Handwashing lingerie--what kind of detergent?

[Anonymous]

I live in the far out suburbs and so I'm more limited in the stores I have access to. A while back I bought a very nice (expensive!!!) bra from Intimacy at Tysons Corner, and the sales woman told me to hand wash it, "No Woolite or Gain"--so I'm also assuming no Tide, Cheer, etc. right? I should have just bought some of their lingerie wash there, but...I didn't, and now I'm wondering what I should wash this in. I actually let the bra sit in my drawer for several weeks before wearing it, because I knew I wouldn't be able to wash it...but finally I wore it yesterday...

Can anyone recommend a good (gentle) detergent to wash lingerie that is sold at stores like Target, Walgreens, etc? Or will I have to drive up to Tysons and buy some of theirs (not looking forward to that drive today! I bet Tyson's is packed with today's weather too!).

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

dreft.

[Anonymous]

How about just using warm water? It's not like you were exercising and sweating.

[Anonymous]

Eff that. I wash everything with Free & Clear detergent - either All or Target's Up & Up. The secret is to use a lingerie bag and wash it on your machine's slowest cycle. Then hang it to dry.

[Anonymous]

I use baby shampoo.

[Anonymous]

I'd use a smidge of Woolite with cold water in the sink.

[Anonymous]

Any mild detergent will do, including Woolite. Just rinse well.
I use Indigo Wild's line of liquid Zum soap for all my laundry.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the suggestions....I think I will buy a bottle of my favorite baby shampoo (my kids are older now, so I don't have any around) and use that.

[Anonymous]

I always wash mine with shampoo or body soap. I started doing that because I am always on the road and used the hotel shampoo to wash lingerie.

I like the way my lingerie smells and remains soft.

Another trick. For nylon pantyhose (rarely in recent years, but still)..I mix shampoo and conditioner. Prevents static and does not run easily. Smells great.

[Anonymous]

Baby shampoo is the best.

[Anonymous]

What's wrong with Woolite?

[Anonymous]

I'd never heard about the baby shampoo. Woolite is getting so freaking expensive and I haven't seen the generic version/Target label in a while. Johnson's it is!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's wrong with Woolite?

exactly. That's what I've been doing with my "fine washables" for 30 years in the sink.

[Anonymous]

I got this same advice when I purchased some bras at Nordstrom one day. But they elaborated and said "no petroleum" in the detergent. I bought some stuff from Buy Buy Baby. As it was explained to me, the petroleum had a negative effect on the spandex in the bras -- and anything else like bathing suits, etc.). I don't usually follow instruction like but, but for some reason (probably b/c I'd spent a lot of money on the bras) I did and boy did it make a difference. Started doing it with my bathing suits and I could see a huge difference in how they aged, so to speak (or didn't at all!), with the petroleum-free detergent. And I do this now with any other clothing item that may have spandex. Oh, and for bras I also use a lingerie bag. Can't remember the exact stuff and I"m not at home. I think Dreft and Woolite both have petroleum though. Worth reading the labels at Target etc I guess to see if they have something.

[Anonymous]

I started using baby shampoo a few months ago by chance (it was the closest thing to the sink when I was washing my bras). Now I use it all the time for bras and nylons.