How to Wash & Care for Lingerie: The Complete Guide

You invested in beautiful lingerie. Now let's make sure it stays beautiful. Proper care can double (or triple) the lifespan of your favourite pieces. This guide covers washing, drying, storing, and fabric-specific tips for every type of lingerie.

The Golden Rule: Hand Wash When Possible

We know. Hand washing sounds tedious. But hand washing is the single best thing you can do for your lingerie. Machine washing — even on delicate — puts stress on elastic, lace, and delicate fabrics that shortens their life dramatically.

How to Hand Wash Lingerie (5 Minutes, Not 50)

1. Fill a basin with cool or lukewarm water (never hot — heat breaks down elastic and shrinks fabric)
2. Add mild detergent — a teaspoon is enough. Baby shampoo works brilliantly as an alternative. Avoid harsh detergents, bleach, and fabric softener.
3. Submerge and swirl gently for 2-3 minutes. Don't scrub, wring, or twist.
4. Rinse in clean cool water until all soap is gone
5. Press out water — lay the piece flat on a clean towel, roll the towel up, and press gently. The towel absorbs the water without wringing.
6. Lay flat or hang to dry — never in direct sunlight

That's it. Five minutes of gentle handling and your lingerie stays gorgeous for years.

Machine Washing: When You Must

Life is busy. If you must machine wash, here's how to minimise damage:

• Always use a mesh laundry bag (lingerie bag). This is non-negotiable. Without it, hooks catch on other clothes, straps tangle, and lace tears.
• Delicate/hand wash cycle only — coldest temperature available
• Mild detergent, no bleach, no fabric softener — softener coats fibres and reduces the stretch of elastic
• Hook all bra hooks before washing — prevents snagging
• Never put lingerie in the dryer — the heat destroys elastic instantly. Always air dry.

Fabric-Specific Care Guide

Satin & Silk

Satin lingerie is gorgeous but requires gentle handling. Satin snags easily on rough surfaces, rings, and nails.

• Hand wash only (machine washing causes pulls in the fabric)
• Use cold water — satin shrinks in heat
• Never wring — press water out gently
• Iron on the lowest setting INSIDE OUT, or better yet, steam it
• Store hanging or flat — satin wrinkles easily when crumpled

Lace

Lace is delicate but surprisingly durable when treated properly.

• Hand wash is ideal, but mesh bag + delicate cycle works
• Never twist or wring — lace tears at the seams when stressed
• Lay flat to dry on a towel (hanging can stretch lace out of shape)
• Store flat, not folded — folding creates permanent creases in delicate lace
• Keep away from Velcro, zippers, and rough fabrics that catch on lace threads

Mesh & Sheer Fabrics

Mesh lingerie is more durable than it looks but can develop runs like stockings.

• Mesh bag in the machine is acceptable for most mesh pieces
• Avoid contact with sharp objects (jewellery, nails, rough towels)
• Air dry only — mesh melts or warps in dryer heat
• Small holes can be stopped from spreading with a tiny dab of clear nail polish

Fishnet & Body Stockings

Fishnet is actually quite hardy, but the open weave means it catches on everything.

• Always wash in a mesh bag (the open weave tangles with other clothes)
• Roll to store, don't fold — prevents permanent crease marks in the pattern
• Air dry by laying flat — hanging can stretch fishnet out of shape

Faux Leather & PVC

Pieces from our Domina Collection need specific care:

• Never machine wash — wipe down with a damp cloth after each use
• For deeper cleaning, use mild soap and water on a soft cloth
• Dry completely before storing (moisture causes peeling and cracking)
• Store hanging — folding creates permanent creases in PVC
• Keep away from heat sources (radiators, direct sunlight, dryers)

Drying: The Rules

Never, ever use a dryer for lingerie. This is the most common mistake and the fastest way to destroy your pieces. Heat breaks down elastic (causing bras to lose support), shrinks delicate fabrics, and can melt synthetic materials.

Best Drying Methods

1. Flat drying (best) — Lay on a clean, dry towel. Reshape the piece to its original form. Flip after a few hours.
2. Hanging (good for chemises/babydolls) — Use a padded hanger or drape over a drying rack. Never hang bras by the straps (stretches them).
3. Towel rolling — For quick moisture removal, roll the piece in a dry towel and press. Then lay flat.

Drying location: Indoors, in a well-ventilated area. Never in direct sunlight (fades colours, degrades elastic). A fan or AC room speeds up drying without heat damage.

Storage: Keeping Lingerie in Perfect Condition

Bras

Store bras upright in a drawer with cups nestled into each other (like stacking bowls). Never fold one cup into the other — this warps the cup shape permanently. Moulded/padded bras especially need this treatment.

Babydolls & Chemises

Hang on padded hangers if you have closet space. If storing in drawers, fold gently along the natural seam lines. Place tissue paper between folds to prevent creasing in satin.

Sets & Delicates

Store matching sets together so you can grab a coordinated look without searching. Small fabric pouches or drawer dividers keep individual pieces separated and prevent snagging.

General Storage Tips

• Drawer sachets — A lavender or cedar sachet keeps lingerie smelling fresh and repels moths
• Separate from everyday clothes — Denim rivets, zipper pulls, and rough fabrics damage delicate lingerie
• Dark, cool storage — Sunlight fades colours even through glass. A closed drawer is ideal.
• Don't overstuff drawers — Compression wrinkles fabric and warps padding

How Often Should You Wash Lingerie?

Quick Reference: The Do's and Don'ts

Do

• Hand wash whenever possible
• Use cold water and mild detergent
• Air dry flat or on padded hangers
• Store properly (upright bras, hanging chemises)
• Use mesh laundry bags for machine washing
• Rotate pieces to extend lifespan

Don't

• Use a dryer — ever
• Use bleach or harsh detergents
• Wring or twist delicate fabrics
• Dry in direct sunlight
• Fold moulded bra cups inward
• Store near rough fabrics (denim, zippers)

Your Lingerie Investment, Protected

Good lingerie isn't cheap. Taking five extra minutes to care for it properly means your favourite pieces last years, not months. Treat your lingerie the way it makes you feel — special.

Browse our collections for pieces worth caring for: Babydolls | Lingerie Sets | Intimate Lingerie | Bodysuits

Questions about caring for a specific piece? Ask Maya on WhatsApp — she knows every fabric in our collection.