Fashion Top Care for Unders Sponsored by Tide By InStyle Editors InStyle Editors Instagram Twitter InStyle's mantra is "Everybody's in," and that means anyone who finds their way to our stories should find themselves reflected in them. We prioritize bringing the right writer to every story and sometimes collaborate as a team to ensure we're including points of view across race, gender expression, body size, skin and hair type, and more. Our editors and writers comprise decades of expertise across the beauty, fashion, lifestyle and wellness spaces in print and digital. We prioritize journalistic integrity, factual accuracy, and also having fun with every story we share. For more about our team, click here. InStyle's editorial guidelines Updated on July 13, 2009 Pin Share Tweet Email Top Care for Unders Sponsored by Tide 01 of 07 Wash with Care Day in; day out; hold in; plump up-undergarments have a lot to do, and all preferably without slipping or breaking. Properly fitted and performing, they're the mainstay of any girl's wardrobe and can make the simplest piece a wow. Droopy and torn, they're a disaster. So give your undies the gentlest treatment when it comes to washing. One reason is the fabric; most lingerie contains man-made materials like spandex, polyester or nylon. Air dry these pieces, or tumble-dry low. Hand-wash ornate, lacy items, soaking them in warm sudsy water for a few minutes, squeezing suds through and rinsing gently, then rolling them in a towel to absorb excess moisture before hanging them to air dry. GET MORE INFOwww.tide.com 02 of 07 Bag It Those hidden pads and wires can be a girl's best friend, so don't let them down. Wash foundation garments on the gentle cycle, along with other lightweight clothing, avoiding heavier items that can bend or break wires. And here's the most important thing: First place them in small a small mesh laundry bag, which also protects them from stretching, snagging, or twisting around your other clothes. Don't overstuff the bag, though - that defeats the purpose. Just keep a few bags of various sizes on hand. GET MORE INFOwww.tide.com 03 of 07 Store Safely Use the same principles when storing your lingerie as in washing it: Keep these precious pieces separate from other clothing items, or at least keep them away from heavier items that might damage underwires. Avoid putting them with items that might tangle, like belts or scarves. Fold padded bras so they're a cup-within-a-cup to help preserve their sexy shape, and wrap especially delicate silks and laces in tissue paper to prevent soiling and discoloring. GET MORE INFOwww.tide.com 04 of 07 Care for Cotton For everyday cotton garments like panties, it's fine to wash and dry as you normally would cotton clothing. Take the same precautions you would with your best tee shirt though; don't use hot water or hot dryer temps, to prevent shrinking, and separate colors carefully before washing. Avoiding washing with very heavy items, to prevent pulling and stretching. GET MORE INFOwww.tide.com 05 of 07 When to Line Dry Air-drying is easier on undergarments by far, which face just as much risk of snaggling, tangling and stretching in the dryer as in the wash, if not more. Hang them out of direct sunlight to prevent fading or yellowing, and preferably out of eyesight, too. Who hasn't left a stray bra drying on a doorknob, and forgotten to remove it when the cable guy arrives? GET MORE INFOwww.tide.com 06 of 07 In the Swim Chlorine, sun, heat…swimwear faces mortal enemies every day. At the same time, it's also coming into contact with salt water, sweat and suntan oil, so it needs a good cleaning. Wash it each time you wear it, and reach for Tide TOTALCAREamp#153;. It gets out tough dirt and grime, helps to preserve color and shape and helps prevent the dreaded end-of-summer pilling. GET MORE INFOwww.tide.com 07 of 07 To Each Its Own Lingerie needs to be sorted by color before washing, just as with other clothing items. However, you may even want to separate it by fabric. Here's why: Man-made fibers like polyester or nylon can attract the oils that other natural materials, like cotton, give off during the wash cycle, which can make the items dingy. GET MORE INFOwww.tide.com Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit