How to Care for Delicate Lace, Mesh, and Silk Lingerie
By montelle Intimates.com | Published: 2026-10-15
Category: Tips & Care
A step-by-step guide to hand washing, drying, and storing lace, mesh, and silk lingerie so it keeps its shape, stretch, and softness.
Quick answer
Hand wash lace, mesh, and silk lingerie in cool water with a drop of gentle detergent, then press the water out in a towel and dry flat away from heat. Skip the dryer and never wring or hang silk by its straps. Store pieces flat or folded so lace doesn't snag.
Why lace, mesh, and silk need different handling
Lace is a structured fabric with raised motifs that catch on zippers, hooks, and even rough skin. Mesh is a fine knit that stretches easily and can lose its shape if pulled. Silk is a protein fiber that weakens when soaked too long or exposed to heat. Treating them the same as cotton will shorten their life.
You don't need a separate routine for each. A single cool hand wash works for all three, but the drying and storing steps are where most damage happens.
What you need before you start
Use a gentle detergent labeled for delicates or a small amount of baby shampoo. Avoid bleach, fabric softener, and enzyme-heavy detergents. Keep a clean towel and a mesh laundry bag on hand. If you have a Fleur't bodysuit or a lace bralette-chantilly-8201-1c64ec6ed1e9abe941291488-945966">bralette-seashell-8200-d28d669cb3e4cd0909552b45-945958">bralette, check the care tag first: some pieces allow machine washing in a mesh bag on gentle, but hand washing is always safe.
How to hand wash lace, mesh, and silk
Fill a basin with cool water and add a teaspoon of gentle detergent. Submerge the lingerie and gently squeeze the suds through the fabric for about 30 seconds. Do not rub, twist, or scrub. For silk, limit soaking to three minutes. Rinse in cool water until no suds remain.
If you must machine wash, place the item in a mesh bag, close all hooks, and choose a gentle cycle with cold water. Never wash lace or silk with towels or denim.
Drying without stretching or snagging
Lay the piece flat on a clean towel and roll the towel to press out excess water. Do not wring. Reshape the lingerie and dry it flat on a drying rack away from direct sun and radiators. Hanging silk or lace by the straps will stretch them. If you need to speed drying, point a fan at the rack on low.
Never put lace, mesh, or silk in a dryer. Heat breaks down elastic and can melt delicate fibers.
How to store lace lingerie and silk pieces
Store clean, completely dry lingerie in a drawer lined with a soft cloth or in a breathable cotton bag. Fold cups gently and avoid stacking heavy items on top. Keep lace away from Velcro, zippers, and rough seams. For silk slips, hang them on a padded hanger or fold them flat; hanging by thin straps can leave marks.
If you use drawer dividers, place lace and mesh in their own section so hooks from other garments don't catch.
Your 6-step delicate lingerie care routine
- 1. Check the care tag and sort: Read the label for any specific warnings. Sort lace, mesh, and silk away from towels, denim, and anything with hooks or zippers. Common mistake: tossing delicate pieces in with the regular load. Checkpoint: if you see a 'hand wash' symbol, stop and hand wash.
- 2. Pretreat stains gently: For deodorant or oil marks, dab a tiny amount of gentle detergent directly on the spot with your fingertip. Let it sit for one minute, then wash as usual. Never rub. Rubbing distorts lace and can pill silk.
- 3. Hand wash in cool water: Fill a basin with cool water and a teaspoon of gentle detergent. Submerge and squeeze suds through the fabric for 30 seconds. Soak silk no longer than three minutes. Checkpoint: the water should be barely lukewarm, never hot.
- 4. Rinse and remove water without wringing: Rinse in cool water until no suds remain. Lay the piece on a clean towel, roll the towel, and press to absorb water. Do not twist or wring. Wringing breaks elastic and creases silk.
- 5. Dry flat away from heat: Reshape the lingerie and lay it flat on a drying rack. Keep it out of direct sun and away from radiators. Never use a dryer. Checkpoint: if the piece still feels damp after a few hours, flip it over to dry the other side.
- 6. Store folded or flat, not hanging: Once completely dry, fold lace and mesh pieces gently and store in a drawer or breathable bag. Hang silk slips on a padded hanger or fold flat. Keep away from rough surfaces. Common mistake: hanging lace by its straps, which stretches them over time.
Product care details from our catalog
- Thong Bodysuit: Thong Bodysuit is made with TENCELTM Modal and lace trim, with underbody snaps and wire-free construction. Washing instructions: hand wash cold OR machine wash closed in a mesh bag on gentle cycle, then hang to dry. The modal is soft but the lace trim and snaps need protection. Use a mesh bag if machine washing, and fasten the snaps before washing to prevent snagging.
- Strapless Slip: Strapless Slip is made from silky microfiber with a mesh lining for support and a silicone-grip edge. Care instructions not fully listed, but the fabric blend suggests gentle handling. The silicone grip can lose its tackiness if exposed to heat or fabric softener. Hand wash and air dry to keep the slip from slipping.
- Cup-Sized Lace Bralette: Cup-Sized Lace Bralette features smooth stretch floral lace, wire-free cups up to H/I, and convertible straps. The lace and convertible straps are prone to snags. Wash in a mesh bag or hand wash, and store flat or folded so the straps don't tangle.
