How to extend the life of your lingerie: Essential care tips

When you invest in high quality lingerie, you’re not just buying a piece of clothing - you’re buying an experience and a form of self-expression. Luxury brands like Angela Friedman exemplify this level of artistry, handcrafting exquisite pieces from the finest materials like silk, lace, and organic cotton. These delicate fabrics require special care to ensure they remain beautiful and wearable for years to come. (And yes, we really do mean years!)

Today we’re covering essential tips on how to care for your luxury lingerie, so that you can continue to enjoy your timeless favorites for many seasons. After all, you’ve invested significantly when you’ve chosen to wear luxury lingerie, so we want to help you to preserve that investment by keeping your garments looking flawless.

Hand washing: The ultimate care method

When it comes to caring for luxury lingerie, the single most important step is proper hand washing. Nothing else will affect the life of your garments more than how you wash it, so please do not skip this important point! Unlike everyday cotton underwear, luxury intimates made from sumptuous silks and delicate laces require gentler handling. Hand washing is the gold standard for keeping these fabrics in pristine condition.

Why does it matter so much? The fibers used in luxury lingerie are more delicate than rougher, heartier fabrics. Silks and lace, in particular, can lose their signature sheen or even fray when subjected to the rough-and-tumble treatment of a machine wash. Even on a delicate cycle, the mechanical agitation can damage fine threads, snag lace, and weaken elastics.

But there’s good news! It’s easier than you might think to hand wash your delicates - so much so that once you try our proven, simple method, you may find yourself hand washing more of your other favorite garments as well!

How to hand wash your lingerie:

1. Fill the basin with lukewarm water: Avoid hot water, as this can cause the fabrics and elastics to shrink or warp. Most modern detergents don’t require hot water anyway.
2. Add a delicate detergent: Use a laundry soap specifically formulated for delicate fabrics, such as one from Soak or Eucalan. Some of these detergents don’t even require rinsing, saving you extra time!
3. Gently swirl the lingerie and soak: Submerge your lingerie in the water and lightly swirl it around to loosen any stains or marks. Let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes only, allowing the detergent to break down body oils and dirt.
4. Rinse thoroughly: Drain the basin and refill with cool, clean water. Gently swirl the lingerie again to remove any excess soap residue.
5. Do not wring, twist, or machine dry: After rinsing, press the lingerie between two towels to remove excess water. Roll up the towel around the lingerie to gently press out the moisture and hang or lay flat to dry. Never wring or twist your lingerie, as this can distort the delicate fabric.

Want more expert tips and tricks? Read our full article on how to hand wash your lingerie for extra suggestions on how to make this process quick and easy!

Specialty detergents: protecting the fabric's integrity

One of the biggest mistakes people make is using regular laundry detergent on their luxury lingerie. These products often contain harsh chemicals that can break down delicate fibers, especially silks and lace. To avoid damage, invest in a high-quality detergent specifically designed for delicate fabrics.

Angela Friedman’s luxury lingerie collections are made from natural fibers like silk, which are particularly sensitive to the chemicals and enzymes found in conventional detergents. These chemicals can degrade the protein-based fibers in silk, causing it to lose its luster, weaken, and eventually tear.

When shopping for lingerie washing detergents, look for:

• pH-neutral formulas: A neutral pH detergent is gentle on fibers and helps preserve the garment’s natural qualities.
• No enzymes or bleach: Enzymes are often included in detergents to break down stains, but they can also break down natural fibers like silk. Bleach, meanwhile, will discolor and weaken fabrics. You will definitely want a “non-bio” formula that doesn't have biological enzymes.
• Eco-friendly options: Many brands now offer eco-friendly, biodegradable options that are great for the environment and perfect for lingerie care.

Mind the temperature: No dryers, no direct heat

Heat is one of the biggest enemies of luxury lingerie. Whether it’s a tumble dryer or a hot iron, exposing delicate fabrics to high temperatures can lead to shrinkage, warping, burns or melting, and a loss of elasticity.

Why are tumble dryers in particular so bad for clothes? They use high heat and mechanical agitation to remove moisture, which can cause irreparable damage to fine lingerie fabrics. Most dryers have a high heat around 150ºF or 66ºC, which is more than enough to shrink elastics, warp silks, and even fry holes into your favorite laces!

Tips on properly drying your lingerie:

• Air dry only: We mean it! After hand-washing, lay your lingerie flat on a clean, dry towel. Gently press out any excess water, then leave it to air dry.
• Avoid direct sunlight: Sunlight can cause colors to fade and weaken the fibers of delicate fabrics like silk and lace. Indirect light is absolutely fine though.
• Steaming over ironing: If your lingerie needs de-wrinkling, use a handheld steamer instead of an iron. Steaming is a gentle way to remove wrinkles without applying direct heat to the fabric. You can also hang up your garments in the bathroom while enjoying a hot shower - the steam in the room will pull out wrinkles for you without any extra effort at all!

Storage solutions: Keep your lingerie in pristine condition

Once your lingerie is clean, how you store it can make a world of difference in maintaining its shape and beauty. Storing luxury lingerie correctly is essential for preventing snags, crushing delicate fabrics, and ensuring your pieces remain in peak condition.

