Lingerie and delicate fabrics are easy to ruin. Strap elastic stretches, lace snags, and cups lose their shape after a few rough cycles. You can wash these items by hand or in the washing machine, and both methods work if you use a gentle approach. Hand washing is the safest choice, but it takes time, while a machine with a mesh bag is faster.
The best way to wash lingerie and delicates with liquid detergent is to use a small amount of mild liquid detergent in cool water (about 86°F/30°C or below). Hand wash them gently for a few minutes without scrubbing, or put them in a zipped mesh bag and run a short delicate cycle. Rinse well, press out the water, and lay the pieces flat to air dry.
Below you will find both the hand-wash and machine-wash methods, plus advice for other delicate fabrics. Both use liquid detergent, so you can pick the one that fits your schedule.
How long your undergarments last depends largely on how you wash them. Nobody wants misshapen bras and underwear with holes, so let’s look at the best ways to wash lingerie without damaging it.
Washing Lingerie by Hand
Hand washing is gentler than a washing machine. Lingerie is made from delicate material that stretches and loses its shape under even a little force. Washing by hand keeps the fabric safe and helps each piece hold its form. Here are the simple steps.
Choose a Mild Detergent
To protect your lingerie from detergent damage, pick a mild liquid detergent instead of a heavy-duty formula. A gentle product is also kinder to your hands.
Avoid harsh detergents, because they can break down delicate fibers over time. If you have not used a particular detergent on lingerie before, follow the directions on the bottle and test it first. Dab a little diluted detergent on a hidden spot and check that the color does not change.
Read More: How to Use Liquid Detergent and Dosing Balls
Wear Gloves
Gloves are an easy step to skip, but they are worth wearing. If your skin is sensitive to detergent, treat them as a must. Even if you are not allergic, gloves protect your hands from drying out. Our laundry detergent guide for allergy sufferers explains how to choose a gentler product.
Read the Care Label
The care label holds the most important washing instructions, including the maximum water temperature. For most lingerie, keep the water at or below 86°F (30°C).
Separate by Color and Fabric
Start by separating light-colored pieces from dark ones. This prevents color bleeding and dye transfer. For extra safety, wash new, brightly colored items on their own for the first few washes.
Treat Tough Stains First
You can lift stubborn marks from lingerie with a bar of mild soap. Wet the bar and rub it very gently on the straps and any stained area. Use cold water on blood stains, because hot water can set them into the fabric.
Fill the Tub or Basin
Set up two clean tubs or basins. Fill both with cool water and add a small amount of liquid detergent to one of them. Swish the water with your hand until the detergent is fully mixed, then add the lingerie to the soapy water.
Rinse with Cool Water
Once the dirt and stains have loosened, move the pieces to the second tub for rinsing. Change the rinse water as often as needed until no suds or detergent remain.
Hand-Washing Tips
Do not leave lingerie in the water for too long. Soaking for more than an hour can damage the fibers, and even a short soak is usually enough for stubborn stains. Leaving damp items in water for a long time can also invite mold and bacteria. For more on timing, see our guide to soaking clothes in detergent.
Do not scrub or wring the garments while they are in the tub. While your underwear and bras soak, simply swish them through the water or lift them in and out a few times. That is enough to release most of the dirt. Pay special attention to bra straps and underarm areas, which tend to be dirtier than the rest. For more general advice, read our tips for hand washing clothes with detergent.
Washing Lingerie in the Washing Machine
Washing lingerie in the machine like any other load is a bad idea. With a few precautions, though, you can reduce the damage a lot. When you are short on time and need clean underwear fast, these tips will give you the best results.
Use Mesh Laundry Bags
It is a myth that lingerie cannot go in the washer. You do not need a special lingerie wash, either. Regular liquid detergent works well as long as you protect the garments in a mesh bag.
Mesh laundry bags keep straps, hooks, and lace from snagging, and they help prevent stretching. They come in several sizes and shapes. They are also handy for travel, since they keep your lingerie organized and protected in your suitcase.
Start by placing one piece, or a few small pieces, in a mesh bag. Fasten any hooks first, then zip the bag closed and put it in the machine with water and detergent. Choose the shortest, gentlest cycle available.
The rest of the process is the same as for any other load, with one exception: do not put lingerie in the tumble dryer. Instead, lay the pieces flat on a towel, roll the towel up, and press gently to remove the extra water.
A little effort can save your favorite lingerie. If you rarely have time to wash by hand, a few good-quality mesh bags are a smart investment that saves a lot of hassle.
