Most of modern top quality lingerie is very expensive. So you should take special attention to your lingerie so that they can last for longer then just few months. Here we present some tips on lingerie care. The following tips are useful for all sort of gentle intimate apparel items like panties, thongs, chemises, baby dolls, tights, bath gowns, nightgowns, fishnets, etc.
When having lingerie, one of the important things to remember is that you need to deal with it properly. If you treat these delicate items the same way you treat a pair of old jogging shorts, that’s exactly what they’ll end up looking like. To keep your lingerie from looking like a rumpled, ripped up mess, www.e-lady.co.uk recommends that you follow these guidelines. 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.
Check the labels:
Handwash Only
Machine washing causes Lycra to degrade quicker and Lycra is important for keeping that firm support. Plus, our delicate laces and embroideries will last longer if washed gently by hand.
Do Not Dry Clean
To avoid the Lycra degrading
Do Not Bleach
This will damage the delicate fabrics and affect the colours
Do Not Iron
Ironing will ruin the embroideries and lace
Do Not Tumble Dry
Tumble drying causes the Lycra to degrade and could damage the delicate lace and detailing of your bra.
No Instructions? Follow These:
If you already cut of the label, or manufacturers’ instructions aren’t available, you can keep your lingerie clean and in good condition by following the advice below.
As a guideline, most lingerie: brassieres, panties, nightgowns or any others (especially if it’s made of lace) should be hand washed in cold water with mild soap or a detergent made for hand washing, such as Woolite. Washing in hot water may cause shrinking of your lingerie, especially satin lingerie by 10% to 20% in size. 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 put your lingerie to machine dryer, unless stated otherwise.
If you have a plenty 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.
Bag them
If you’d prefer to wash you lingerie in washing machine than hand-wash, place them in a lingerie bag or pillow liner, and use the delicate cycle in your machine at a cool temperature. The mesh bag will help keep the bras from being wrapped around the agitator. This protects your bra from being stretched out and if your bra is under wired, it protects the under wire from being twisted and puncturing the bra material. Also, make sure the hooks and eyes are clasped so the bras don’t tangle. (Note: Certain lingerie items are simply not designed to be machine washed and if the manufacturer recommends dry-cleaning or hand-wash please follow their advice).
Don’t you ever put bras in the dryer! The hot air in the dryer destroys the Lycra, spandex and elastic. Instead, after washing, clip them to a clothesline or hang them on a drying rack. We have seen most women do not follow this advice and the bras and most lingerie items get dumped in the dryer without even thinking about it. Keep your lingerie away from sunlight too to avoid fading. Avoid shrinkage and prolong life by hanging bras to air-dry instead of machine-drying them.
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; however, remember to add a dryer sheet to avoid static electricity. Otherwise, your pantyhose will stick to everything — and that’s never a good thing.
Cleaning Silk
Silk is one of the most delicate and gentle fabrics used to produce lingerie. This material is highly sensitive to detergents, so always 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 Thy Corset
Very often corsets are an investment wotrh hundreds of pounds, so you want to treat it as you would your grandmother’s china: with tender love and care. Corsets are made with high-quality steel boning, so too much contact with water can cause it to rust. 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.
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.
Swimwear Care
To prolong the life of your swimwear we recommend the following care instructions.
Garments containing Lycra should not be worn in the Jacuzzi or sauna. We would suggest that an older garment is used as an alternative
Always rinse in cool water immediately after use
Hand wash separately with a mild detergent and do not use fabric conditioner
Dry away from direct heat
Do not wring, bleach, tumble dry or iron
Avoid excessive contact with the suntan lotions and oils.
Storing lingerie
The best way to store lingerie is to have a separate chest, if possible. If You don‘t have such a comfort, you must make extra room for lingerie items in drawers. Depending upon your lingerie collection, you might want to organize them by type (e.g. all bras in one drawer and all panties in another, and so on) or you can put all the matching sets together if you are the type that is a big fan of matching lingerie items.
