How to Care for Lingerie: Washing Lace, Satin and Mesh So It Lasts
Beautiful lingerie deserves a long life. Yet lace, mesh and satin are among the most delicate fabrics you own, and one careless spin in the washing machine can turn an elegant babydoll into a tangle of pulled threads and misshapen cups. The good news is that caring for lingerie properly takes less than ten minutes and no special equipment. Here's how to wash, dry, store and repair lace, mesh and satin so they look as lovely on the fiftieth wear as the first.
Why lingerie needs special care
Most modern lace lingerie, including our own, is made from fine polyester and elastane blends. These fibres are soft and stretchy, but they're vulnerable to three things: heat, friction and snagging. Hot water and tumble dryers break down elastane, which is what makes lace lose its stretch and shape. Friction from a machine drum rubs the raised lace pattern flat. And open-weave mesh catches on zips, hooks and Velcro from other garments, causing pulls and tears. Every step below is a way of avoiding those three.
How to hand wash lace lingerie, step by step
- Fill a basin with cool water, lukewarm at most. Around 30°C or below protects both the fibres and the colour.
- Add a small amount of gentle detergent. A teaspoon of delicates wash or a mild, non-bio liquid is plenty. Avoid bleach and fabric softener, which coats and stiffens lace over time.
- Submerge and swish the garment gently for two to three minutes. Let it soak for ten minutes if it needs freshening. Never scrub, twist or rub lace against itself.
- Rinse in clean, cool water until the water runs clear of suds.
- Press, don't wring. Squeeze the water out gently between your palms, or press the garment against the side of the basin. Wringing is the fastest way to stretch lace out of shape.
Undo any suspender clips and loosen ribbon lacing before washing, so nothing catches on the delicate mesh.
Can you machine wash lace?
We recommend hand washing for lace and mesh: it's what the care labels on our pieces specify, and it's the only method that avoids damage. If you must machine wash a sturdier lace item, reduce the risk with a zipped mesh laundry bag, a delicates cycle at 30°C or colder, a low spin, and no items with hooks or zips in the same load. For underwired babydolls, stockings and anything with satin ribbons, stick to the basin.
Stockings should always be washed by hand. One rough fingernail or drum snag is all it takes to ladder them, so remove rings before washing.
How to wash satin nightwear
Satin is tougher than lace but marks and loses its sheen if it's handled roughly. Hand wash in cool water with a mild detergent, or use a cold delicates cycle inside a laundry bag for plain satin without lace trim. Turn it inside out first to protect the shiny face. Don't wring it; roll it in a towel instead, then hang it on a padded hanger to dry, out of direct sun. If it needs pressing, use a cool iron on the reverse, or steam it. Our satin chemise guide covers fit and styling too.
How to dry lingerie without damaging it
Never tumble dry lingerie: heat is elastane's worst enemy. Lay lace and mesh flat on a clean, dry towel, gently reshape the cups and skirt, then roll the towel loosely to absorb excess water. Unroll and leave the piece to finish drying flat, away from radiators and direct sunlight, which fades delicate pinks and creams. Underwired pieces should always dry flat rather than on a hanger, because the weight of wet fabric can distort the cups. Lace dries quickly, usually overnight, so you can wash a set the evening before you plan to wear it.
Storing lingerie properly
Storage is where most snags happen. Keep lace pieces folded flat in a drawer, separated from everyday underwear by a divider or kept in the pouch they arrived in. Tie ribbon lacing and fasten suspender clips loosely before folding so they can't catch on the mesh. Keep underwired and structured pieces in their natural cup shape rather than flattened. If you're storing a special set long term, such as bridal lingerie for the honeymoon, wrap it in acid-free tissue paper and keep it somewhere cool and dry. Fold stockings rather than balling them, and keep them away from Velcro, jewellery and rough edges.
Rotate your pieces
Wearing the same piece two days in a row doesn't give elastic fibres time to recover. Rotating between a few favourites, rather than relying on one or two sets, noticeably extends the life of each piece.
Treat marks early
Blot, don't rub, any marks as soon as you notice them, and hand wash as soon as you can rather than letting anything set in. For make-up or deodorant marks, dab with cool water and a drop of mild detergent before washing.
Quick fixes for snags and pulls
Caught a thread? Don't cut it, because that can unravel the weave. Turn the garment inside out and use a fine crochet hook or needle to pull the snagged loop through to the inside, then smooth the lace flat from the outside. Small holes in mesh can be stabilised with a few tiny stitches in matching thread before they grow.
The golden rules
Wash cool, wash gently, never wring, never tumble dry, and store snag-safe. That's the whole secret to lingerie that lasts for years.
Lingerie care FAQs
How do you wash lace lingerie?
Hand wash it in cool water, around 30°C or below, with a small amount of gentle detergent. Swish it for two to three minutes, rinse in clean cool water, press the water out without wringing, and dry it flat.
Can you put lingerie in the washing machine?
Hand washing is safest for lace and mesh. If you must use a machine, put the item in a zipped mesh laundry bag on a cold delicates cycle with a low spin, and keep it away from anything with hooks or zips.
Can you tumble dry lingerie?
No. Heat breaks down elastane and makes lace lose its stretch and shape. Dry lace and mesh flat on a towel, away from radiators and direct sunlight.
How do you wash a satin nightdress?
Turn it inside out and hand wash it in cool water with a mild detergent, or use a cold delicates cycle in a laundry bag if it has no lace trim. Roll it in a towel to remove water, then hang it on a padded hanger to dry.
How should I store lace lingerie?
Fold it flat in a drawer, away from zips, hooks and Velcro, with ribbons tied and suspender clips fastened. Keep underwired cups in shape, and wrap special pieces in acid-free tissue for long-term storage.
How do I fix a snag in lace?
Don't cut the thread. Turn the garment inside out and gently pull the snagged loop through to the inside with a fine crochet hook or needle, then smooth the lace flat.
Treat your lingerie well from day one
All Laven & Ivory pieces come with care instructions, and every set rewards gentle handling, from the Pink Floral Lace Babydoll 5 Piece Set to our satin nighties and lace bodysuits. New to babydolls? Read our babydoll lingerie guide next.
Laven & Ivory is a UK lingerie and nightwear brand offering elegant, affordable pieces in UK sizes, with free UK delivery and discreet packaging.
