You can wash your underwear by hand in a sink or a washing machine… It all depends on how dirty and smelly it is and how hard you want to work for getting rid of the stains and unpleasant odor.
If better cleanliness is your priority….. then you should wash your underwear by hand… There are many things you can use for cleaning: water….. soap….. powder….. vinegar….. bleach….. and more.
Washing underwear is pretty straightforward… You can either hand wash them or toss them in the washing machine with your other clothing:
- To wash underwear by hand… fill a sink or basin with cool water… Add a small amount of mild detergent… Soak the underwear for about 30 minutes….. then rinse… Squeeze out excess water from the fabric and lay flat on a towel to dry.
- Wash underwear in the washing machine….. Place underwear on a gentle cycle….. and set to cold water… Use no more than 1/2 cup of mild detergent….. if you choose to use any at all… Avoid fabric softener and bleach when washing your underwear… Add only the whites with dark colors; never mix colors and whites together into the same load.
- Dry your underwear by hanging them from a laundry rack outside in good weather or inside a drying closet indoors… Don’t use a clothes dryer because it will damage delicate fabrics such as lace and elastic bands.
Also read: Why Did My Underwear Change Color?
What Do You Wash Underwear With?
Bras and other intimate clothing are often washed in the same load as towels and other items….. but this isn’t always the case… Washing these items together can cause colors to fade and damage fabrics over time.
- You can avoid this by separating your colored bras….. panties….. and other intimates from towels….. sheets….. and other items.
- It is a good idea to place colored intimates in a lingerie bag so they don’t bleed onto white clothes… Wash these bags separately as well… If you have whites that you don’t want to get dirty then place them in a white-colored lingerie bag.
- Washing bras with towels will cause the elastic to wear down faster than normal… This is because the material rubs against itself when it gets tangled with other fabrics while being washed in the machine or dried in the dryer.
- You can protect your bras from wearing out their elastic by never washing them with towels or any other materials that could cause friction damage to your bras… Separate your colored undergarments from all-white clothes and wash them separately.
Now let’s see what detergents you can wash underwear with…
Also read: How Common Are Skid Marks in Underwear?
Can You Use Febreze on Underwear?
You will probably use Febreze to help eliminate odor in your clothing… But do you know if it will work on underwear? After all….. the majority of our body heat emanates from that area… When we perspire….. the moisture and heat cause a bad odor to develop.
TIP: If you use Febreze on your underwear….. make sure it is completely dry before you put it back on… Some people have reported that Febreze has caused irritation issues when it’s used on damp undergarments.
Of course….. this isn’t a good idea if you are having issues with yeast infections or rashes as it will only increase the moisture levels in your underwear and cause a rash to break out… But for those of you who have no such problems….. you might want to give this a try.
Febreze is a great way to remove odors from clothing and fabric… The active ingredient in Febreze is an alcohol solvent that allows airflow into fabrics and helps eliminate odors trapped in them.
The active ingredient works by penetrating fabrics and dissolving malodorous molecules from perspiration and other odors.
Once the malodorous molecules are dissolved….. they can be removed from fabrics through airflow and detergent action during washing or drying cycles.
Febreze is made mostly from things like water and alcohol….. which evaporate when sprayed into the air or heated up.
They don’t leave behind any residue to make your clothes smell bad again….. but they do mask odors by making your nose less sensitive to them… So even though the smell might not be completely gone from your clothes….. you won’t notice it as much as before.
Also read: Do You Need to Wear Underwear?
Can You Use Shout on Underwear?
Shout is a well-known name in the laundry aisle… It’s designed to remove stains from fabric….. making it an ideal product for keeping clothes looking fresh and clean… But can you use Shout on underwear?
Tide….. the company behind Shout….. says that its products are safe for use on colored clothing as well as white items.
However….. some of the ingredients are not intended for contact with your skin… Shout contains surfactants….. which are ingredients that help to break up stains… Some surfactants can cause irritation or allergic reactions in people who come into contact with them.
The potential harm of using Shout on undergarments is relatively small compared to other laundry dangers… However….. if you are a little sensitive down there it might pay to test out one pair of underwear first to see if you have a reaction.
Also read: Why Do I Keep Getting Holes in My Underwear?
Can You Use Fabric Softener on Underwear?
Fabric softener is made to make your clothes softer and more comfortable to wear.
Trouble is that some people find that it also makes their underwear less comfortable and can even cause skin irritations… So the question arises….. can you use fabric softener on underwear? The short answer is no.
Tossing a few fabric softener sheets into the washing machine after you’ve washed your clothes is a convenient way to soften fabrics and leave them smelling great… However….. there are a couple of reasons why you shouldn’t add fabric softener to your laundry basket if you’re also washing underwear.
Why Can’t You Use Fabric Softener on Underwear?
A fabric softener should not be used on undergarments for a couple of reasons.
- The first reason is that fabric softeners are made with chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulfate….. which can cause skin irritation… If you have ever noticed a skin rash from wearing your underwear a few times….. you may want to rule out using fabric softener on your underwear.
- The second reason has to do with the way that fabric softeners work in the first place… Fabric softeners coat your fabric with a chemical mixture… When this chemical mixture dries….. it leaves behind an invisible residue that makes clothes feel softer and smoother. This chemical coating also helps reduce static cling but can have the opposite effect on your nether regions by causing static shocks that are uncomfortable if not downright painful.
