How to wash lace lingerie: by hand, in the machine, drying
By hand, in the machine inside a mesh bag, then dried flat: how to wash lace lingerie without damaging the pattern or the elastic.
By atelier culotté5 min read
To wash lace lingerie, washing by hand remains the gentlest option; the machine is possible too, inside a mesh bag and on a delicate cycle. Either way, drying happens in the open air, never in a tumble dryer. Here is the method, with the exact instructions printed on the product pages of atelier culotté pieces.
Why lace needs its own wash
Lace is an open-work fabric: its fine threads form patterns that easily catch on a zip, a hook or the Velcro of another garment. At atelier culotté, the lace of the EXPRESSO collection and the 50 NUANCES floral lace are made of 79% polyamide and 21% elastane. Elastane provides stretch and support; it is also the fibre that copes least well with heat and repeated friction. Badly treated lace loosens, loses its shape or tears where the patterns are finest.
Then there are the details: the jewel that acts as a centre-front fastening on the EXPRESSO bralette, the jewels at the front of the 50 NUANCES briefs, the decorative elastic. They also call for a gentle touch.
The instructions on the product pages
For the EXPRESSO bralette, bloomer briefs, ruffle thong and tanga bloomer, as well as the 50 NUANCES bralette and briefs, the product pages state:
- Wash at 40°C maximum
- Do not bleach
- Iron at low temperature
- Do not dry clean
- Do not tumble dry
- Always wash the product before wearing it
The CARMELIA triangle, in red and pink lace, and the VALENTINE tanga bloomer, in polka dot tulle, carry the first five instructions. Bear in mind that 40°C is a ceiling, not a target: for a piece worn for a day, cold or lukewarm water is enough.
How to wash lace lingerie by hand
This is the safest method, and it takes very little time.
- Fill a basin or a sink with cold or lukewarm water.
- Dissolve a small amount of gentle detergent, made for delicates, before putting the piece in.
- Fasten any hooks, such as those at the back of the 50 NUANCES bralette, so they do not snag the lace.
- Leave to soak for a few minutes, then gently squeeze the fabric between your hands. Do not rub, do not wring.
- Rinse in clean water until all the suds have gone.
- Lay the piece flat on a towel, roll the towel up and press to absorb the water.
Avoid leaving the piece to soak for hours: a long soak adds nothing and tires the fibres.
How to wash lace lingerie in the machine
On days when time is short, the machine will do, with a few precautions:
- A mesh laundry bag for each piece, or for a few pieces of similar colours. It protects the lace from friction and snags.
- A delicate cycle (delicates, silk or wool depending on your machine), with a gentle spin.
- A low temperature, never above 40°C.
- A drum without jeans or towels: heavy fabrics and metal zips are lace’s worst enemies.
- Sorted colours: brown, red or black lace is washed with similar shades, especially for the first few washes.
Bleach is ruled out, the product page forbids it. Fabric softener is unnecessary: well-rinsed lace stays supple.
Drying lace: flat and in the open air
Every product page rules out the tumble dryer. Its heat and the tumbling of the drum are exactly what loosens elastane. To dry your lingerie:
- lay it flat on a dry towel or on a drying rack, reshaping it with your fingers;
- choose an airy, shaded spot, away from a radiator;
- avoid hanging a wet bralette by its straps: the weight of the water stretches them.
If ironing is needed, the product page allows a low temperature. Slip a thin cloth between the iron and the lace, and steer clear of the jewels.
Cotton gussets
The brand’s briefs, thongs and tanga bloomers have a 100% cotton gusset. The KITTY and GRRR thongs are made entirely of 100% cotton jersey, with the same instructions as the lace. Cotton handles washing well, but the whole piece is washed at the pace of its most fragile part: the lace and the elastic set the rules for everything else.
One last point, and not the least: the product pages ask you to always wash a new piece before wearing it. A first hand wash is enough.
To find every instruction, lingerie and swimwear together, read Caring for your lingerie and swimwear, then How to store lingerie for the next step. And to choose your next piece, the lingerie section brings together all the workshop’s designs.
Frequently asked questions
Can you wash lace lingerie in the washing machine?
Yes, as long as you put the piece in a mesh laundry bag, choose a delicate cycle with a gentle spin and stay at 40°C or below. Avoid mixing it with jeans or zipped garments. Washing by hand remains the gentlest option, though.
What temperature should you wash lace at?
The product pages for atelier culotté lace pieces state a wash at 40°C maximum. In practice, cold or lukewarm water is enough for a piece worn briefly, and is kinder to the elastane.
How do you dry a lace bra?
Flat, on a towel or a drying rack, in the shade and away from any heat source. Never in a tumble dryer, and preferably without hanging it by the straps while it is still wet.
Should you wash a new piece before wearing it?
Yes: it is even an instruction written on the product pages for the EXPRESSO lace, the 50 NUANCES lace and the cotton thongs. A hand wash in cold or lukewarm water is enough. If you have any doubt about a piece, ask the designer via the Contact page.
