Lingerie Care Guide: How to Treat Your Prettiest Pieces Right
Ah, lingerie! Those sumptuous and sensual pieces that make us feel like queens – whether we’re conquering the world, lounging around at home, or gearing up for some frisky business. But just like any great romance, your relationship with your lingerie needs a little TLC to keep the sparks flying.
Whether you’re a lingerie aficionado or just starting to build your collection, we’ve got the ultimate tips and tricks to keep your prettiest pieces in tip-top shape.
Ready to give your delicates the royal treatment? Let’s dive into all the essentials of lingerie care.
Lingerie Washing: Keep It Gentle
While it may be tempting to toss your lingerie in the washing machine with all the rest of your clothing – trust us – your mentionables deserve better. Proper lingerie care starts with taking the time to treat your delicates right.
To keep your lingerie looking its best, we strongly recommend hand washing your pieces. Think of it as a luxurious bubble bath for your intimates.
Here’s our recommended step-by-step process for washing lingerie:
- Fill a sink with lukewarm water.
- Add in a small amount of alcohol-free detergent – we like using Woolite Delicates.
- Let your piece(s) soak in the water for about 10-15 minutes.
- After soaking, gently swirl your delicates around. No wringing or scrubbing required.
- Rinse thoroughly in cool water.
- If you only need to spot clean: Lightly dab the stain with a cotton towel dipped in warm water and a bit of detergent. Gently rub the spot till the stain lifts and repeat if needed.
Life gets busy – we totally understand. So, If you absolutely have to toss your delicates in the washing machine, here’s some lingerie care advice to help ensure your precious pieces come out unscathed:
- Spot-clean your pieces first using our tips from above.
- Place your lingerie in a special lingerie wash bag to keep the pieces separate from other clothing and protect them from rubbing or snagging while washing.
- Wash similar colored items together.
- Again, use alcohol-free detergent.
- Set the machine on a delicate wash cycle.
PROTIP: Close hooks and secure fasteners before washing (hand or machine wash) to avoid snags and tears.
Lingerie Drying: Air–Dry, Not Fry
When it comes to lingerie care, drying your lingerie is the moment where patience truly pays off.
Do not, we repeat do not, throw your lingerie in the dryer!
The heat can be too intense for delicate fabrics, leading to misshapen bras, wilted lace, and singed satin. Air drying is your best bet to keep your favorites in pristine condition.
Once you’ve washed your lingerie, here’s what to do for optimal lingerie care:
- Ever so gently, squeeze out any excess water from the garment – no twisting.
- Lay the lingerie on a clean, dry towel.
- Roll your garment up in the towel sushi-style to squeeze out the last bit of water.
- To finish drying, you can lay your pieces flat on a dry towel, place them on a drying rack, or hang them up. If you choose to hang them, be sure to center the garment to help maintain its shape. Note: It may take a few hours for them to fully dry.
PROTIP: If short on time and have to use a dryer, try this trick: place your lingerie in a mesh bag and use the lowest heat setting. This can help minimize damage to the fabric and protect the garment's elastic.
Lingerie Storage Secrets
Once your delicates are clean and dry, it’s time to master the lingerie care basics of proper storage; this will ensure they’re always ready when you are.
If possible, it's ideal to have a dedicated drawer or space just for your lingerie. Delicate fabrics like satin and lace need room to breathe between uses.
Here are Mentionables’ top lingerie care tips for storing your cherished pieces:
- Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
- For bras: They need to be laid out flat with the cups facing up. This keeps them in shape and prevents any weird creases or dents. If space is tight, you can stack them, but make sure to align the cups correctly. Also, fasten the clasps first before placing them in the drawer so nothing snags on the hooks.
- For panties: Fold them neatly and lay pairs on top of each other. Or, if you’re feeling extra fancy, roll them up and arrange them by color or style with dividers.
- For larger pieces like slips, teddies, and babydolls: Fold in straps and bows. Then fold the lingerie into thirds. If it’s a longer piece, fold it in ½ first and then into thirds. Finally, roll up the entire piece tightly.
Organizing your drawers in this way not only keeps it looking beautiful, but it’ll also make it easier to find your favorite lingerie in a hurry.
PROTIP: For an added touch of luxury, consider slipping a scented sachet into your lingerie drawer for a fresh, sensual aroma every time you open it.
Lingerie Travel Smarts
Heading off on a romantic getaway and planning to pack some sexy nighttime pieces? Instead of cramming your lingerie into the nooks and crannies of your suitcase, let us show you the best way to pack with lingerie care in mind for a smooth and stylish trip:
- Store your lingerie separately from the rest of your clothing in lingerie bags (like our Mentionables mauve or black bags), zippered pockets, mesh compartments in the suitcase, packing cubes, or toiletry bags.
- Don’t pack too tightly to avoid wrinkles and let fabrics air out.
- Pack your delicates last, placing them on the topmost layer in your suitcase. To save space, you can also fold or roll them.
PROTIP: Bring an extra bag to store dirty intimates and travel-sized detergent. This will allow you to hand wash lingerie in the hotel sink and air dry in the bathroom.
Lingerie Lifesavers: Bonus Tips
Finally, we have a few bonus insider lingerie care tips to share, just between friends.
Wonder how to discreetly store your intimate pieces? Here’s a few sneaky but practical ideas:
- A storage basket box with a lock.
- Opaque packing bags.
- Or storage bins like these.
Concerned about pulling out your beautiful satin slips and babydolls only to find them wrinkled, especially while traveling? We have a few tricks to help you smooth out those pesky creases, even on the go:
- Iron: First, set your iron to its lowest setting. Once it's warm, turn your garment inside out, place a thin cotton towel over it, and pass over with the iron until it’s wrinkle-free.
- Steam: Hang your lingerie on a hanger and keep the steamer a few inches away from the fabric as you move it up and down over the wrinkled areas. Let your lingerie air-dry on the hanger. Make sure to fill your steamer with distilled water to prevent clogging in the steamer nozzle from tap water minerals.
- Hair dryer: Fill a spray bottle with water and turn your lingerie inside out. Hang it up and spritz thoroughly. Set your hair dryer to the lowest setting and gently pass it over the garment until the wrinkles disappear and the fabric is dry.
- Hang in the bathroom during a long, hot shower – Don’t let a long, steamy shower go to waste. Hang your wrinkled item up in the bathroom while you scrub up and let the steam do the work for you. Keep the door closed while showering and steam for at least 20 minutes or longer. Use a clean cotton cloth to help get rid of any remaining wrinkles.
Would you rather hang your lingerie collection in your closet? We’ve got some suggestions that would make even Marie Kondo proud:
- Try a tiered bra hanger like this one.
- Or utilize your partner’s tie rack,
- Or you can get crafty with our shoe organizer DIY idea.
PROTIP: Rotate your lingerie. Just like your favorite shoes, lingerie needs a break between uses. Wearing a variety of bras and panties regularly gives them time to rest and return to their original shape.
Ready to Upgrade Your Lingerie Game?
Now that you're equipped with all the expert lingerie care tips, it's the perfect time to treat yourself to some new pieces, like from our latest stunning fall collection, "A Regal Affair." Whether you’re looking for something lacy and bold or soft and romantic, Mentionables has the perfect addition to your collection.
So go ahead, indulge yourself, and make every day a little more special with lingerie that loves you back.
With these lingerie care tips, your “unmentionables” will stay beautiful, and you’ll feel fabulous every time you slip them on!
Did we miss anything? If you have any other lingerie care questions or concerns, drop them below!
Leave a comment