It takes just a little care to keep your lingerie looking its best and lasting as long as possible. Caring for your lingerie properly will ensure many years of wear. By following the guidelines below, you can help your lingerie look as good as the day you purchased it.

Do's

1. The manufacturers always attach a tag explaining the proper procedure for taking care of your lingerie. Follow their recommendations and suggestions, as they know what is best for their product. Here are a few general care instructions if your tag is misplaced:

? Gently wash your lingerie in cold water by hand
? Rinse thoroughly
? When washing your lingerie by machine, use cold water on a gentle cycle
? Use a wash bag and always wash different colors separately
? Make sure that any hooks, fasteners, zippers or buckles are done up, as it is easy for them to catch on other clothing.

2. For the lingerie owner, a wash bag is very important for use when washing your intimate apparel. A wash bag keeps your delicates from being twisted or caught on other pieces of clothing. You can purchase these online or at drugstores and most department stores.

3. Always dry your lingerie by placing it flat and out of direct sunlight. If you are in a hurry and absolutely have to use the clothes dryer, use a wash bag and set the machine to tumble dry on the gentle cycle. The temperature should be set to cool or low.

4. 'Dry clean only' means exactly what it says. Again, the manufacturer is advising you of the best way to keep your lingerie looking its best. If you try washing a 'dry clean only' item, you will probably be very disappointed in the result.

5. Find the proper detergent for the lingerie you are washing. There are huge number of soaps and delicate cleaning products from which to choose. You want to keep your delicates, delicate.

Don'ts

1. Do not wash your delicate lingerie without a proper wash bag as they will become twisted and pulled out of shape.

2. Do not bleach or soak your lingerie. Bleaching will fade your delicates.

3. Do not use regular laundry detergents, because they are too harsh.

4. Do not use the dryer unless you are really in a bind. Make sure you use the wash bag to keep it from tangling. Line drying can stretch and crease most itemsbest to dry items flat.

5. Do not put your delicates out in the sun to dry, as they will fade.

6. Do not iron your lingerie. But, if you have no other choice, use the gentle steam setting and avoid touching the material.

With a little care, your lingerie will remain beautiful for years to come. While it may seem a bit time consuming to spend the extra few minutes in caring for your delicates, you will be amazed at the extra wear that you will get from your favorite lingerie.