It’s a common mistake to believe that you can use fabric softener on underwear….. but here’s why this is a bad idea.
The chemical components of most fabric softeners are extremely dangerous for your skin….. and could even cause a chemical burn… In addition….. your underwear won’t be able to breathe properly when it is covered in fabric softener….. which can lead to serious discomfort and chafing.
Treat your underwear the way you would treat any delicate clothing….. and you will have no problem with it… If you want to keep your underwear feeling as good as new….. it is much safer to use simple laundry detergent in conjunction with a delicate wash cycle and low-heat dryer setting.
Also read: How Is Underwear Supposed to Fit?
Why Can’t You Use Fabric Softener on Hanes Underwear?
A fabric softener is a laundry detergent additive that increases the softness of fabrics… Sometimes….. those fabrics are clothes….. and sometimes they are sheets….. towels….. and even underwear… But there’s a little-known fact that fabric softener isn’t recommended for all fabrics.
In fact….. it’s not recommended for Hanes underwear at all… So why can’t you use fabric softener on Hanes underwear? It’s all about the fibers used to make them.
Hanes makes many different kinds of underwear….. but the most common type is made from cotton or cotton-blend material… These are the best kinds of fabrics for everyday wear because they’re durable….. comfortable….. and don’t wrinkle easily.
But fabric softeners contain a chemical called sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) that has strong cleaning properties.
SLS works well for most clothing materials except for cotton….. which is incredibly absorbent by nature… Because of its high level of absorbancy….. SLS will actually break down cotton fibers as opposed to cleaning them.
Also read: Why Does Underwear Have a Pocket? (Men & Women’s Undies)
Can You Use Bleach on Underwear?
Bleach can be useful for getting germs and stains out of your clothing….. but that doesn’t mean it’s going to do the same job on your underwear… Bleach will cause cotton underwear to shrink….. so you should avoid that method if you want your undergarments to last.
If you’re looking to whiten your underwear….. add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to your wash cycle before adding the soap and detergent… This will help neutralize any potential discoloration and maintain the pH balance of your laundry during cleanup.
Vinegar is a natural way to clean and remove stains from clothing and other household items… It also works on fabric items like underwear….. but you need to take a few precautions before treating stained cotton underwear with vinegar.
First….. make sure the item is colorfast — check the garment tag or test in an inconspicuous area before using vinegar on any colored fabric.
Then create a solution of one part white vinegar with three parts water and soak the stained area for about 20 minutes… Rinse well and wash with detergent as usual… If the stain is still present….. repeat the process until it’s gone.[
Can You Use Baking Soda on Underwear?
Baking soda is a great cleaning agent and can help you remove stains from your clothing… It’s an abrasive compound that can tackle tough stains on fabrics….. especially those created by food.
Yes….. you can use baking soda to clean your underwear… In fact….. it’s one of the easiest ways to remove stains from them as long as they are not colored with dyes.
You can also try using baking soda to clean other clothing items including bathrobes and robes….. bed sheets….. pillowcases and bedding….. curtains….. and tablecloths.
Just remember that if the clothing has color dyes in it….. then you should steer clear of this method… This is because the abrasive nature of baking soda may cause the dye to bleed or fade from your clothes.
Baking soda is a natural alkaline compound that neutralizes acidic odors and stains on clothes effectively… It works by breaking down organic molecules into simpler compounds so that these compounds can be easily rinsed away from your clothes.
You don’t have to worry about damaging your clothing with baking soda as it’s very gentle on fabrics as long as it isn’t used in excess or repeatedly over time.
If you’re having trouble with odor control and you don’t want to turn to chemicals….. baking soda may be your go-to product… Baking soda can absorb odors….. so it’s perfect for keeping your underwear fresh!
If you’re worried about applying baking soda directly onto your skin….. try soaking a washcloth in water and baking soda….. then lay the washcloth over the underwear… Let it sit overnight and then throw the washcloth out in the morning… In most cases….. this should get rid of any lingering odors!
However….. keep in mind that if you have sensitive skin….. this may not work well for you… You can always try putting a layer of fabric between your skin and the baking soda if you are concerned about irritation.
If you’re still not sure this is something that will work for you….. there are also specialty underwear products made from materials like bamboo and spandex that are treated with anti-odor properties!
In summary….. Fabric softener and bleach can cause discoloration and damage to the elastic and/or cotton fibers in your underwear… You can try using white vinegar instead of fabric softener or bleach on your underwear to help keep them bright….. but avoid using it on colored undergarments or undergarments made out of satin or silk fabrics… You do not want to see any color run from those fabrics in the wash and vinegar can cause that to happen.
You may also be interested in….. When Did Skirts Became Feminine?
Louise Wilson is an accomplished author, passionate textile historian, and renowned fashion enthusiast with a rich background in the world of apparel.
Graduating with honors in Fashion Design, Louise further expanded her skills and knowledge by completing a master’s degree in Textile History. Her academic pursuits have led her to explore the fashion capitals of the world, including Milan, Paris, and New York, enriching her insights into the global world of fashion.
As an author, Louise’s passion for fashion has found its way into her writings, where she intricately weaves narratives of style, design, and fashion history.