrub the face of the cool iron with a solution of half water and half white vinegar. For more stubborn grime, use a paste of baking soda and water. Wipe away residue with a damp cloth and dry the iron completely before use.

Set your iron to its “low” or “wool” setting. Turn your cashmere garment inside-out and spread it out evenly on your ironing board, front side down, so that it's as close to wrinkle-free as you can get. If your garment has buttons, unbutton it so you are able to spread the fabric.

Place a pressing cloth between the cashmere garment and your heated iron. Gently press the iron to the cloth, using smooth, up-and-down strokes. Keep the iron pressed to the cloth only for a few seconds at a time. Move the pressing cloth up the garment and continue to iron in sections. Flip the garment over to its front and repeat the process.