How to wash lingerie, in one line: cold water, a little mild detergent, hands not machine, no wringing, flat dry in shade. Do that and a ₹399 Sinderella lace babydoll or a ₹299 mesh bodystocking lasts years, not weeks. This guide covers every fabric Sinderella sells (mesh, lace, fishnet, satin, faux leather), the machine-wash rules for when you must, drying, storage, how often to wash, and the one thing never to do before a return. Prices quoted were live on 28 September 2026.
Lingerie wash karna mushkil nahi hai. Bas washing machine se door rakho.
The golden rule: hand wash when possible
- Fill a basin with cold or barely lukewarm water. Hot water kills elastane, and elastane is what makes lace and mesh cling.
- Add a small amount of mild liquid detergent or a lingerie wash. No bleach, no fabric softener (softener coats mesh and makes it dull).
- Submerge, swish gently, leave 10–15 minutes. Do not scrub lace against itself.
- Rinse in clean cold water until no suds.
- Press water out between your palms or roll in a towel. Never wring; wringing snaps fishnet and stretches lace.
Machine washing: when you must
- Mesh laundry bag, always. Hooks and garter clips shred other fabric and each other.
- Delicate or hand-wash cycle, cold, lowest spin.
- Hooks closed, straps tucked, garter clips fastened.
- Never with jeans, towels or anything with a zip.
- Never the dryer. Air dry only.
Things that never go in a machine at all: anything with pearls, chains, rhinestones, feathers, faux leather or boning. Front-loaders are gentler than top-loaders with an agitator; if yours has a central agitator, hand wash everything sheer, because the agitator is what wraps a bodystocking around itself and tears it.
Fabric-specific care guide
| Fabric | Wash | Dry | Never | Example (in stock, 28 Sep 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheer mesh | Hand, cold, mild | Flat, shade | Softener, wringing | Lakeer cut-out mesh bodystocking, ₹299 |
| Lace | Hand, cold, 10 min soak | Flat, reshape while damp | Scrubbing, hot water | Basant embroidered lace babydoll, ₹399 |
| Fishnet | Hand, cold, quick | Hang by the shoulders, shade | Snagging on rings and nails; wringing | Aafat halter lace suspender bodystocking, ₹399 |
| Satin | Hand, cold, no soak beyond 5 min | Flat, inside out, shade | Sun (fades), rubbing (water marks) | Aasmaan satin open-cup bra & panty set, ₹449 |
| Faux leather | Wipe with a damp cloth; no soak | Hang, away from heat | Washing machine, iron, direct sun | Jagmag strappy faux-leather lingerie & choker set, ₹549 |
| Pieces with pearls, chains, rhinestones | Spot clean only | Flat | Any soak; metal tarnishes | Taare pearl-embellished bra & brief set, ₹399 |
The fabric-by-fabric detail, including how to wash a bodystocking without tearing it: how to wash lace, mesh and bodystocking lingerie.
Drying: the rules
- Shade, not sun. Indian sun bleaches black to grey and red to pink in a season.
- Flat on a towel for lace and satin; hung by the shoulders for bodystockings and fishnet.
- Reshape cups and straps while damp.
- No dryer, no radiator, no hair dryer. Heat shrinks and stiffens elastane.
- In monsoon, a fan and a dry room beat a balcony. Damp lingerie left overnight smells; smell ends a return.
Storage: keeping lingerie in perfect condition
Dry completely before storing. Fold lace flat, roll bodystockings, hang corsets and faux leather. Keep pieces with metal away from pieces with mesh. A pouch per set stops hooks from catching. Full storage playbook for Indian humidity: how to store bras and lingerie properly.
How often should you wash lingerie?
- Panties: after every wear.
- Babydolls, chemises, bodysuits: after every wear if worn to bed for hours; after two or three short wears otherwise.
- Bodystockings and fishnet: after every wear; they touch everything.
- Corsets and faux leather: wipe after wear, wash rarely.
- Pieces with pearls and chains: spot clean, air out, wash almost never.
Do not wash before a return
From the Sinderella returns page: a returned piece must be 100% new, tags on, no wear, no wash, no smell. A washed piece is a used piece and gets no store credit. Try it on over underwear with tags attached; if it is wrong, WhatsApp within 7 days of delivery, free pickup, store credit that never expires. Wash only what you are keeping.
Hard water and detergent residue: the Indian tap problem
Much of India washes in hard water. Minerals plus leftover detergent leave a film that makes mesh look cloudy and lace feel stiff after a few washes, and the same film is what holds smell. Fixes: use less detergent than you think (a teaspoon for a basin), rinse twice, and once a month add a tablespoon of white vinegar to the final rinse; it dissolves the film and the smell of vinegar leaves as it dries. Never use a scented softener to cover residue; it adds to it.
Washing before the night: the 24-hour rule
If a piece needs a wash before an occasion, wash it the day before, not the afternoon of. Mesh dries in a couple of hours under a fan; lace and satin take longer, and a damp band at 9 pm is the fastest way to ruin the mood. A new piece does not need a wash at all; try it on with the tag, keep it, wear it.
Travel wash
Hotel basin, shampoo instead of detergent (it is mild and you have it), two minutes, press in the hotel towel, hang on the shower rail overnight with the AC on. Do not pack it damp; roll it in a dry towel for the journey home and finish drying there. The plain Sinderella pouch keeps it separate from the rest of the bag.
Quick reference: do's and don'ts
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Cold water, mild detergent | Hot water, bleach, softener |
| Hand wash; mesh bag if machine | Machine with jeans or towels |
| Press in a towel | Wring or twist |
| Flat or shoulder-hung, in shade | Dryer, direct sun, radiator |
| Spot clean embellished pieces | Soak pearls, chains, rhinestones |
| Store dry, in pouches | Store damp, hooks loose |
Your lingerie, protected
Ten minutes of cold water a week keeps the piece she wore on the first night looking like the first night. Everything above applies to the whole Shringaar lingerie collection, from the ₹299 bodystocking to the ₹1,499 corset set.
FAQ
Can I wash lingerie in a washing machine?
Plain lace and mesh, yes: mesh bag, delicate cycle, cold, hooks closed, no dryer. Anything with pearls, chains, rhinestones, boning or faux leather, no.
Which detergent is best for lingerie?
Any mild liquid detergent used sparingly, or a dedicated lingerie wash. Skip powder (leaves residue on mesh), bleach and softener.
How do I wash a bodystocking?
Cold water, mild detergent, a two-minute swish, rinse, press in a towel, hang by the shoulders in shade. Remove rings first; fishnet snags on everything.
Can I iron lingerie?
No. Steam from a distance if satin has creased; never touch an iron to mesh, lace, fishnet or faux leather.
Should I wash new lingerie before wearing it?
Not required. Try it on with tags first; once you are keeping it, a first cold rinse is fine. A washed piece cannot be returned.
Does lingerie shrink in the wash?
Only with heat. Cold water and shade, no shrink. Details: does lingerie shrink in the wash.