How to Wash and Care for Lingerie
Proper lingerie care helps bras, panties, shapewear and hosiery retain their fit, shape and appearance. Delicate fabrics, elastic, lace and underwires benefit from gentle washing, low temperatures and air drying.
Always check the garment's care label first. Manufacturer instructions take priority because fabrics, dyes, trims and construction differ between lingerie styles.
General Lingerie Washing Tips
- Hand wash delicate lingerie when possible.
- Use a mesh lingerie bag when machine washing.
- Fasten bra hooks before washing to reduce snagging.
- Choose cold or lukewarm water unless the care label specifies otherwise.
- Use a mild detergent suitable for delicate garments.
- Wash lingerie with other lightweight, delicate items.
- Keep lingerie away from heavy garments such as jeans and towels.
- Separate light, dark and strongly colored garments.
- Do not twist or aggressively wring delicate lingerie.
- Avoid high heat when drying garments containing elastic or stretch fibers.
How to Wash Bras
Hand washing is a gentle choice for bras, especially lace, embroidered, padded, molded-cup and underwire styles. Fill a basin with cool or lukewarm water and add a small amount of detergent intended for delicate garments.
Fasten the bra before washing. Allow it to soak briefly, then gently move it through the water. Avoid twisting, scrubbing or wringing the cups and band. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.
To remove excess moisture, place the bra on a clean towel and gently press or roll the towel around it. Reshape the cups if needed and allow the bra to air dry.
Machine Washing Bras
If the care label permits machine washing, fasten the hooks and place the bra inside a mesh lingerie bag. Choose a delicate cycle with cool or lukewarm water and wash it with lightweight garments.
Avoid washing bras with jeans, towels or other heavy items that may twist, pull or damage delicate fabrics and hardware.
Should Bras Go in the Dryer?
Air drying is the safer choice for most bras. Dryer heat may shorten the life of elastic and stretch fibers and may affect molded cups, lace and other delicate components.
How to Wash Panties
Start by checking the care label. Many everyday panties tolerate a gentle machine cycle, while lace, silk, embellished and other delicate styles benefit from hand washing.
For machine washing, place delicate panties in a mesh lingerie bag and use cool or lukewarm water with a gentle detergent. Wash them with lightweight garments rather than towels, denim or clothing with hardware that might snag the fabric.
Air drying helps protect elastic and delicate fibers. Follow the garment's care label when tumble drying is permitted.
How to Wash Shapewear
Shapewear relies heavily on stretch fibers to provide support and compression. Gentle washing helps protect those fibers.
Hand washing in cool or lukewarm water is a good choice for many shapewear garments. If the care label permits machine washing, use a delicate cycle and a mesh laundry bag.
Avoid high heat and allow shapewear to air dry unless the manufacturer specifically provides different drying instructions.
How to Wash Hosiery and Stockings
Tights, stockings and other hosiery are vulnerable to pulls and snags. Hand washing provides greater control when cleaning these garments.
Fill a basin with cool or lukewarm water and add a small amount of gentle detergent. Carefully move the hosiery through the water and allow it to soak briefly. Rinse thoroughly without twisting the fabric.
Gently press out excess water and allow the hosiery to air dry away from rough surfaces that might catch the fibers.
How to Care for Different Lingerie Fabrics
Cotton
Cotton is generally more durable than many lingerie fabrics, but elastic, lace and decorative components may still require gentle treatment. Follow the garment label rather than relying on the fiber content alone.
Nylon
Nylon is common in lingerie because it is lightweight and durable. Many nylon garments tolerate gentle machine washing, but heat and garment construction still matter. Check the care label before washing or drying.
Polyester
Polyester lingerie is often relatively easy to care for. A gentle wash at a low temperature is suitable for many garments. Lace, elastic, padding and embellishments may require more delicate treatment.
Rayon and Viscose
Care requirements for rayon and viscose vary considerably by garment. Some pieces require hand washing or professional cleaning, while others permit gentle machine washing. Follow the manufacturer's care label.
Silk
Silk requires careful handling. Follow the garment label closely because construction, dyes, lining and embellishments affect appropriate cleaning. When hand washing is permitted, use cool or lukewarm water and a detergent intended for delicate fabrics. Avoid chlorine bleach.
Spandex and Elastane
Stretch fibers such as spandex and elastane are commonly blended into bras, panties and shapewear. Excessive heat may damage their elasticity. Gentle washing and air drying help protect stretch garments.
Lace
Lace may snag, stretch or distort during laundering. Hand washing is a good choice for delicate lace. When machine washing is permitted, use a mesh lingerie bag and a delicate cycle.
How Often Should You Wash a Bra?
Washing frequency depends on wear, perspiration, climate and activity. A bra does not necessarily need washing after every short wear, but garments worn during heavy perspiration should be cleaned more frequently.
Rotating between bras also gives elastic fibers time to recover between wears.
Common Lingerie Care Mistakes
- Ignoring the manufacturer's care label.
- Using water hotter than recommended.
- Putting delicate lingerie loose into a washing machine.
- Leaving bra hooks open where they may snag other garments.
- Washing lingerie with heavy towels or denim.
- Twisting or aggressively wringing delicate fabrics.
- Using high dryer heat on garments containing elastic.
- Storing molded bras with the cups crushed or inverted.
Storing Your Lingerie
Make sure lingerie is completely dry before storing it. Keep bras and delicate pieces away from rough objects, exposed hooks and hardware that might snag lace or hosiery.
Store molded-cup bras in a way that preserves their natural cup shape rather than folding one cup inside the other.
The care label attached to your lingerie is the primary guide for washing, drying and ironing. When these general recommendations differ from the manufacturer's instructions, follow the garment label.
Shop Lingerie at Jean Lesley
Proper care helps protect the lingerie you love. Browse the Jean Lesley collection for bras, panties, shapewear, hosiery, nightwear and other lingerie styles.
