Helpful Tips for Washing Delicates

If you think the only way to handle washing delicates is by taking continuous trips to the dry cleaners, your mind is about to change. You are certainly not alone if you hesitate to wash fragile materials by hand. Many of these garments are precious and pricey. So, it’s no wonder you worry about ruining them by washing them at home.

However, washing delicate items is quite easy to do in the comfort of your home. All you need are some tips and tricks to keep sensitive materials safe. In this blog, Atlanta Appliance walks you through precisely what to do when washing delicates by hand or in your washing machine.

What Are Delicates?

Delicates are clothing items that may be damaged or worn after running through a typical wash cycle in your washing machine. This is because they are made of sensitive materials and fabrics or embellished with details like sequins or lace.

Some of the most common delicates are undergarments, like bras and lingerie. Delicate materials include but are not limited to:

• Lace
• Silk
• Wool
• Knitted Fabrics
• Cashmere
• Sheer

When it comes to washing these susceptible fabrics, you may have more options than you thought. If you look at the clothing tag, it likely says the item is “dry clean only.” However, not each item needs to be sent to the dry cleaners. In fact, many home washing machines are equipped with cutting-edge delicate or gentle cycles that are designed for washing delicates properly.

Furthermore, you can hand wash almost any fragile material as long as you do it right. In the following sections, we will discuss helpful tips for washing delicates both in the washing machine and by hand.

By knowing just what to do with your sensitive fabrics, you’ll keep them looking brand-new and save some cash and time by avoiding continuous trips to the dry cleaners.

4 General Tips for Washing Delicates

1 | Read the Label

When learning how to correctly care for your delicate clothing, the first thing you want to do is to read the label. On the tag, you will find phrases like “hand wash,” “dry clean only,” and similar variations. And although these instructions are the best recommendation from the manufacturer, they don’t necessarily have to be followed.

For example, many “dry clean” delicates can undoubtedly be washed at home by using the gentle cycle on your washing machine. Or, better yet, they can be washed by hand in your sink or tub.

However, it may be worth your time to do a quick google search or visit the company’s website to see if there are any other suggestions other than the instructions on the label. After all, you don’t want to ruin an expensive or unique clothing item by simply washing it the wrong way.

2 | Treat Stains Right Away

You never want to leave a stain sitting on a delicate clothing item. Because you won’t be running it through your standard washing cycle, the stain will be much tougher to remove by the time you wash it. And even more likely, you won’t be able to get rid of it at all.

Additionally, you should keep from using big-brand stain removers when washing delicates. These materials are unique and may be damaged by the harsh chemicals in the product.

As an alternative, you could use white vinegar or baking soda. These are natural stain removers that are safe to use on delicates. Let it soak for however long it needs, and before the item completely dries, move it to the washing machine or hand wash.

3 | Never Put Delicates in the Dryer

After carefully washing delicate fabrics, hang or lay them out to dry. Never put these sensitive materials in the dryer because they may be damaged, shrink, stretch, or lose quality, depending on the fabric.

Most of these items will dry best when laid out on a clean towel, away from direct sunlight. However, some can be hung up to dry.

4 | Wash Delicates with a Mild Detergent

You’ll want to use the right detergent when washing delicates. The detergents you may use to clean the majority of your laundry can damage fragile garments. Luckily, several specialized products adequately cleanse delicate items using gentle and natural ingredients.

When washing delicates in the washing machine, put your main detergent to the side and only use a small amount of delicate-safe soap. If you are washing delicates by hand, you will only need a teaspoon of gentle detergent. 

3 Tips for Machine Washing Delicates

1 | Wash Delicates on Gentle Cycle

Once you’ve placed your delicates into the washing machine tub, choose the proper cycle to protect them from wear and tear. Most machines will have a setting for washing delicates. Though the names of these cycles may vary on different devices, they all work in similar ways to gently clean the laundry:

• Hand-wash cycle
• Gentle wash
• Delicate wash
• And more . . .

If you find that your machine does not have a cycle designed to clean fragile garments, you’ll want to pick the shortest cycle. Additionally, use lukewarm or cold water for the wash and cold for the rinse cycle. Depending on the material, hot water may lead to shrinking, stretching, or color bleeding.

2 | Use a Mesh Bag to Protect Delicates

Even when washing delicates separately from other laundry, you should use several mesh bags to further protect the clothing from damage. Delicate items like lace underwear and bras can easily catch on the machine’s drum or other garments in the wash. So, separate your delicates into a few mesh bags to avoid snags and stretching. Likewise, only fill each bag with three to five garments, depending on their size and material.

3 | Sort Laundry Before Washing

Like any other laundry load, sort your delicates by color before tossing them in the washing machine. Just because they are all fragile fabrics does not mean the colors won’t bleed and mix during the cycle. You can separate the items like so:

• Bright colors
• Dark colors
• Whites 
• Lightly saturated items, like pastels and grays.

You’ll also want to separate them according to the material to prevent the fabrics from catching on one another and creating tears and snags.

3 Tips for Hand Washing Delicates

1 | First, Clean the Sink or Tub

This crucial step may sound like common sense. But, especially if it is your first time washing delicates by hand, it’s all too easy to forget to wash out the sink, tub, or bucket before introducing the water, soap, and clothing items.

Even if they appear clean, bathtubs and sinks may have traces of soaps, beauty products, and other substances. And the same goes for any other container you use to wash fragile clothing. For instance, an all-purpose bucket may have traces of previously used products or dust.

So, first, clean out the container you will use to hand wash your delicates. Be sure to rinse the basin thoroughly, especially if using household cleaners.

2 | Do Not Squeeze or Wring Out Water 

Gently drying delicate fabrics after hand washing is just as vital of a step as all the others. Many people make the mistake of squeezing and twisting their garments to wring out the water. However, this will only extinguish your previous efforts to protect the materials. Wringing out delicate fabrics will almost always lead to stretching and morphing the original shape.

Instead, allow thinner fabrics to air dry, like underwear or sheer. And use a thick and absorbent white towel to soak the water from more dense materials, like wool and cashmere. Be patient and take your time to absorb as much of the water as possible before you hang or lay them out to dry.

3 | Use Lukewarm Water

Don’t hesitate to use cold or lukewarm water when washing delicates. Especially if you are using a specialized detergent designed to clean fragile materials, lukewarm water will wash them just as effectively as hot water. Except with hot water, shrinking and wear are highly likely. Keep your delicates safe by sticking to lukewarm to wash and cold to rinse.

How Can Atlanta Appliance Services Help?

While washing your delicates, suppose your washing machine breaks down. There’s no need to panic when you have the trusted team at Atlanta Appliances to help.

Schedule a repair with us instead of going through the hassle of lugging the machine into an appliance store. Most of our calls are addressed on the same day the repair is booked.

Reach out to Atlanta Appliance Services to get the quick and effective repair you are looking for.