How to Wash Lingerie: Lace, Mesh & Faux Leather Care Guide

THE OHYEAH GUIDE   /   CARE & KEEP

Keep the details.
Love the piece longer.

The lace edge, the embroidered mesh, the smooth faux-leather finish: these are the details you choose lingerie for. Caring for them starts with knowing what you are washing—not reaching for one routine for everything.

The short answer: read the garment label, separate delicate pieces, use its approved washing method, and take drying as seriously as washing.

Sheer layers and decorative texture remain part of the autumn/winter 2026 fashion conversation, as highlighted in Who What Wear’s seasonal report. Here, the focus is practical: looking after those details once a piece is in your wardrobe.

Before You Wash: The Label Comes First

“Lingerie” describes a category, not a single fabric. One garment can combine mesh, elastic, embroidery, underwire and coated panels. Its approved care method needs to suit the entire construction.

Check the sewn-in label for washing, drying and ironing instructions, then consult the product page for extra guidance. If the label is missing or the instructions disagree, ask the retailer before cleaning. A delicate cycle is not a substitute for a hand-wash-only instruction.

How to Hand Wash Washable Lace and Mesh

Use this sequence only when the garment label permits hand washing. Set out a clean basin, a suitable delicates detergent and a clean towel before you start.

1. Sort and prepare. Separate pale and dark colors. Close hooks and fasteners so they cannot catch on neighboring fabric. Keep hosiery separate from hardware-heavy pieces.
2. Prepare the water. Follow the label’s temperature limit. Measure detergent according to its hand-washing directions and dissolve it before adding the garment.
3. Move gently. Ease the piece through the water and press lightly. Do not scrub lace, stretch mesh between your hands or leave embellished pieces soaking for a long time.
4. Rinse thoroughly. Use clean water until detergent residue is removed, unless your garment-compatible detergent specifically uses a no-rinse method.
5. Lift with support. Support the body of the garment rather than pulling it up by a strap. Gently press out water without twisting.
6. Dry with care. Press between towels without crushing wires or trims, then follow the label’s drying instructions. Do not use heat to hurry it along.

For the general hand-washing approach, see Aubade’s bra-care guide. The label on your own garment remains the deciding instruction.

Can you use a washing machine?

Only if the label allows it. Use the specified cycle and temperature, secure fasteners and place the garment in a suitable laundry bag. Keep the load light and free of rough towels, heavy denim or exposed hooks. A bag reduces contact; it does not make an unsuitable wash safe.

Three Textures, Three Different Care Priorities

Lace: preserve the outline

With eyelash lace, the fine fringe is part of the design. Avoid rubbing the edge against itself or other garments. Check for caught threads before washing rather than tugging them free while the fabric is wet.

Our Eyelash Lace Short Robe Set with Smooth Trim combines a sheer lace body with an imitation-silk border and belt. Its product guidance calls for gentle hand washing according to the garment label and protection from hooks, jewelry and rough fabrics.

Mesh and embroidery: protect the connections

A mesh panel can look simple while the garment around it is intricate. Embroidery, adjustable straps and underwire create several places that deserve individual attention.

Keep clips from catching the mesh. Support embroidered areas when lifting the piece, and let straps lie naturally instead of tying them tightly around the garment.

The Sheer Embroidered Mesh Halter Bodysuit with Garter Straps has underwire and four adjustable garter straps. Its care guidance is to follow the label, handle trims gently and avoid high heat or rough surfaces. Do not assume that sheer mesh means machine washable.

Faux leather: respect the coating and structure

Faux leather is not interchangeable with natural leather or latex. Do not borrow a polishing, conditioning or cleaning routine from another material just because the surface looks similar.

Our Strapless Faux Leather Corset and Panty Set has a front zip, back lacing and 14 flexible boning supports. Its listed care is cool-water hand washing according to the garment label: no machine washing, tumble drying or direct heat.

Handle the lacing, zip and boning gently. Avoid folding a wet corset into a compact bundle or scrubbing its surface. If the coating becomes sticky, cracked or starts peeling, ask for product-specific advice instead of trying solvents or heat.

A separate note for fishnet and stockings

Fine nets and lace tops are especially vulnerable to snagging. Remove jewelry before handling them and keep them separate from bra hooks and garter clips during washing. If the label permits a machine wash, give hosiery its own laundry bag. Hunkemöller’s hosiery guide also makes this separation clear.

Our Fishnet Thigh-High Stockings with Silicone Lace Tops include grip detailing. Follow their supplied care label rather than assuming every lace-top stocking has the same washing requirements.

Drying and Storage: Finish the Job Gently

Where flat drying is instructed, reshape the garment without stretching it and lay it on a clean surface with airflow. Change a damp towel when needed. Keep delicate pieces away from radiators and strong direct sunlight; wet elastic should not carry the full weight of a garment from narrow straps.

Wait until the piece is completely dry before putting it away. Store structured cups and boning without crushing them, and keep sharp fasteners away from loose lace. A simple drawer divider can separate your robes, sets and hosiery so getting dressed does not start with untangling.

Planning a trip? Our honeymoon lingerie guide covers choosing and packing the pieces; this care routine helps you look after them afterward.

Lingerie Care FAQ

What detergent should I use?

Choose a detergent suitable for the fibers on the label and use the hand-wash or machine-wash dose stated on its packaging. More detergent is not automatically more effective. Avoid adding bleach, fabric softener or stain treatments unless the garment instructions allow them.

Can I wash everything from a matching set together?

Check each piece first. A bra, brief and garter belt may have different trims or construction even when they match visually. Similar color does not mean identical care. Separate them when their instructions differ.

Can I tumble dry lingerie on a low setting?

Only if the garment label explicitly permits it. Low heat is still heat. The featured faux-leather corset specifically excludes tumble drying, and delicate pieces often call for air drying.

Is satin lingerie always cared for like silk?

No. Satin describes a fabric structure or finish, while silk is a fiber. Check the composition instead of using appearance as a shortcut. Imitation-silk trim should not be described or treated as natural silk without confirmation.

What if I cannot read the care label?

Find the product page and contact the retailer with the style number and a photo of the label. Until the correct method is clear, avoid washing experiments—particularly with coatings, glued embellishments or structured pieces.

Care guidance is general unless tied to a named Ohyeah product. Always follow your garment label. Additional reference: Aubade care instructions and Hunkemöller wash-care advice. Product details checked September 3, 2026.