Machine-Washing Tips
- Use cool water.
Hot water can shrink delicates and damage elastic. Wash in cold or lukewarm water, preferably below 86°F (30°C). - Sort by weight and color.
Do not mix light and dark colors. Also keep lingerie away from heavy or lint-producing items such as towels and jeans, because the weight and friction can damage delicate pieces. It is best to wash lingerie only with other lingerie and light undergarments. - Read the labels.
If the label says hand wash only, do not machine wash that piece. Set it aside until you have time to wash it by hand. - Choose a short, gentle cycle.
Long cycles and fast spins fade color and wear out fabric. Select the “hand wash” or “delicate” setting, and use a low spin speed if your machine allows it. - Remove lingerie as soon as the cycle ends.
Damp clothes left in the drum can develop mold and mildew, and the fabric can be damaged. - Reshape each piece.
Even with careful washing, undergarments can lose some shape. Lay them flat right away and gently smooth them back into form. Press out extra water instead of wringing or tumble drying. - Skip the tumble dryer.
Lingerie is made from thin, delicate fabric, and the heat of a dryer shortens its life by shrinking the fabric and breaking down elastic. Air drying is the better choice. - Dry flat when you can.
Lay lingerie on a towel or a drying rack instead of hanging it by the straps, which can stretch them. Squeeze out water gently, without twisting. - Do not overload the washer.
Do not add too many mesh bags at once. The bags need room to move freely, or the lingerie inside will not get cleaned properly.
Washing Delicates in Liquid Detergent
Delicate fabrics look beautiful, but they usually cost more than everyday clothes, so they deserve extra care to last.
With a little more effort, you can keep your delicates looking new for a long time.
What Counts as a Delicate?
Delicates include fabrics with embroidery, lace, or beading, as well as fine fabrics such as chiffon, silk, and wool. Always check the care label, since some linen and wool items have their own rules. In general, keep delicates away from heat and anything else that can shrink or stretch them.
How to Wash Delicates
Hand washing is the gentlest way to clean delicates. Choose a liquid detergent made for delicates or one with mild ingredients. The process is the same as for lingerie, with extra care around embroidery and embellishments.
Place the clothes in a tub or basin with cool water and detergent, then swirl them gently. You can also lift them in and out a few times to release dirt. Do not rub the fabric against itself or against the side of the tub. Rubbing is what damages delicates most.
If you do not have the time or energy to wash everything by hand, buy a larger mesh laundry bag. A good bag lasts a long time. Place the delicates inside, then put the bag in the machine with water and liquid detergent on a delicate cycle. This prevents snagging and stretching.
Wash delicates of the same color together, and keep dark delicates separate from lighter ones.
Be careful when you pretreat stains. Do not pour regular detergent directly onto delicate fabric. Use a stain remover made for delicates instead, and test it on a hidden spot first. Strong ingredients in some stain removers and detergents can damage delicate fibers quickly.
Drying Delicates
Heat can shrink delicates quickly, so air drying is the safest choice. If the care label allows machine drying, put the item in a mesh bag and use the no-heat or air-fluff setting. Always read the label first.
You can also lay delicates flat on a towel or drying rack. Keep them out of direct sunlight, which can fade colors and weaken fibers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wash a bra in the washing machine?
Yes, if the care label allows it. Fasten the hooks, put the bra in a zipped mesh bag, and run a short delicate cycle in cool water. Skip the dryer and let it air dry flat or hang it by the center panel. Hand washing will always be gentler, especially for underwire and padded bras, so choose it for your favorite pieces.
How often should I wash lingerie?
Wash underwear after every wear. Bras can usually be worn two or three times between washes, as long as they have time to air out. Wash them sooner if you sweat a lot or notice odor, because sweat and body oils can wear down elastic over time.
Is regular liquid detergent safe for lingerie?
A mild liquid detergent works well for most lingerie, and a small amount is plenty. Avoid detergents with added bleach and skip fabric softener, since softener can coat elastic fibers and reduce their stretch. If your skin is sensitive, choose a fragrance-free formula.
Conclusion
A hamper full of unwashed lingerie is a nuisance, and the thought of washing everything by hand can feel exhausting. A laundry mesh bag solves most of that problem. You do not need to buy anything special, because ordinary liquid detergent works well when the garments are protected in a bag.
Delicate items with lace, embroidery, or silk are still worth washing by hand. With a bit of care, you can extend the life of your delicate clothing considerably.
Follow the tips above to prevent color bleeding, shrinking, and other damage.
