Lingerie is an investment. Delicate lace, fine satin, and stretch mesh are not built for the rough-and-tumble of a regular machine wash cycle — but with the right care habits, your pieces can look and feel beautiful for years.
This guide covers everything: how to wash, dry, and store your lingerie properly, whether you're caring for an everyday bra or a special-occasion corset.
Always Check the Label First
Before anything else, check the care label. Every garment is different — some lace can tolerate a gentle machine cycle, while others are hand-wash only. When in doubt, always default to the more cautious option.
How to Hand Wash Lingerie
Hand washing is the safest method for almost all lingerie. It takes less than five minutes and extends the life of your pieces significantly.
- Fill a basin with cool or lukewarm water. Hot water breaks down elastic fibres and can cause lace to shrink or distort.
- Add a small amount of gentle lingerie wash or mild soap. A teaspoon is usually enough for a full basin. Avoid regular laundry detergent — it's too harsh.
- Submerge the garment and swirl gently. Don't scrub, wring, or twist. Let the soapy water do the work.
- Rinse thoroughly with clean, cool water. Residual detergent left in the fabric can cause irritation and break down fibres over time.
- Press out excess water gently. Wrap the piece in a clean towel and press — never wring.
Can You Machine Wash Lingerie?
Some sturdier pieces — certain cotton briefs, seamless bodysuits, and padded bras — can tolerate machine washing if you follow these precautions:
- Use a mesh laundry bag. This protects hooks, clasps, and delicate fabric from catching on other items.
- Select a delicate or hand-wash cycle with cold water.
- Use a lingerie-specific or gentle detergent.
- Never wash lingerie with denim, towels, or anything with zips or hooks that aren't enclosed.
Never machine wash: underwired bras (the wire can break and damage the drum), corsets, heavily structured pieces, or anything with fine embellishments.
Drying Your Lingerie
The tumble dryer is the enemy of lingerie. Heat destroys elastic, causes shrinkage, and degrades delicate fabric. Always air dry.
- Bras: Reshape the cups by hand and lay flat on a clean towel, or hang from the centre gore (the bridge between the cups) — never from the straps, which can stretch under the weight.
- Briefs and thongs: Hang or lay flat. Avoid direct sunlight, which can fade colours and weaken fibres.
- Corsets and structured pieces: Lay flat on a towel away from heat sources. Never hang a wet corset — the weight can distort the boning.
How to Store Lingerie
Proper storage keeps your pieces in shape between wears. A few simple habits make a real difference.
- Bras: Stack cups inside one another or lay them flat in a drawer. Folding a bra in half and tucking one cup inside the other distorts the cup shape over time.
- Lace and delicate pieces: Store flat or loosely folded in a dedicated drawer. Avoid compressing them under heavier items.
- Corsets: Unlace fully and store flat. Some people use acid-free tissue paper inside structured bodices to help them hold their shape.
How Often Should You Wash Lingerie?
Bras can generally be worn two to three times before washing — unless you've been active or it's warm weather. Washing too frequently actually accelerates wear. Briefs and thongs should be washed after every wear.
Owning several bras and rotating them also helps — a bra's elastic needs 24-48 hours to recover between wears.
One Final Note
None of this has to be complicated. A quick hand wash after a few wears, air drying away from heat, and a little thought about storage is genuinely all it takes to keep your lingerie looking its best for years.
Shop our full range of lingerie, bodysuits, and sleepwear — all designed to be cherished, not replaced.