Underwear, like some other items of clothing (swimwear, sportswear...), requires special care. To ensure maximum service life of children's, women's and men's underwear and its appropriate quality, it is necessary to follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Let's see how to wash underwear, remove yellow stains and other dirt.
How to remove stubborn stains
Blood
- Rub the stained area with laundry soap, scrub and rinse.
- Apply stain remover for colored or white fabrics, leave for 5-10 minutes, rinse.
- Apply a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution to the stain, leave for 5–10 minutes, and rinse.
After removing blood stains, the laundry should be washed in cold water, dried and ironed.
Brown and yellow spots
We have a separate article on how to remove yellow and brown stains from panties.
We'll tell you briefly here.
- Thoroughly wash the area of contamination with laundry soap, rub it with your hands, and wash as usual.
- Mix soda or salt with a small amount of water to a thick paste. Apply the mixture to the stain for 10-15 minutes and then wash.
How and what to wash in a washing machine
Manufacturers of the intimate part of women's wardrobe recommend washing clothes exclusively by hand, but if there is absolutely no time for washing, then you can use an automatic washing machine, you just need to know the features of the procedure:
- Sorting laundry by color and material is a mandatory procedure that will protect items from staining and deformation.
- For hygienic reasons, panties and bras should be washed separately from other underwear.
- To thoroughly remove stains and rinse things, you should choose soft detergents recommended for use in a washing machine.
- Washing powders and other laundry detergents containing bleaching particles may only be used for washing white laundry.
- It is necessary to follow the dosage instructions for the detergent, since the chemical compounds contained in large quantities can ruin any item.
Washing mode
When washing clothes in an automatic machine, you should select the delicate or hand wash mode at a low water temperature - from 30 to 40 degrees. It is best to use special laundry bags so that metal fasteners and decorative elements do not damage other products. There are special devices for washing bras, which are a round container with holes. When using it, the straps of the product will not stretch, the bones will not damage the fabric, and the product will not lose its shape when wrung out.
We recommend:
Washing kitchen towels with vegetable oil and soda
It is recommended to treat heavily soiled areas with special compounds to gently remove stains and only then place them in the drum of the washing machine.
Note! Blood stains should be washed in cold water immediately, as ingrained blood stains are very difficult to get rid of.
Features of washing clothes from different materials
Cotton
Cotton linen is quite unpretentious. It can withstand washing in the washing machine and by hand.
White cotton panties can be washed at a maximum temperature of 90 °C, and colored ones - 60 °C.
Silk
It is recommended to wash silk fabrics by hand in moderately warm water.
- Rub the stained areas with a solution of washing powder.
- Rinse the product and squeeze lightly.
Synthetics
Synthetic laundry can be washed by hand or in a washing machine on the synthetic cycle.
The water temperature should not exceed 30 °C.
Lace
It is advisable to wash lace underwear by hand.
- Dilute the powder in water at a temperature of 30 °C.
- Soak the product for 10–15 minutes.
- Rub areas of particular contamination.
- Rinse the item with cold water.
- Squeeze lightly and dry.
Rules for caring for underwear
Women's underwear is sewn from different materials: cotton, silk, synthetics, and each type of fabric requires special care.
General recommendations:
- It is necessary to wash the item before first use.
- You should not wear your laundry, as stubborn stains will be much more difficult to remove.
- You need to wash your laundry immediately, without putting it off until later, as traces of sweat and dirt eat into the material and are difficult to clean.
- It is important to follow the recommendations for the care and washing of women's underwear indicated on the product label.
- It is optimal to sort items before washing, dividing them by color and type of fabric.
- When washing items in an automatic machine, do not fill the drum more than halfway. This will rinse the detergent better and reduce the risk of irritation when the laundry comes into contact with the skin.
- Drying is just as important as washing your underwear properly. If you follow the drying conditions of the product, it will not deform and will retain its original appearance.
Caring for cotton products
Cotton bra and panties can be machine washed without worry. Cotton fiber holds its shape perfectly, does not stretch or fade. You need to know at what temperature to wash your panties and bra. White linen can be safely washed at a temperature of 90 degrees Celsius, and the water temperature for washing colored cotton items should not exceed 40 degrees. Proper drying is no less important to preserve the appearance and quality of linen made from natural fabrics. Cotton items can be hung to dry in a vertical position.
Note! It is highly inadvisable to machine wash cotton bras with underwire. You just need to soak the product in warm soapy water, gently wash it by hand, rinse, wring out and hang to dry.
Washing and drying synthetic and silk laundry
Silk and synthetic panties and bras are best washed by hand without much effort. It is necessary to soak things in a weak soap solution, lightly rub the dirty areas and rinse in clean water. You should wring out the laundry carefully, without twisting it. The water temperature for washing synthetics and natural silk should be between 30–40 degrees Celsius. To dry your laundry without damaging its appearance and shape, you just need to lay it out on a towel in a horizontal position.
