"Delicate" subject: who really hand washes underwear?

Peri

I've been restocking ones I like and trying a few new brands and I've noticed that things I'm trying mostly say hand wash on the label. Even the ones I like say that and I apparently just didn't think to look.

Because seriously? Hand wash your underwear? I'm talking "panties" (ugh, ugh, ugh), not bras. I don't have the time or the inclination, and I definitely don't have the feeling that handwashing would (emotionally) feel adequate.

I will have to say that I'm restocking because they are not holding up quite as well as I would like and are needing to be replaced after two-ish years. I'm sure handwashing would give them maybe another year.

But seriously? Do you do this?

3 hours ago

General

13 replies

Latest reply was from Kate

Sal

Veteran

I often use the delicate cycle on the washing machine, and I put some in laundry bags. But I don’t bother for cotton underwear, that just goes in with lights or darks as appropriate.

3 hours ago

Irina

Veteran

I wash undies on delicate, separate from the rest of the clothes and like Sal, often in laundry bags, especially bras. I used to handwash bras but got lazy. Also, my bras don’t have wires anymore and safe to wash in a bag.

3 hours ago

slim cat

Veteran

Delicate cold wash in mesh bags designed for bra and panties. All my underwear cotton or cotton/modal blend and needs to be "babied" lol.
I do hand wash if I'm traveling or don't trust old washing machines .

3 hours ago

Helena

Veteran

Nope ... Delicate bag and delicate cycle. If it can't survive that then it was never meant to be!!

3 hours ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

In the normal wash. Mind you mine are not “delicate” in fabric terms.
Handwashing would give me a yuck feeling!
I sometimes put the bras in laundry bags although lately not even them, they just go in the normal wash too.

2 hours ago

karen23

Active Member

Machine wash cold with everything else, tumble dry low or hang up. They're just the regular cotton variety. Bras get hand washed.

I think too much heat can wreck the elastic.

2 hours ago

Veteran

I hand wash bras but I would not buy underpants that required that! I do usually air dry them.

2 hours ago

LJP

Veteran

No handwashing nonsense for me . Most of my underwear is now from Knix and goes in with my other black items ( trouser socks , work tops etc) at the end of the week . Works for me . I’m not into precious lingerie that requires special treatment .

2 hours ago

JAileen

Veteran

Chantelle stretchy undies, bras and camisoles go in a mesh bag, are washed in cold water, and are hung to dry. Regular cotton undies are washed and dried with everything else. I generally sort laundry into various loads: light colors, darker colors, things with velcro and zippers, towels, sheets.

2 hours ago

Peri

Veteran

Yay, 100% no so far!

2 hours ago

Roberta

Veteran

Ha, only if forced to on vacation! They never feel really clean to me if washed in the sink. Mine are all pretty sturdy cotton and go straight in the wash on warm/cool. Bras go in a mesh bag and then are air dryed.

I think the tag is warning us against too long in the dryer, which degrades elastic pretty quickly.

1 hour ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I don’t hand wash anything unless I’m really unsure of it. Bras go in a mesh bag in the delicate cycle with the rest of my stuff, and then hung to dry. They hold up great!

40 minutes ago

Kate

Veteran

I wash my underwear and bras separately from my other laundry, using a warm wash on a delicate cycle, and hang them to dry. Bras go into a mesh bag for washing.

23 minutes ago

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