- 1. Sort your lingerie by color and fabric type
- 2. Fasten any bands or clamps
- 3. Place the lingerie in a mesh laundry bag
- 4. Add a laundry pod to the washer drum
- 5. Select the delicate cycle on your washer drum
- 6. Use cool water
- 7. Hang to dry
Lingerie is the heart and soul of your wardrobe. It’s the first thing you put on and the last thing you take off. Accordingly, your delicates deserve the VIP treatment when laundry day rolls around.
You might wash your regular underwear with the rest of your clothes, but those special pieces need a little extra TLC. Lingerie is often made of delicate fibers like lace, satin, and silk which have special care instructions. Not to mention lingerie can cost a small fortune, so you’ll want to wash them properly to ensure they look and feel as stunning as the day you bought them.
Since lingerie sits close to your skin, it needs to be washed more often than other garments. Bras can be washed every few wears, while your panties should be washed after every wear.
Keep reading to learn how to machine-wash or hand-wash your lingerie like a pro.
How to Wash Lingerie in the Washing Machine
Lingerie can be machine-washed—as long as you use the right technique. Follow these steps to keep your panties, bras, and other delicates looking brand new.
1. Sort Your Lingerie
Before you toss your dirty delicates in the washing machine, take a moment to sort your lingerie. This prevents dye transfer and helps protect those delicate fabrics.
Separate your pieces by color: light colors with light, dark with dark. Then, sort by fabric type: delicate items like bras, panties, and other intimates go into their own pile.
Pro tip: Check out our ultimate guide to sorting laundry.
2. Fasten Any Bands or Clasps
Next, fasten any bands, hooks, or clasps on your bras or underwear. This simple step will save your delicates from getting tangled or snagged. It keeps everything secure and in place, protecting not just your lingerie but also other items in the wash.
3. Place the Lingerie in a Mesh Laundry Bag
Mesh laundry bags are the MVP when it comes to laundering your lingerie. They act as a protective barrier during the wash cycle, preventing the fabrics from stretching, snagging, and tearing. If your lingerie bag has multiple sections, give each piece its own little compartment.
4. Add a Laundry Pod to Your Washer Drum
Before you load your lingerie into the washing machine, place a laundry detergent pod directly into the washer drum. Laundry pods are pre-measured, ensuring the perfect amount of detergent for each load.
Liquid detergents, if not measured precisely, can leave unsightly stains and affect the fabric's softness and appearance. Pods dissolve completely and evenly, providing a consistent clean without the risk of staining.
Not all laundry pods are created equal, though. Laundry Sauce is infused with sexy scents like Egyptian Rose, French Saffron, and Italian Bergamot to make your lingerie smell as irresistible as it looks.
5. Select the Delicate Cycle on Your Washing Machine
When machine-washing lingerie, always use the delicate or gentle cycle. This setting is designed to treat your lingerie with the utmost care, using slower spin speeds and shorter wash times. It’s like sending your delicates to a spa day instead of a boot camp. They’ll come out clean and refreshed without the wear and tear.
6. Use Cool Water
When it comes to water temperature, cool or cold is the way to go. Lower temperatures preserve the fabric and color of your lingerie. Hot water can be harsh, causing shrinkage and fading, especially with materials like lace and silk. Cool water is gentle, ensuring your delicates stay as gorgeous as the day you bought them.
7. Hang the Lingerie to Dry
Never put lingerie in the dryer. Heat can shrink and weaken delicate fabrics like lace, satin, and silk. Instead, hang your delicates to dry naturally. Lay them flat on a drying rack or hang them by the bands. This will maintain their shape and elasticity.
Avoid direct sunlight, which can fade colors. A shaded area is ideal, letting your lingerie air-dry to perfection.
How to Hand-Wash Lingerie
If you’d rather not machine-wash your lingerie or just need to clean a couple of items in a pinch, hand-washing is a smart alternative. Here’s how it’s done.
1. Fill a Basin with Cool Water
Fill your sink or a basin with cool or lukewarm water. Remember, hot water can damage delicate fabrics, so keep it on the cooler side.
2. Add Detergent
Add a small amount of mild detergent. If you're using a specialty lingerie detergent, follow the instructions on the bottle. You generally don't need much—just a teaspoon or so.
3. Soak Your Lingerie
Place your lingerie in the water and let it soak for about 10-15 minutes. This helps loosen any dirt, stains, oils, or other bodily fluids.
4. Gently Agitate
Using your hands, gently swish the lingerie around in the water. Avoid scrubbing or wringing, as this can damage the delicate fabrics.
5. Rinse Thoroughly
Drain the soapy water and refill the basin with clean, cool water. Rinse your lingerie by gently swishing it in the clean water. You might have to repeat this step a couple of times to remove all the soap.
6. Press Out the Water
Lay your lingerie flat on a clean, dry towel. Roll the towel up with the lingerie inside and gently press to remove excess water. Avoid wringing out the fabric.
7. Lay Flat to Dry
Find a flat surface and lay your lingerie out to dry. Avoid hanging them, as this can stretch out the fabric and ruin the shape.
Keep Your Lingerie Smelling Luxurious with Laundry Sauce
Your lingerie helps you look and feel confident—it’s only right that your fragrance follows suit. Don’t spoil your favorite bra or panties with a lame scent like “Spring Breeze.” If you want to smell as sexy as you look, wash your lingerie with Laundry Sauce: the world’s best-smelling laundry detergent.
Crafted with seductive scents, our high-performance pods will elevate your lingerie care routine from “meh” to meticulous.
Take our two-minute quiz to find your favorite scent!
