Care Instructions

Lingerie that's looked after can last years. Lingerie that's thrown in a hot wash can be ruined in a single cycle. The rules below apply to most of our range; always check the care label sewn into the garment for any item-specific instructions, and when in doubt, hand wash cold.

The golden rules

  1. Hand wash cold is always safe. If you remember nothing else from this page, remember that.
  2. Never tumble dry. Heat destroys elastic and shrinks delicate fabrics.
  3. Never bleach. Not even "colour-safe" bleach.
  4. Wash dark and light colours separately. Especially on the first wash of new items.
  5. Fasten hooks before washing. Loose hooks catch on other garments and tear lace.
  6. Use a mesh laundry bag for anything delicate. It's the single best investment you can make for your lingerie drawer.

Hand washing (recommended for all pieces)

  1. Fill a basin or sink with cool water (no hotter than 30°C / 86°F).
  2. Add a small amount of gentle detergent — a pea-sized blob of baby shampoo or a dedicated lingerie wash works perfectly. Avoid biological detergent, fabric conditioner, and anything containing enzymes or brighteners.
  3. Submerge the garment and gently swish for 2–3 minutes. Do not rub, scrub or wring.
  4. Let it soak for 5–10 minutes.
  5. Drain the basin and rinse the garment in fresh cool water until no more suds appear.
  6. Press the water out gently between two clean towels. Never wring or twist — this permanently distorts the cups and elastic.
  7. Reshape the item by hand and lay flat to dry, away from direct heat and sunlight.

Machine washing (if you really must)

If you must use a machine, follow every step below to minimise damage:

  • Fasten all hooks and zip fastenings.
  • Place each item in a mesh laundry bag (one bag per item is ideal; never cram multiple pieces into one bag).
  • Select the delicates or hand wash cycle at a maximum of 30°C.
  • Use a gentle, enzyme-free detergent — ideally a liquid rather than a powder.
  • Set the spin cycle to the lowest setting (400 rpm or less).
  • Remove the items immediately when the cycle finishes — leaving them crushed in the drum sets creases and stresses elastic.
  • Never machine wash: underwire bras, corsets, silk, satin, anything with sequins, beading or appliqué, or anything the label specifically says "hand wash only".

Drying

  • Flat dry is always best. Lay the garment on a clean dry towel, reshape by hand, roll the towel to absorb excess water, then unroll onto a fresh dry towel to finish drying.
  • Never tumble dry. Tumble drying shrinks elastane, melts mesh and destroys lace within a single cycle.
  • Never hang bras by the straps. The weight of wet cups stretches the straps permanently. If you must hang, peg by the band only.
  • Avoid direct sunlight and radiators. UV fades colours, and direct heat breaks down elastic over time.
  • Drying time is usually 12–24 hours depending on fabric thickness and room humidity.

Fabric-specific notes

Lace

Hand wash only in cool water with gentle detergent. Never rub — lace catches on itself. Never wring. Dry flat in shape. Lace is the most delicate fabric we work with; treated well, it will outlast every fast-fashion purchase in your drawer.

Mesh and sheer fabrics

Mesh tolerates machine washing on delicate inside a mesh bag, but hand wash is still safer. Watch out for snags — anything with a rough nail or jewellery can ladder a mesh panel instantly.

Satin and silk

Always hand wash. Never machine wash. Never use fabric conditioner (it coats the fibres and dulls the shine). Press out water gently and dry flat away from sunlight, which yellows silk quickly.

Cotton and cotton blends

More forgiving than the above. Cool machine wash on a delicate cycle is acceptable. Still avoid tumble drying — cotton shrinks, and any elastane in the blend loses its stretch at high heat.

Polyester / polyamide / nylon

Hardy and quick-drying. Tolerates machine washing at 30°C in a mesh bag. Avoid high heat — synthetic fibres melt rather than shrink, and the damage is permanent.

Elastane / spandex (in every stretch fabric)

The enemies of elastane are heat, chlorine, bleach and fabric softener. Avoid all four and your stretch pieces will keep their shape for years. Chlorine from swimming pools is particularly aggressive — rinse immediately in fresh water if a piece has been exposed.

Underwire bra care

  • Hand wash only. The spin cycle of a washing machine can bend or break underwires.
  • Store bras flat with the cups un-folded. Do not turn one cup inside the other — this permanently creases the padding.
  • Rotate through at least three bras rather than wearing the same one two days in a row. Elastic needs 24 hours between wears to recover its shape.
  • Expect an underwire bra to last 6–12 months of regular wear with good care, longer with excellent care.

Stains

Treat stains immediately — the longer a mark sits, the harder it is to remove. For most stains, dab (don't rub) with cool water and gentle soap. Avoid any product containing bleach, peroxide or "oxi" action on delicate lingerie. For makeup and deodorant marks, a drop of micellar water on a cotton bud usually lifts them cleanly.

Storage

  • Store bras flat and stacked, cups nestled inside each other but not folded. A drawer divider keeps them from collapsing.
  • Store knickers and briefs loosely folded or rolled, not crammed.
  • Store robes and babydolls on padded hangers, not wire ones — wire hangers dent shoulders.
  • Keep stockings and tights in a sealed bag or dedicated drawer away from rough fabrics or jewellery.
  • A sachet of lavender or cedar in the drawer keeps everything smelling fresh without the harsh chemicals of plug-in air fresheners.

Ironing

In short: don't, unless you really have to. Most of our pieces do not need ironing — hanging them in the bathroom while you shower removes most wrinkles via steam.

If you must iron, use the lowest heat setting, cover the garment with a clean cotton cloth, and never touch the iron directly to lace, mesh, sequins or embellishments.

What to avoid — the "never" list

  • ❌ Never tumble dry
  • ❌ Never bleach
  • ❌ Never wash above 30°C / 86°F
  • ❌ Never wring or twist
  • ❌ Never use fabric conditioner / softener
  • ❌ Never machine wash underwire bras
  • ❌ Never iron directly on lace or mesh
  • ❌ Never dry in direct sunlight
  • ❌ Never store crushed or folded cups-inside-out

Questions?

If you're unsure about a specific piece — especially anything with silk, beading or unusual embellishments — email contact@velourandco.co.uk with the product name and we'll give you the exact care instructions for that item.