Keeping Your Skivvies Clean

We often talk about bra care - but bras are not your only lingerie! There are all those other sweet nothings, like panties, camisoles, slips, stockings and pantyhose.

All these inner garments deserve some love and attention when you decide to give them a wash - and in most cases, the washing machine on regular cycle just will not do!

Aside from the benefits of feeling fresh, keeping our underwear clean means that the garments tend to last longer, and in better shape. Stains tend to set if ignored; worn-in dirt and oils from our skins will make our garments look old, even if they are not.

This isn’t just for the women either: men also wear underwear and even these garments also need some attention.

Here are some tips to ensure that your skivvies are not only clean and fresh, but well taken care of:

1. If you are going to use the gentle cycle on your washer (or even for hand washing), make sure that the bra hooks are done up. This way, if you have more than one garment in the water, the hooks will not catch on something and cause damage.
2. Don’t forget to sort your lingerie! Colored items need to be washed separately from white items. Yes, even the dyes used in lingerie can run.
3. Check for staining. If you have heavy or challenging stains like blood, simple tricks can help. Soaking the garment in some cold salt water can help, just leave the garments or soiled area in the soaking water for a few minutes. Blood remnants that remain can be helped out with ordinary white vinegar or a few drops of hydrogen peroxide. Be careful when using these cleaners as they can also remove color.
4. Hand washing is usually best. Use cold water and a mild detergent. Cold water is better for lingerie so that you protect the elastic fibers in the garment that give it shape.
5. Hot water is particularly hard on many of the types of special fabrics in undergarments. Mild detergents that are skin friendly are critical, as these garments will be right against the skin. You don’t necessarily need specialized lingerie wash, but this can be a good choice. Keep in mind that if the detergent is harsh, the skin is more likely to be irritated, especially in sensitive areas like nipples. Whatever you use to clean your undies, rinse well to remove the cleanser.
6. Squeeze garments to remove excess water - do not wring!
7. Hang lingerie items to dry. If you are concerned about bleaching or discoloration from the sun, hang garments inside.

Source: Monitor Online