Top tips for storing luxury lingerie:

• Use drawer dividers or lingerie organizers: When storing bras, panties, and slips, it’s important to separate them to avoid tangling. For example, bras should be only kept with each other, as the hooks can easily snag on your other garments. Drawer organizers can help you keep everything in place, and also make sure your delicates aren’t crushed under heavier items.
• Store in silk or cotton bags: For your extra special pieces, such as silk slips or velvet pajamas, consider storing them in a breathable silk or cotton bag. This keeps dust and dirt away while allowing the fabric to breathe, and will also prevent snagging. A lovely storage gift box with acid-free tissue paper is another great solution!
• Hang delicate pieces carefully: While small lingerie items should be stored flat, some larger pieces, like corsets or silk robes, may benefit from hanging. Use padded hangers to avoid any unwanted stretching or warping of the shoulder straps.
• Beware pests: Natural fibers like silk and wool can unfortunately attract clothes moths, which can wreak havoc by eating holes into your favorite garments! Harsh, chemical mothballs aren’t necessary though. Instead, use cedar blocks, lavender sachets, or peppermint oil to deter moths from settling in your wardrobe, and make sure to only put clean clothes away. (Moths are attracted to the proteins found in sweat and body oil.)

Airing and freshening between wears

Unpopular opinion: Not every piece of lingerie needs to be washed after a single wear! Washing luxury lingerie too frequently can cause unnecessary wear and tear, especially on delicate silks and lace. Instead, give some of your lingerie pieces a chance to air out and freshen up between wears.

Top tips on keeping your lingerie fresh between wears:

• Air dry your lingerie: After wearing a piece for a few hours, hang it in a well-ventilated area to air out. Avoid direct sunlight, which can fade colors and damage fabrics, especially silks which should never sit for an extended period in direct sunlight.
• Alternate bra wearing days: Give your bra elastics a chance to stretch back to their original shape between wearings, and they’ll last significantly longer.
• Use panty liners: If you’re wearing luxury panties as part of your everyday wardrobe, consider using panty liners on days when you might start your period, experience spotting, or have significant discharge. We all know the upset of a surprise blood stain on your favorite knickers, so check your calendar and plan ahead if you can!
• Steam for a gentle refresh: For larger garments like silk robes, use a handheld steamer to freshen the fabric without subjecting it to the wear and tear of a wash cycle. Pro-tip: cover the head of the steamer with a piece of cloth (or our favorite, a sock!) to prevent surprise water droplets from leaving marks on your silks.
• Stock up: Save yourself from emergency laundry days by buying 2 knickers for every bra! That way, you can wear your favorite bra an extra time between washes and still get to enjoy a confidence-boosting matched set.

Avoid harsh body lotions and perfumes

As tempting as it may be to pair your luxurious lingerie with your favorite body lotions and perfumes, it’s important to keep in mind that these products can leave stains and damage delicate fabrics. Oils, alcohols, and fragrances can stain or degrade natural fibers like silk, making it crucial to time your beauty routine accordingly.

The good news is that it’s an easily-solved problem! Simply apply your body products well before dressing and wait at least 15 to 20 minutes before putting on your lingerie. This gives your skin time to absorb the products fully and reduces the risk of transferring oils or stains onto your lingerie. Especially when using aerosols like perfumes or hairspray, you’ll want to make sure you don’t accidentally spray your favorite silk robe and leave small droplets all over your shoulders. Just make sure to take care of those things before putting on your favorite silks, and you’ll be golden.

Seek professional assistance with repairs

Luxury lingerie, like any fine garment, may need repairs over time. Rather than attempting to fix a broken hook or torn lace yourself, it’s best to seek out professional services unless you’re a very skilled stitcher! An experienced tailor, dry cleaner, or seamstress can restore your garment to its original beauty without causing further damage.

Broken hardware, straps, or bra hook and eye closures can often be easily replaced. Tears and snags in the fabrics themselves can be a little trickier to resolve, but it’s always worth an ask in case a creative seam can be added over the tear. Over time, elastic can stretch out and lose its shape as well, but some garments can even have the elastic carefully removed and replaced. Remember, a small repair is always easier to fix than a large one, so tackle any issues early to avoid them becoming irreparable. 

Many luxury lingerie brands, including Angela Friedman, offer repair or reconditioning services for their products. If you own a piece from our collections that needs a repair, please use our contact form to request more information. (Please be aware that charges may apply.)

Conclusion: The care that reflects the craftsmanship

Angela Friedman’s luxury lingerie is a true investment in elegance, artistry, and your own self-confidence. Once you’ve made that initial investment, we hope that you’ll continue to spend the time and energy in caring for your luxury garments, so they’ll maintain their beauty for years to come. From hand-washing with specialty detergents to proper storage and timely repairs, each small effort you make will only reflect the craftsmanship and care that went into creating it in the first place.

By following these expert care tips, you can extend the life of your luxury lingerie and continue to enjoy the beauty and comfort of your Angela Friedman pieces. And remember, with every delicate wash and careful storage, you're not just preserving a garment - you're protecting an art form!

Are you ready to invest in beautiful lingerie that will last a lifetime? Explore Angela Friedman’s bestselling collections today.