Lingerie fails in predictable ways: stretched elastane, snagged mesh, broken hooks and hosiery that has been through the wrong wash. A five-minute routine prevents most of it.
Before the wash
Close every hook and zip. Remove detachable straps, pads and accessories. Check pockets and the laundry bag for earrings or hair clips. Turn printed or embroidered pieces inside out.
Washing
Hand wash in cool water with a mild detergent. If you use a machine, put each piece in its own mesh bag, choose a delicate cycle at 30°C or lower, and use a low spin. Never mix hosiery with hooks, zips or underwires.
Do not use chlorine bleach. Do not use fabric softener: it coats the fibres and reduces stretch. If a piece is heavily soiled, soak it for ten minutes rather than scrubbing the lace.
Drying
Press water out with a clean towel; do not wring or twist. Dry flat on a towel or hang from a padded hanger, away from direct sun and radiators. Hosiery dries quickly and should never go in a tumble dryer.
Storage
Fold cups gently and stack flat. Do not hang a bra by one strap. Keep lace away from rough drawer edges and store hosiery separately from anything with hooks. A cotton dust bag is enough for a set you wear occasionally.
When to retire a piece
Replace a bra when the band no longer stays level, the underwire pokes through, or the cups have lost their shape. Replace hosiery at the first ladder. A piece that has lost its stretch will not improve with washing.
More guides
- How to find your sizeMeasure once, order with confidence. A practical guide to bust, underbust, waist and hip.
- Lace, mesh and satinWhat the three main fabrics in the index actually feel like, and how to look after them.
- A practical guide to roleplay costumesHow costume sizing works, what to expect from a set, and how to style it without overdoing it.