You just bought a beautiful laced thong and bra set. You spent a good chunk of change on them, and you’re looking forward to wearing them for years to come.
After wearing them, you throw them in the laundry to get them nice and fresh again. But when you take them out, the edges are frayed, some of the lacing has been torn and they don’t look like the fancy laced underwear you originally bought.
It’s a common problem because most people don’t know how to wash delicate underwear.
Unlike your day-to-day cotton underwear that’s built to withstand being worn daily and can be washed dozens of times without issues, delicate underwear is just that—delicate.
So unfortunately, you can’t just throw it in with the rest of your laundry and expect it to hold up. But not worry. You don’t have to throw out that expensive lingerie you spent good money on. Here’s how to wash delicate underwear—the right way.
Start With the Right Laundry Detergent
The first mistake most people make when washing their delicate underwear and lingerie is using harsh laundry detergent. You probably shouldn’t be using the same detergent to wash your lacey underwear as you do to wash your gym clothes.
You need a gentle, but effective detergent that’ll get your underwear fresh and clean, but won’t break down the fabric in the process. Here are a few of our recommended options:
Before using any new detergent on your underwear though, first make sure you read the label on the detergent and your underwear. Also, first dilute and test it on an inconspicuous spot before you use it on your underwear.
Those quick first steps will help you check to make sure the detergent is safe to use on the fabric before you do a full wash.
Now that we’ve got that out the way, let’s take a look at two different ways to wash your delicate underwear.
How to Hand Wash Delicate Underwear
The safest way to wash delicate underwear is by hand. It makes it easier for you to control (you don’t have to worry about a machine ripping apart) and it helps them last longer since it’s a much gentler process.
Here’s how to do it.
1. Separate the Delicate Underwear from the Rest
Underwear is not a secret because, of course, everyone wears them. So, stop mixing all of them in the same washer. Just like the other clothes, your delicate underwear needs special attention. When washing them, separate them accordingly.
The easiest way to do it is to check the tags on the underwear that have washing instructions. Those that can only be hand washed will have a symbol of a hand-dipped in a water bucket on the tag.
The tag can also use the statement “hand-wash only”. Pay special attention to these kinds of underpants because they can easily be destroyed if other means of washing are used.
2. Soak Them
After separating and identifying your delicate underwear, make sure that you have a clean utility basin or sink. Wipe it using a baby wipe or cloth. Add about 5 to 8 cm of water into the basin and squirt a baby shampoo or mild shampoo into the water. Make sure to stir the water thoroughly to create bubbles.
Put your silk, lace and other delicates into the water and allow them to soak for about 5 minutes. The temperatures of the water that you use range from cold to lukewarm depending on whether your garments have been stained or not.
Lukewarm water should not exceed 30 degrees. If the items are stained with blood, you should prevent the setting of stains by using cold water.
3. Swish Your Underwear in Water Using Your Hands
Due to the delicate nature of the garments, move your underwear around in water using your hands in a swishing motion. Stretching, scrubbing, tugging and wringing of the fabric should be avoided. In the basin, gently swirling the clothes for about 2 minutes.
It will be easier to remove stain patches by applying a drop of additional soap on the patch. The spot should then be gently rubbed using a finger to avoid damaging the garment. Other solutions should not be used to treat stains as they can cause discoloration or damage the fabric.
When handwashing, avoid rubbing the garment. Make sure that your lingerie is gently agitated by soaking, pushing it to the base of the basin and then allowing it to float. This ensures that the grime is loosened.
Special attention should be paid to the straps and the under-wiring of the bra to allow the detergent and the water to fully come into contact with its surface allowing them to effectively perform their magic.
While handwashing the lingerie don’t leave them in water for too long. A maximum of one hour is enough to wash them and ensure that they do not get damaged.
4. Rinse the Garment
After washing, you need to rinse your garment to wash off the soap. Drain the sink and make sure that the tap is turned on such that a stream of cool water runs into the basin with the washed garments.
Use cold water to rinse them until the soap is washed off completely. If you have several garments to wash or if you do not want to leave the tap running, ensure that you refill the basin with fresh, cool and clean water and swirl them in a swish motion to rinse.
5. Remove Excess Water
After rinsing, the garment will have excess water. Use a clean bath towel to absorb the excess moisture.
Avoiding the colored towels is critical because they can leave some dye on the already cleaned garments. As you dry your underwear, avoid wringing or squeezing them as you use the towel. Pat the garment gently to blot off the water.
6. Hanging
A clothespin or a clip hanger should be used to hang the lingerie. Allow the light fabric to dry for 3 to 4 hours. And five to six hours are enough for the dense fabric to dry up completely. You can also place them on a flat towel and make sure to flip them over after 2 hours to allow both sides to dry.
How to Machine Wash Delicate Underwear
Using a washing machine on your lingerie is not an ideal thing to do. However, when you don’t have the time to handwash your delicates, a machine might be your best bet. And contrary to popular belief, you can wash delicate underwear in a laundry machine—as long as you do it right.
1. Check the Label
First, you need to have a look at the care label. If it says that it is safe to wash them in the machine, then you can do so. Make sure that you do not mix them with other clothes.
2. Get a Lingerie Bag
A lingerie washbag is very essential when washing your garments. The bag protects them from developing bobbles or becoming misshapen at the points where threads have been pulled.
The best bag is the protective mesh bag like the TENRAI Delicates Laundry Bags or any other bag.
The mesh allows water and detergent to penetrate the bag while allowing them to be cleaned efficiently. Make sure that the bag is not overstuffed. Leave about a half or a third of the bag empty to provide a space for the lingerie to move freely.
3. Use a Gentle Laundry Detergent
Just like with handwashing, use a gentle detergent like one of the ones we suggested earlier.
4. Wash Them in Cold Water
Unless the care label says otherwise, use cold water, not warm or hot.
5. Choose the Shortest and Lightest Wash Cycle
Use the shortest wash cycle on your machine. Some machines have options like “Light, medium, heavy” in which case you’d use light.
Washing your delicate underwear for too long is an almost guaranteed way to ruin them.
6. Hang Them to Dry
After washing, do not leave the lingerie sitting in the washer. And never use a tumble dryer on the lingerie because the high temperatures make them shrink and out of shape, hence reducing their lifespan.
Instead, hang dry them on a rack like this so they can dry naturally. If you used a light wash cycle, they should dry pretty quickly.
Why Delicate Underwear Gets Ruined in Washing Machines
In a washing machine, the clothes are roughed up, whirled and squeezed. They can also be stretched and trapped on the zippers of other clothes.
When this is done on delicate underwear, they tend to shrink and lose shape. The delicate fabric is at risk of developing bobbles or becoming misshapen at the points where threads have been pulled.
Why You Need to Handle Delicate Underwear with Special Care
All we need is underwear that’s soft and tender on our bodies. That is why they are made from delicate fabric. How we wash them determines what they become.
You need to handle them with special care to prevent them from being discolored and overstretched. It also allows them to keep their shape hence fitting into our bodies the next time we wear them.
If you want your delicate underwear to last longer and feel comfortable for years to come, go through the steps above to wash them—your wallet and body will thank you.
