Caring For Your Lingerie
Caring For Your Lingerie
Most lingerie is delicate and you want to keep it looking its best you need to care for it properly. Some will only hand wash their delicate items. While they may take more time, these washing methods will extend the life of your lingerie — and extend the time you get to enjoy it, but if you’re like most of us, machine washing saves time. Begin by looking at the care instructions on the label. If items are washable, it is always a good idea to use a lingerie bag to keep them separate. A mesh bag prevents tangling and reduces surface wear from friction against tougher fabrics.
CHECK YOUR LABELS
The first thing you need to do is check the labels in your lingerie. Manufacturers know their product better than anyone else, so their advice should be taken first, and should be taken seriously. If it says dry clean only, there’s a reason for it.
NO INSTRUCTIONS? FOLLOW THESE:
If you already clipped out your label, or your manufacturers’ instructions aren’t clear, you can keep your lingerie clean and happy by following the advice below.
As a guideline, most lingerie (especially if it’s made of lace) should be hand washed in cold water with mild soap or a detergent made for hand washing. Remember to fasten any snaps, clasps or buttons while you’re doing this to avoid any snagging or tearing of the material. Give it a good rinse when you’re done, and then let it hang dry. Never machine dry your lingerie, unless told otherwise.
If you have a lot of lingerie, hand washing may seem like an exhausting task. So, you can always try to wash your lingerie using your washing machine’s delicate cycle on cold (not warm!). Use a lingerie bag or small washing bag for your garments so they don’t get caught on anything during the cycle. And again, let your lingerie hang dry. Even on the lowest setting, dryer heat will break down the elasticity of your items, shortening their life span considerably. Instead, lie flat or hang to dry out of sunlight.
DEALING WITH NYLON
Nylon (used in most hosiery) is one of the materials that can be washed using the delicate cycle of your washing machine. It is also one that can be dried in the drier on a cooler setting.
CLEANING SILK:
Silk is in a league of its own when it comes to delicacy. This material is extremely sensitive to detergents, so make sure to use a mild soap or silk-specific wash instead. Then, let the lingerie sit in warm water for about five minutes, and rinse with cool water. (A teaspoon of vinegar added to the rinse can sometimes help it remove traces of soap.) Place the lingerie in a towel and keep it flat while it dries.
When it comes to silk, the fabric is fragile, so it’s important to follow these tips:
- Never scrub or wring silk
- Never wear silk in direct sunlight. (It fades easily.)
- Never clean just a spot or section of silk with water — clean the entire garment.
- Never spray perfume on silk
LOVE YOUR CORSET
Corsets can be an investment (sometimes worth hundreds of dollars), so you want to treat it as you would your best china: with tender love and care. For the best results, it’s always good to have it dry cleaned by a professional. And even then, ask for it to be washed by hand. Some corset boning is made of steel, so make sure if you are washing it, dry it completely before you put it away.
However, to keep dry cleaning bills down, here are a few guidelines to keep your corset fresh and clean:
- Instead of washing your corset every time you wear it, use a damp cloth to clean its lining.
- Try wearing a thin camisole underneath it to prevent any excess perspiration that can dirty it.
- It’s always a good idea to treat your corset with a fabric protector before wearing it. That way if anything spills on it, it can easily be wiped off.
- Also hang it up to air out
SWIMWEAR CARE
To prolong the life of your swimwear L.A Heels recommend the following care instructions.
ADDITIONAL TIPS FOR CARING FOR LINGERIE
- Sort articles by color, washing whites, darks and medium colors separately. Lighter garments can pick up dyes from darker colors.
- You can wash your bra in the washing machine, but make sure it is hooked together to avoid tangling or hooking onto other clothing. Use a mesh bag to prevent snagging.
- Separate man-made fibers from natural fibers. Man-made fibers can attract the oils that are released from natural fibers during washing. These oils build up over time and make the spots on the man-made fibers more obvious.
- Sort delicate fabrics from tougher fabrics like denim and terry cloth. This will lessen the friction of fabrics against each other. Lint-generating fabrics (fleece, towels) should be washed separately from lingerie. The lint clings to the lingerie fabrics.
- Just remember all lingerie is delicate and needs to be loved and handled with care