Good quality lingerie like silk and lace underwear is not only expensive, comforting and aesthetically pleasing but fragile. But having good quality underwear does not always mean indestructible. Those who have invested in stylish premium lingerie must know the right way to wash and store them. Following the tips below will ensure that the lace and other delicate intimates stay fresh and safe, looking beautiful even after multiple usages.
What Are Some Delicate Fabrics Used in Lingerie?
Lace
Lace is an openwork, lightweight fabric that has patterns with open holes in the work. Lace-making is a beautiful ancient craft made by hand or now by machine. Originally laces were made of gold, silver, silk or linen threads. Now manufacturers and designers mostly use cotton, synthetic fibre, copper or silver wires. Different types of laces include needle lace, cutwork, bobbin, tape, knotted, crocheted, knitted and machine-made lace.
Velvet
Velvet is a luxurious and soft fabric whose characteristics are a dense pile of evenly cut fibres with a smooth nap. It has a smooth and shiny appearance and drapes beautifully due to its short pile fibre characteristic. Velvet is made from silk, cotton, linen, mohair, wool and other synthetic fibres too.
Silk
Silk is a natural fibre made of protein that can be woven into fabrics. The best-known form of silk is obtained from the cocoons of Bombyx mori silkworm raised in sericulture. The prism-like triangular structure of silk fibres gives it the shine making it one of the most prized fabrics that people opt for.
Satin
Satin is a fabric that has a glossy surface and a duller background formed due to its weaving structure. The warp-dominated weaving pattern creates a minimum number of inter-lacings in the textile. This weaving is accomplished using any fibres like polyester, nylon, silk, and more.
Tips to Wash and Preserve Delicate Underwear
Read Labels
The first thing one must do while buying or before washing the underwear is to note down the fabric and the materials used to make them. Good quality underwear from trusted manufacturers also come with instructions about washing them. Some may indicate that they can machine wash them, but others might strongly advise against it.
Handwash
The finer the material of the lingerie, the more delicate it is. So, the safest and the most effective way to clean delicate apparel like lace underwear is by handwash.
Separate the Blacks, the Whites and the Colours
When washed together, black underwear tends to fade, white underwear tends to turn grey, and some colour underwear might release their dye. To avoid mixing colours, it is best to wash them separately with their shades.
Turn Them Inside Out
Some delicate materials like latex and foil-printed fabrics must be turned inside out before the wash to ensure their structural integrity and colours remain intact.
Use Mild Detergent to Treat Tough Stains
Remove the makeup, body oils and dirt with mild detergents and gently work the lather into the fabric, supportive underwire, liners and delicate straps.
Soak and Rinse Using Lukewarm Water
Soak the lingerie in lukewarm water or water below 30 degrees Celsius for 5 minutes. After the wash, rinse it again with cold water to remove remaining soaps, detergent or residue.
Dry Them Delicately
Be sure to not dry delicate lingerie in the dryer of a washing machine. Rather dry the underwear on a towel, a flat surface, or a rope to ensure that it doesn’t deform. Avoid drying it on a radiator to preserve the shape and colour. Ironing is not advisable, but they must do so under low temperature or use the steam ironing method if one wants to.