Note! Do not use aggressive bleaches or stain removers on items made from delicate materials to avoid damaging the fiber structure.
Lace underwear: washing and care
Lace products require special care and respect. They should be washed in cold water with a mild detergent, without pre-soaking. You should not wring out lace underwear; just hold it over a bowl of water, and when the water has drained, lay it out on a soft towel to dry. For washing, it is better to use liquid detergents, as they are well rinsed out of fabric fibers without affecting their color, quality and properties. Powder grains are difficult to rinse out of lace and can cause skin irritation when wearing underwear.
Note! It is not recommended to bleach items with lace. The aggressive effects of bleaching and stain-removing agents can irreversibly destroy the fibers of the material and the item will lose its attractiveness.
Washing the bra
The best rule is to wash bras in special washing containers (mesh, bags, boxes or balls).
They will retain the shape of the linen, prevent the bone from tearing the cup, and will not bend the metal parts of the linen (bones, hooks, loops).
If there is nothing similar, even a small pillowcase will do, in which you need to put the laundry before loading it into the washing machine.
If your intimate wardrobe items are made of cotton, without thick foam cups and underwires, you can use a washing machine, dividing the laundry by color.
All delicate bras with wires, lace, and breast support systems are best washed by hand.
Regarding spinning and drying, you must adhere to the recommendations for synthetic materials - all actions are as gentle as possible.
The safest way to dry a bra is on a horizontal surface, but if you dry it on a line, hanging it by a strap or strap, you can ruin its shape.
Why do we need a bag?
Bags for washing underwear are practical and useful devices.
Their use will allow:
- Preserve the underwear itself without damage or stretching.
- Avoid accidental loss of small parts (beads, hooks, etc.) that are a functional or decorative part of women's underwear.
- Prevent damage to the washing machine from laundry items.
The bags are different:
- design;
- material;
- size of cells;
- presence/absence of stiffeners;
- closing system.
For washing bras, models that hold their shape (have stiffening ribs) and are compact in size are better suited - this will prevent the underwear from dangling and stretching in the drum.
The mesh bag should be:
- quality;
- neatly made;
- have a convenient size;
- have a zipper lock.
If the machine is supposed to wash several items of laundry at once, then there should also be several bags. You can purchase such devices on the Internet, as well as in stores that specialize in selling household goods and household chemicals.
It is advisable to choose a small mesh size . This makes it more reliable.
Features of ironing and drying
The drying process of products will depend on their type. To prevent damage to intimate items of clothing, carefully read the acceptable methods:
- corsets, bodices, panties and negligees made from delicate fabrics are prohibited from being placed in the dryer chamber;
- panties made of durable materials are dried by hanging on a rope;
- Exquisite linen should be laid out on a flat horizontal surface, first covered with a clean towel.
You can quickly dry lace underwear manually. Take a dry, light cloth and blot off any excess liquid.
You can iron underwear if these actions are permitted by the manufacturer.
Chemicals
Most industrial products remove stains from clothing quickly and the first time, if the stains are relatively fresh. To bleach items such as lace lingerie, choose a method according to the directions on the label and the product instructions.
Oxygen bleach
Products with active oxygen act very gently but quickly on different tissues. They can be added regularly during washing. Many stain removers also work on colored fabrics. According to reviews from housewives, Vanish and Frau Schmidt products are the most successful in refreshing the white color.
Vanish
This company has proven itself well: the results of using Vanish Oxi Action bleach are excellent in most cases. Suitable for different fabrics, but it is better to read the instructions.
The product is used sparingly: just one spoon per 3 liters of water, or one soaking.
Frau Schmidt
French bleach tablets: dissolve according to directions to restore whites to their original color. The result is achieved in 15-20 minutes - that's very fast!
White
Bleach really copes with yellowness and grayness, but its components have a negative effect on fabric fibers. Chlorine in the composition can irritate delicate skin, so housewives more often choose oxygen alternatives for washing underwear and children's underwear.
Thus, “Whiteness” for underwear is not the best solution: it can lead to thinning of the fabric and allergic reactions are possible.
Recommendations
The following tips will help you cope with washing clothes without problems
- New items should always be washed before wearing for the first time.
- It is better to wash worn linen immediately without accumulating them. This makes it easier to wash off.
- If possible, it is better to wash your underwear by hand rather than in a machine. This will extend the life of things.
- The frequency of washing clothes is determined by the intensity of wear and type. For a bra, it is advisable to wash it after two wearings, for panties, socks, tights - daily, for nightgowns - 2 times a week, for T-shirts - every other day.
You will find maximum useful information about washing clothes and various fabric products here.
Removing stains
The following methods will help remove urine stains, wash off feces (a typical stain for children's panties), remove greasy stains, and get rid of menstruation marks. They can be used so that the fabric does not turn grey.
Lemon juice
Add lemon juice to water. The solution is especially suitable for washing delicate fabrics. Leave the product soaked for 2 hours.
