Cleaning your lingerie can be a difficult task. Most beautiful lingerie is made from intricate lace and delicate fabrics that would go bad in a washing machine…even if you use the gentle cycle. The washing machine works well for normal everyday underwear. But no one wants the washer or dryer to “eat” their favorite stuffed animal or expensive corset. All those lost socks are bad enough!

Rules

#1 for cleaning lingerie: always check the label

Almost all garments have care instructions on a small tag located somewhere inside the garment. You should always follow the recommendations of these labels so that your lingerie looks sexy. Many of these labels include simple written instructions like “Do not bleach” or “Hand wash only.” However, more and more labels are turning to icons to cross language barriers.

How to clean tagless lingerie

Cleaning underwear becomes a bit more difficult if you’re missing the tag, which happens quite often as people love to cut those tags out of their underwear. Many people find that the tags are a bit itchy, especially on a silky-smooth babydoll or nightgown. Tiny thongs or crotchless panties just don’t like it as sexy with that little tag in the way! But you still need to clean your lingerie without the tag, so what do you do?

When in doubt, hand washing is the best way to clean your lingerie. Hand washing ensures that you don’t tear any delicate lace, snag one of those straps, stretch something, or any of the other misadventures that can occur when washing underwear. We show you how to clean your lingerie in six easy steps.

1. Fill a sink with warm water and an alcohol-free detergent specially formulated for hand washing delicate garments. Never use hot water or bleach. Hot water breaks down elastics and shrinks natural fibers, while bleach is too harsh for delicate lingerie fabrics.

2. Add your lingerie to the sink and give it a little shake to make sure it’s completely wet. Then let it soak for at least 15 minutes. If it’s a particularly stubborn stain, you should soak it for about 45 minutes to an hour.

3. After you finish soaking the lingerie piece, gently rub the fabric, paying close attention to any stains or blemishes.

4. Rinse the lingerie item in cold water until the water starts to run clear.

5. Gently squeeze or shake the lingerie piece to remove excess water. Keep in mind that squeezing is not the same as draining. Squeezing consists of gently pressing the garment. To twist means to twist it into a tight ball. Wringing underwear will leave wrinkles and damage the fabric.

6. Smooth out the lingerie to prevent it from wrinkling. Then spread it out between a couple of clean towels or hang it up to dry. Dryers and delicates don’t mix, so never throw your lingerie in the dryer. Most lingerie is made of a lightweight material that dries quickly on its own.

underwear materials

cleaning methods

Cotton

Cotton underwear is usually designed for everyday use. This means that most cotton underwear is machine washable and dryer safe. Just remember to double check the garment tag to be sure.

Leather

Hand clean with leather care products. Always remember to test the product in an inconspicuous place before using it. Then let it air dry.

POLYVINYL CHLORIDE

Hand wash with warm water and liquid detergent, making sure to clean both sides. Rinse it and then hang it to dry inside out and then you will use it.

Silk

Some silk lingerie can be hand washed, but dry cleaning is generally best.