Underwear is closer to the body than an undershirt, so it loses its freshness even faster. In order to keep your favorite bras and panties attractive and not stretched in the fight for cleanliness and a pleasant smell, follow a number of simple recommendations on how to wash underwear.
By hand or trust the typewriter?
The biggest damage to underwear is not even washing in the drum of the washing machine, where it can get tangled with other things and deformed, but spinning at high speeds. The lace tears from such loads, and the elastane fibers lose elasticity, which sadly affects the appearance of the underwear. Therefore, it is not recommended to wash delicate fabrics and things in a washing machine.
If there is no way without a machine, wash underwear in compliance with hygiene standards (no socks and heavily soiled everyday items), using special bags for bras or spheres with perforated walls and hemispheres inside to maintain the shape of the cups.
It is better not to resort to the possibility of mechanical spinning: excessive loads are not only harmful to delicate fabrics, but can also cause the bra bone to fall into the drum of the machine.
If you decide to wash by hand, be gentle with the fabric. When washing by hand, you want to use a brush to better wash off traces of sweat and to clean the area above the “bones” more deeply. However, the hard tips of the brush will instantly damage the surface of the delicate fabric and the item will look very worn. It is better to use a clean, soft sponge and carefully walk over particularly dirty places.
Washing tips
“Yes” separation by colors:
- Return underwear to underwear strictly in the company of things of the same color. And take into account the dirtiness of the neighbors in the pelvis or tank of the washing machine: things gray with dust, even if they are white in themselves, can cause an unpleasant shade to appear in a previously snow-white bra or panties, which will be difficult to remove.
- Dark products can be washed in the same water, if it is clear that even slightly stained water will not affect the final color of the items.
What do you need to know about the effect of hot water on the fabric of underwear?
- Exceeding the limit of 40 degrees will worsen the condition of polyurethane fibers. Things of not the highest quality will begin to hang on the body after the first such treatment, more expensive things will withstand several such barbaric washes. But even after the first white elastic lace can acquire the color of raw rubber – you can get rid of the ivory shade only with the help of chlorine bleach. But he also “finishes” the thing, turning it into a miserable rag.
- Artificial silk is designed for cleaning strictly in cold water, natural silk will NOT fade if the higher temperature limit does not exceed 35 degrees.
- The optimal temperature for cotton white and colored underwear is 40 degrees, but if you really need it, you can use water heated to 60 for light underwear.
Following the recommendations on the item tag will save you from unpleasant surprises after washing.
What to wash
- Ordinary powder or gel. Before immersing things in water, make sure that the auxiliary components of the product have dissolved in water and their colored granules will NOT color the fabric. If you are allergic to chemicals with strong aromas, washing in water with ordinary gray soap will help refresh your underwear, and a pleasant aroma will ensure that you store things in a drawer with scented soap or a bottle of used perfume.
- The white color will help to return the soap to remove stains. After thorough soaping, it is enough to hold the thing in the resulting foam for a quarter of an hour so that sweat and dust lag behind the fabric.
- Chlorine-free bleaches can be safely used when washing panties and bras without supporting metal inserts. The latter, if made of low-quality material, can provoke the appearance of rust spots on the fabric. If you are not afraid to experiment, you are sure of the honesty of the underwear manufacturer, then even in this case, do not leave things in the solution for longer than a quarter of an hour.
- Self-prepared bleach copes with traces of sweat and dust no worse than the factory one. To prepare the mixture, you need: a teaspoon of gel for dishes, 2 tbsp. l. ordinary baking soda and the same amount of fresh hydrogen peroxide. The last factor is important: in the old solution, the concentration is weaker and the substances in it are less active. Mix the components, apply to the problem area and wait 10 minutes. Wash off the mixture, wash the thing in the usual way.
The nuances of drying
Protect panties and bras from direct sunlight. By hanging underwear under bright rays, you can get either completely faded products, or only half faded – the attractive color will remain only in the part that was in the shade.
If the bras are well pressed, they can be dried by throwing them over a clothesline and securing them with a clothespin to the bridge between the cups.
It is better to dry silk and synthetic products on a towel – clothespins leave dents on very delicate fabrics.