How to Wash Lingerie Without Wrecking the Good Stuff

For washable lace, mesh and most delicate lingerie, a gentle hand wash in cool water, mild detergent and careful air drying is a good routine. Dry-clean-only garments, leather and specialist structured pieces need their own treatment. This guide is for the delicate fabric favourites.

The outfit can have a filthy evening. The washing doesn't need to get rough.

Separate colours and fasten the hooks

Keep pale pieces away from strong colours, especially when something is new. Close bra hooks so they can't catch a neighbouring bit of lace. Remove jewellery that could snag the fabric while you handle it.

Give hosiery and fine net their own space, away from buckles and embellishments. A fishnet bodystocking is already mostly holes. An extra one halfway up the thigh rarely improves the design.

Hand wash with a light touch

Use a clean basin and cool water with a small amount of mild laundry detergent suitable for delicates. Mix it into the water before adding the garment. More detergent means more rinsing, not a more impressive cleaning job.

Move the fabric gently through the water and lightly work the areas that need attention, such as the gusset or underband. Avoid scrubbing lace, stretching elastic or leaving the whole lot soaking while you forget about it for the rest of the day.

Rinse in fresh cool water until the detergent is gone. Support the wet garment as you lift it, rather than letting a thin strap carry the weight of everything below it.

Press the water out, don't wring

Gently squeeze out excess water without twisting. Lay the garment on a clean towel and press softly to absorb more. Keep shaped cups in their natural shape rather than crushing or folding one inside the other.

This is particularly useful for those lovely little strappy pieces that become one confusing knot if you rush. Untangle them gently now, while you can see what's joined to what.

Let it air dry with support

Lay delicate pieces flat on a clean, dry towel or a suitable drying surface with air around them. Gently arrange straps and edges into shape. Keep them away from direct heat, strong sunlight and the tumble dryer.

Hanging a wet garment from its narrowest straps can stretch them. Support its body instead. The fit you enjoyed last night is worth keeping for the next time you put it on.

Can lingerie go in the washing machine?

Only pieces made for machine washing belong in that load. A cold delicate cycle and a mesh laundry bag can reduce tangling, but the bag doesn't make hand-wash-only lingerie machine-washable.

Fasten hooks, leave room in the bag and keep rough fabrics and exposed zips out of the wash. Remove the lingerie promptly afterwards and air dry it. A pile of bath towels is a bloody poor chaperone for fine lace.

Put it away ready to wear

Let every part dry before it goes in the drawer. Keep shaped bras supported, fold soft pieces loosely and separate net or lace from anything that could catch it. Tuck matching pieces together so you're not searching for one missing suspender belt while the rest of the outfit waits.

For a better understanding of those different pieces, our corset, bustier and basque guide explains the shapes. The bodystocking guide covers the all-in-one option.

That's the routine: gentle wash, proper rinse, supported drying and a little space. Keep your lingerie favourites ready for another outing. They should spend more time being admired than rescued from the laundry.