How To Wash Lingerie, Delicates Properly At Home Care

Read through to remember the mantra: soak, rinse, and repeat!

Soak, soak, and soak again

Don't let the time commitment of a long soak scare you off. The beauty of hand-washing your undergarments is that it requires just five minutes of actual hands-on labor.

Here's what you do: Fill a basin (a sink also works) with enough lukewarm water to fully submerge the articles. Add in your lingerie detergent, and let the items soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, gently rub any part of the bra that touches your body or becomes particularly smelly (pro tip: use a toothbrush to get out stubborn stains). Drain the basin and refill with clean water, then give the lingerie another five minutes to soak. Once that's up, lightly squeeze the garment (do not wring it out!), pop it on a dry towel, roll it up, and press softly to release any additional water. For extra softness, add a few drops of distilled white vinegar during the rinsing process.

If you must use your washing machine

Sometimes, our laziness gets the best of us. So, in the case that you do decide to resort to this method, be sure to wash your bras and undies in a mesh washing bag (bonus if it's a sustainable one), and always hook the backs to prevent snagging. Keeping your delicates protected in a bag will ensure they don't get tossed and beaten among the rest of your laundry. Once your cycle has finished, lay your lingerie flat on a drying rack or hang dry (seriously, never ever throw them in the dryer).