Washing lingerie: How to protect your delicate lingerie

Hand wash for delicate lingerie & bras with appliqués

The gentlest way to wash your lingerie and preserve its beauty is to wash it by hand. Delicate fabrics like lace, spandex and silk in particular can lose their shape or even be damaged if washed too intensively – especially if they are washed at excessively high speeds or temperatures in the washing machine. 

Gentle hand washing is also recommended for bras and briefs with embellishments, appliqués and delicate lace trims. This will keep your lingerie soft and supple while it retains its perfect fit and luxurious lustre. 

Preparation: Sorting laundry & removing accessories 

Careful preparation is important before washing your underwear: Sort your lingerie by colour and material to avoid discolouration and damage to fine fibres. Remove all detachable accessories like chains or ribbons and close the bra hooks so that they don’t get caught in the delicate lace or fine fabrics of other lingerie.

Hand wash for delicate lingerie: How to proceed

On the one hand, gentle hand washing ensures that your elegant lingerie retains its shape and colour. On the other hand, your favourite luxurious items should also be hygienically clean again after wearing. With our step-by-step guide, nothing can go wrong if you want to wash your lingerie by hand: 

1. Fill a basin with lukewarm water (maximum 30 °C). 
2. Add a mild detergent for delicate materials. It is gentle on the fibres and prevents colour loss. 
3. Place the lingerie in the water and leave it to soak for a few minutes. 
4. Gently massage the detergent into the material and gently press your lingerie down again and again. Avoid vigorous rubbing or wringing so as not to stress the fibres. 
5. Rinse the lingerie thoroughly with cold, clear water to remove all detergent residues. 

Drying lace lingerie & bras correctly

After washing comes drying – a crucial step in keeping your lingerie in shape. Do not wring out the wet lingerie, but carefully squeeze out the excess water in a clean towel after washing. Now you can hang your underwear on the line as usual. 

With bras, you can smooth out any creases and deformations by gently running your fingers along the cups and straps. If you want to be on the safe side, you can also dry bras lying on a towel instead of on the line so that they gently mould back into their original shape. This way, your bra will lie smoothly against your décolleté even after drying. 

Washing luxury lingerie in the washing machine?

Although hand washing is always the preferred method for very delicate lingerie, washing in the washing machine is also possible – provided you know how. In general, gentle machine washing is possible as long as the washing machine is set correctly and the lingerie is properly protected. Always follow the care instructions on the label of your lingerie. 

Here are our 5 tips for gentle washing machine care: 

Tip 1: Wash fine lingerie separately

Always wash your lingerie separately from other items of clothing. This will prevent chafing, which is mainly caused by firmer items of clothing like towels or jeans. Lace lingerie is particularly susceptible to snagging on zips or buttons on other items of clothing, which can lead to damage. To avoid damage caused by bra hooks, follow out next tip.

Tip 2: Close bras & use laundry nets

Close all bras and place your lingerie in a laundry net to protect it from direct contact with the drum and other textiles. A laundry net reduces friction and protects the delicate fabrics from damage. If you don’t have a laundry net or laundry bag to hand, you can also use a thin pillowcase.

Tip 3: Low temperatures & revolutions

Set your washing machine to the delicate cycle and select a low washing temperature of no more than 30 °C. Avoid the spin cycle or select the lowest possible speed of 600 revolutions per minute to prevent deformations and material fatigue. To ensure that your lingerie loses all its moisture, it’s better to leave it to air dry for a little longer.

Tip 4: The right detergent for delicate laundry

For delicate lingerie, we recommend special mild detergents that do not contain aggressive chemicals or bleaching agents. Also avoid fabric softeners, as they can damage the fibres. This is particularly the case with materials containing elastane.

Tip 5: How cup bras keep their shape after washing

After washing, you can gently shape your bras and make sure they look like new by hand. If you often have the problem of misshapen cups, you can lay the cup bras on a towel to dry and alsosmooth the cups back into their original shape. This helps to maintain the structure and perfect fit of the bra.

The best lingerie care tips summarised

To preserve the beauty and elegance of your delicate lingerie, it deserves gentle care. Hand washing is ideal for very delicate materials like lace or silk and is a particularly gentle alternative to machine washing. Make sure you prepare it correctly and dry it gently without wringing it out too much. 

However, if you don’t want to go to the trouble, you can also wash your lingerie in the washing machine. Always use a mild detergent, low temperature and a laundry net to protect the materials. Fabric softeners and tumble drying are always taboo for your lingerie. 

With these care tips, you ensure that your luxurious lingerie with lace, silk inserts and appliqués will still feel as good as on the first day, even after many washes.