The great thing about panties, intimates, undies or knickers is their anonymity. If you are shy about showing your sexy, sassy, boldly confident self in your outerwear you can always express yourself through your inner-wear! Whether it’s a sexy G-string or our most comfortable briefs our drawers are stacked and we love them all.
So when we’re tossing them into the machine with our workout clothing, jeans etc…we should stop and think if this is the best way to keep our friends around. We all know that sinking feeling that comes when you pull your laundry from the wash and there is a bleach stain on your favorite panty. Or they are tangled in the machine or attached to the machine. Yikes!
So, the big question is, how do we clean our underwear so that they have a longer life? Our intimates, even the ones we wear on our coziest couch days, are delicate and need a lot of TLC during washing. Here are some simple tips for washing your panties so that they can retain their quality, look and last for a long time.
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Separate them by color
This is the basic rule of cleaning underwear - you can’t just dump them all together. Instead, you need to separate them by color. If you’re lazy, at least separate them into light and dark colors.
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Hand wash them
It’s best to hand wash your underwear. All you need to do is use your sink to clean your delicate darlings with your own hands. This is because the process of machine wash can be quite harsh for the soft fabric of the underwear.
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Check the settings for machine wash
If you’ve decided you’re not going to hand wash your underwear, at least make sure to check the settings. Wash them on a gentle cycle.
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Use laundry bags
Put your underwear in mesh bags and then wash them, especially if you’re planning on machine washing them. This will protect them from getting tangled, and will also save them from all the harshness of the washing process.
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Wash separately
Whether you’re machine washing your underwear or not, you should make it a point to clean them separately from other pieces of clothing, even your other lingerie.
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Use mild detergent
Always use a mild detergent when washing your underwear.
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Try enzymatic laundry stain remover
There are plenty of stain removers available in the market. These are gentle enough not to harm the fibers of the fabric. Just soak your underwear in them before cleaning.
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Try home remedies
You can also make a grainy paste with baking soda or aspirin and apply it on the stained areas. You can use lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide on light-colored fabrics. Table salt is a good way to get rid of oil stains.
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Use cold water
Contrary to popular belief, warm water does not help in cleaning fabric. Instead, it makes stains set. Use cold water instead to wash your underwear.
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Air dry them
Do not machine dry the underwear. While the fabric can still handle gentle cycle washing, it cannot survive machine drying. Your precious itsy-bitsies will be completely stretched and destroyed. Do not iron them, either. Air dry them by spreading them out on a flat surface. It’s best to avoid hanging them, as well. Also avoid direct sunlight, as it can degrade the shape of the underwear and change the color.
So now you know how to take proper care of your underwear. Most of these rules also apply to bras, shape wear, etc. Just treat them like the expensive babies that they are, and they will last for a really long time!