Lemon juice will help wash white panties, remove the gray tint, returning them to a snow-white appearance, remove blood (cold solution), remove sperm from a man’s underwear. After cleaning with lemon juice, washed panties smell pleasant.
Salt
Mix salt and lemon juice into a paste. Apply the product to problem areas (period marks, discharge, urine stains), leave for at least 30 minutes.
By the way, traces of normal discharge are also typical for Muslims who use water after each visit to the toilet.
Citrus peel
Place the peels of citrus fruits (tangerine, lemon, orange...) in a pan of water and boil. Strain the broth, add hydrogen peroxide to it. Soak clothes in the solution for 2 hours. In addition to obtaining a pleasant aroma, after soaking in orange peels, various contaminants are washed off, the laundry becomes white after washing, gets rid of grayness and yellowness.
Expert opinion
Evgenia Taran
Soaking clothes in citrus peel is recommended to eliminate the burning smell after a fire.
Vinegar
According to housewives, vinegar is the best remedy for removing yellow stains from sweat, brown marks on children's underwear, and restoring faded clothes. Due to its disinfecting properties, it is recommended to wash clothes with thrush with vinegar. Pour vinegar into warm water. Soak things in the solution and leave overnight.
Expert opinion
Natalya Osadchaya
It is also advisable to rinse new items with vinegar before wearing them.
Taking into account the material
Linen is made from various materials, each of which has its own qualities. The approach to processing will depend on these features.
Cotton
Cotton fabric is often used for sewing linen. Usually, the material chosen for underwear is thin, pleasant to the body and soft.
Very high temperatures are not suitable for washing such clothes , as this may cause the product to:
- sit down;
- fade.
Even for simple models, the sewing of which did not use lace, the water heating temperature cannot be higher than +60°C, but it is better to set it to +40°C. Bleach should only be used when necessary.
When rinsing things, the water should also not be hot . Even for laconic models without embroidery and additional decor, intense exposure is best avoided.
Silk
If the linen is made of natural silk, it should be washed by hand. Usually this restriction is indicated on the label of the item.
In cases where the manufacturer allows machine processing, water heating should be no more than +30°C, and spinning should be turned off . For silk items, it is better to choose products that are recommended for delicate fabrics.
After washing, such things are not twisted. Drying - at room temperature, avoiding overdrying, to make it easier to iron the item.
Synthetics, viscose
Viscose, like most types of fabrics for sewing underwear, requires gentle treatment and low water heating rates.
It is advisable to choose a washing powder from those intended for delicate materials . It is advisable to wash thin synthetics by hand in non-hot water.
Handwash
Washing delicate items by hand is the best option. To prevent underwear from losing its properties and qualities, you must know how to properly wash panties and bras. It is recommended to wash items immediately, and if the item is not worn or heavily soiled, then just rinse it in soapy water. Some manufacturers recommend using regular hair shampoo without additives and conditioners for washing underwear. Laundry soap 72% is suitable for cleaning contaminated areas.
Note! In no case is it recommended to add aggressive compounds to the washing water, much less boil products made from synthetic, silk fibers and lace.
To know how to wash panties by hand, you must follow the recommendations provided by the manufacturer on the product tag. The rules for caring for underwear are simple and clear, and if you follow them, your favorite sets will last for a long time.
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Manual processing
Hand washing clothes is the best option. Despite the labor intensity, it allows you to wash carefully and thoroughly, keeping the entire process under control and paying attention to the necessary areas.
Procedure:
- Pour warm (not higher than +40ºС) water into a basin.
Dilute the detergent. If it is a powder, you should make sure that it is completely dissolved without lumps.- Place things in the water.
- Lather and rub the stained areas.
- Leave to lie in the basin for 15-20 minutes.
- Gently rub things without applying force.
- If the water is dirty after all the manipulations, you need to drain it and get new water, in which you can also dilute the gel or powder, and wash the laundry again.
- Rinse thoroughly.
A good rinse is very important; it must be done several times until the water is no longer soapy.
How to dry?
It is advisable to dry any laundry in natural conditions. And away from heating devices. Hang it straightened, avoiding contact with other things. How you hang your laundry depends on the type of laundry.
The bras are thrown over the rope in the middle. And they try not to use clothespins. The panties are secured with clothespins on a rope at the top edge.
It is recommended to dry silk linen in a horizontal position. Knitted too. Automatic drying is not used for underwear.
Is ironing required?
You can iron women's underwear sets only if this is permitted by the manufacturer and is indicated in the form of symbols on the label.
Mostly, cotton or linen products that are not afraid of high temperatures may need ironing. This will make them fresher and tidier after washing. It is advisable not to iron items made from other materials - nylon, silk, viscose, etc. But if such a need arises, then the procedure should be carried out carefully, from the inside out, with a slightly warm iron, without touching the seams, elastic bands and lace.
Knowing how to properly wash “intimate” wardrobe items and provide them with proper care, you can maximize their service life. At the same time, the linen will always look new, fresh and attractive, giving the owner a feeling of confidence and irresistibility.
