How-To: Hand Wash Lingerie Effortlessly

I know I'm supposed to hand wash my fancy lingerie. Every time I throw down for an expensive bra or pretty pair of fancy panties I tell myself that this time I'm really going to hand wash everything so that it lasts and lasts. Right. Give it a couple of weeks and the real world sets in. There are about 101 things I'd rather be doing on the weekend than plunging my hands into icy water to squeeze suds through my dirty bras. There's got to be an easier way to do this, right?

Well, actually there is. I picked up this Hot How-To from the pages of the March 2007 issue of Lucky magazine, courtesy of luxe lingerie designer Araks Yeramyan. Fill a 1-gallon glass jar 3/4 full of tepid water and then add 1/2 a capful of extra gentle detergent.



→ Buy the 1-Gallon Glass Jar, $15.00, at amazon.com.


Araks suggests Ecover Delicate Wash, but I love The Laundress Delicate Wash -- it's super gentle and just about the closest thing you'll find to luxury laundry products.



→ Buy The Laundress Delicate Wash, $18.99, at beauty.com.


Now, add up to 5 pieces of lingerie, screw the lid on tight, and shake, shake, shake. I like to then let the whole mess soak for 10 minutes or so, and then shake, shake, shake again. Rinse by dumping the dirty water, adding fresh cold water, and then repeating the shake, shake, shake until the water runs clear and suds-free. It's the world's most gentle washing machine. The best part? Your hands stay dry and there's no squeezing required!

Editor's Note: This post was originally published on August 11, 2007. It has since been updated to ensure all links are up to date and all prices are current.