However, Forever New is now available in a liquid as well as a powder form. This makes it even easier for you to use Forever New to wash your delicates, or even all your clothes. Forever New is perfect for either hand-washing or machine-washing.
Forever New Washing Tips
Wash your undergarments every time you wear them so that body oils don't build up and degrade the fabric
Use the Forever New liquid to presoak a stain before washing it
As I mentioned yesterday, the washing machine is a scary place for underwear. All the heat, caustic chemicals, agitation and spinning can cause some major wardrobe malfunctions. But luckily, safety is at hand.
Hand-Washing Delicates
I know, I know, many people won’t hand-wash lingerie no matter what. But just consider for a moment how much those underthings cost you. Now, if a bone worked its way out of that bra, it would be worthless. And if that bone wrapped around your washing machine’s motor, your washing machine, too, would be worthless. Hand-washing is really a household investment.
Hand-washing is simple. Just throw your delicates into some lukewarm water. Add some delicate detergent. Then go have a cup of coffee, or relax with some tea. Come back to agitate the delicates a little, rinse and you’re done. Having coffee is the longest part of the process. (Details on hand-washing here.)
Machine-Washing Delicates
But if you’re in a hurry and can’t even spare time for coffee, there is still a simple solution: a lingerie bag. A lingerie bag is just a mesh bag, normally with a zipper, into which you put your underthings. Then you throw the whole bag into the wash. That’s it! No bone is sucked out of a bra and your Hanky Panky aren’t stretched and tied into knots. (You still can’t put them in the dryer. Sorry. We can’t fix everything.)
Ask For Your Lingerie Bag In-Store
And because we care about our clients and want to save you from the aforementioned dangers, we’re happy to provide you with a lingerie bag with purchase. Simply ask for your bag while paying and you can save yourself some possibly pricey headaches.
It’s true, there aren’t just pretty underthings in silk, lace and satin lying snugly between cedar planks; there is a sinister force at work. One that could cost you hundreds of dollars.
At Secret Drawers Lingerie we always tell people to hand wash their underwear, bras, garters and fine silks and lace. This is because the spandex contained within those items breaks down more quickly under the strain of machine washing, the strong chemical detergents and in the heat of the dryer.
But the fact is, some people just don’t follow our advice. Many people throw their lingerie in with their socks and shirts and many times the lingerie comes out just fine.
Other times, it costs you hundreds of dollars.
What people don’t realize is the mechanisms in modern washing machines are extremely strong. These mechanisms can pull the bones, the stiff wire beneath each cup, right out of the bra. The machines can also grab and bunch and twist your lacy thong into an unrecognizable, inhuman shape.
But to add insult to injury, both thongs and bra boning can make its way to the motor of the washing machine. The boning or thong gets wrapped around the motor and hampers the spinning until the motor is burned out completely. This can mean a big repair bill or an even heftier replacement bill.
But don’t worry. You don’t have to fall victim to the dangers in your washer.
Loyal readers and clients know that putting lingerie in the washing machine or, even worse, the dryer, is the biggest faux pas of them all. But some women still want to know: Why can't I machine wash my lingerie?
The answer is simple: spandex.
Spandex is the miracle material in lingerie that allows it to stretch and snap back to its original size. Without spandex, lingerie wouldn't comfortably follow your curves the way it does today.
Spandex is actually made up of many, long polymer fibers entwined into a ball like spaghetti. When the spandex is stretched, these fibers straighten out and once released return back to their entwined shape. This ability to expand and contract repeatedly, the same way each time, is what makes it so useful in lingerie.
Spandex fibers are strong and can remain elastic in garments for years, but spandex doesn't stand up well to heat or an alkaline environment. And guess what's in your washing machine? Yes, you guessed it; your washing machine is a hot alkaline environment. This environment breaks down the spandex fibers making them shorter until eventually they become useless.
1. Save your white lingerie for wear under light-colored clothing. If you wear it under dark-colored clothes, those dark colors can rub off making your whites less than pristine.
2. Always wash your whites with other light colors. Dye can come off in the wash, making your whites look dingy.
3. Always hand-wash your lingerie in lukewarm water. You've invested in your beauty and comfort and hand-washing your underthings every two-to-three wearings will keep them looking their best and prolong their life. It also helps keep stretch fabrics fitting you well, and not becoming stretched out.
4. Our favorite detergent is Forever New. You can pick this up at Secret Drawers Lingerie or order it online, if you can't drop by in person. This product is great because it has been designed to be delicate and will not harm the exquisite fabrics found in our lingerie. It also has a lovely scent. If you find yourself without this product, a gentle shampoo can be used in a pinch.
5. If you've found your lingerie stained or discolored, dissolve some detergent in the sink, and let your items soak overnight. Especially with Forever New, it's amazing what will come out using this method.
6. Rinse out lingerie well; leaving soap in your lingerie can harm fabric. Roll your lingerie up in a towel to remove excess water. Don't twist or wring out the garments. Then lay flat to dry.
7. If you must use a washing machine, a front-loading model is more gentle than a top-loading one. Always put items into a mesh bag, and of course, use the gentle cycle.
8. Never - ever - put lingerie in the dryer! It is the sin among sins in the lingerie world.
If you follow these tips your luxurious garments are here to stay, which is important, because underwear matters.
Secret Drawers Lingerie has been selling Forever New for years. Forever New is a premier product for lingerie care.
