Though they are worn beneath clothing away from public eyes, lingerie is a beautiful addition to any wardrobe. While lingerie’s functional purpose is to protect clothing from body oils and fluids, they also play a role in shaping and supporting the body. Plus, many simply enjoy lingerie as a luxury of life.
Much lingerie tends to have a higher price tag, especially if it’s handmade. High-quality lingerie is built to last, but only when cared for properly. When washed and taken care of properly, lingerie can keep its shape, fit, and value for many years to come.
Often made out of luxurious fabrics and adorned with unique embellishments like lace and even rhinestones, these delicate garments require specific attention when washing them. Read on to learn lingerie washing tips when caring for your delicate garments at home, and how to extend the lifetime of your lingerie.
How Often Should You Wash Your Lingerie?
Knowing when to wash your lingerie plays an important role in lingerie maintenance. Because body oils and perspiration build up in fabrics, if unwashed for too long, they will damage your garments and reduce their functionality. Follow these guidelines to properly wash your lingerie at the right time and extend your lingerie’s lifetime.
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- Bras: Wash heavily worn or soiled bras after every other wear. If worn lightly without much perspiration, wash bras after 3-4 wears.
- Underwear: Wash panties and underwear after each use
Concerned about ruining your lingerie when washing it? Leave it to the experts.
Bring your lingerie to a Dependable Cleaners near you!
How to Wash Bras
Handwashing is ideal for caring for all bras. However, everyday cotton or synthetic bras without underwire, lace, adornment, or delicate details may be washed using the delicate cycle and a garment bag.
How to Hand Wash Bras
- Fill a large bowl halfway with lukewarm water and mix in about ½ a teaspoon of lingerie wash or detergent made specifically for delicates. If washing multiple bras, you’ll need a larger bowl or tub and more detergent
- Submerge bras in the mixture for 3-4 minutes
- Don’t scrub or wring bras! Lingerie wash and detergents are designed to remove body oils and debris through soaking. Scrubbing may cause damage to the item
- Rinse bras in clean, lukewarm water until the water runs through without any suds
- Hang or lay bras flat to dry, gently reshaping as necessary
How to Machine Wash Bras
- To prepare for washing cotton or synthetic bras, fasten clasps and place bras securely in a garment bag
- Set washer to the delicate or hand wash cycle in cold or warm water
- Add a gentle or lingerie detergent
- Wash with other lightweight or synthetic fabrics
- Hang or lay bras flat to dry, gently reshaping as necessary. Never dry bras in a dryer.
How to Wash Panties
Similar to bra care, panties should be sorted by type, fabric, and delicateness. All thongs and panties made with sheer or lace fabric, or adorned with embellishments, should be hand washed. Thongs and briefs made with cotton, nylon, or silk can be machine washed in a garment bag. However, to preserve delicates and help them last the longest, hand washing should always be utilized.
How to Hand Wash Panties
- Fill a large bowl halfway with lukewarm water and mix in about ½ a teaspoon of lingerie wash or detergent made specifically for delicates.
- Submerge panties in the mixture for up to 5-10 minutes, opting to soak them for 10 minutes if they are more soiled
- Don’t scrub or wring panties! Lingerie wash and detergents are designed to remove body oils and debris through soaking, scrubbing may cause damage to the garment
- Rinse panties in clean, lukewarm water until the water runs through without any suds
- Hang or lay panties flat to dry, gently reshaping as necessary
How to Machine Wash Panties
- Place panties securely in a garment bag
- Set washer to the delicate or hand wash cycle in cold or warm water
- Add a gentle or lingerie detergent
- Wash with other lightweight or synthetic fabrics
- Hang or lay panties flat to dry, gently reshaping as necessary. Never dry bras in a dryer.
Treating Stains on Lingerie
- Pretreat stains on garments before a wash by using mild or lingerie detergent
- Gently rub the detergent into the affected area with your fingers
- Let the garment sit for 15 minutes to allow for the detergent to work on the stain
- Proceed to wash the garment
Lingerie Storage Tips
- If stored before garments are fully dried, they are likely to collect mildew and unpleasant odors. Be sure they are dried completely before storing them
- Hook all closures and clasps before storing to avoid snagging on other garments
- Line a drawer to create a smooth surface for garments to rest upon while avoiding any snagging
- Place bras in a row from the front to the back of your drawer, rather than stacking them vertically, to avoid crushing the cups and damaging the overall shape
- Lay panties flat in your drawer or gently roll them up to save drawer space
Read More: Why Do My Clothes Still Smell After Washing Them?
Tips To Extend the Life of Your Lingerie
- Never fold molded bras, you may risk damaging the shape or creasing the cups.
- Wash similar colors together to avoid delicate fabrics absorbing darker dyes
- Lingerie should never be ironed, as the high heat can damage the fabrics. Protip: hang your wrinkled garments in the bathroom during a hot shower to allow the steam to de-wrinkle the fabric
- If you must machine dry garments, choose the cool/no heat tumble setting and place garments in a garment bag
- If machine washing, avoid combining delicate lingerie with cotton or other fabrics likely to cause pilling
When in Doubt, Let the Professionals Handle Your Clothing
Although you can easily care for your lingerie at home on your own, it can take time and energy that you simply may not have. At Dependable Cleaners, we pride ourselves on our expert washes, which include our signature 7-Point Inspection. With easy options like wash and fold and our specialty dry cleaning for delicate fabrics, we’re equipped to help care for and extend the lifetime of your delicate lingerie.
Read More: Which Fabrics Should be Dry Cleaned?
Find a Dependable Cleaners location near you, and experience the Dependable Cleaners difference today!
