Good day fine reader, nice to welcome you here to a new lecture from Dutch Designers Outlet her Lingerie and Swimwear expert. In this blog we address a frequently asked question, "at how many degrees do you wash underwear?". That may seem like a somewhat glaring question, washing underwear can't be that big of a deal, right? It is! There are some things you can take into account to optimize the lifespan of your underpants. Want to know how? Then read on!
Before you put your underpants in the washing machine....
Before we specifically address the question "at how many degrees to wash underpants," it is interesting to draw your attention to two things. Before washing your underpants always check the washing instructions. This is generally attached to a small label on the inside, such a label will not be unfamiliar to you. Nowadays the washing instructions are often printed as well, which saves another itchy label (what an invention!).
The second thing you look at is the material the underpants are made of. Do you have cotton boxer shorts, bamboo underpants or something made of polyester on your body? It varies by material how best to treat it, and so does the difference in maximum temperature when washing white cotton and colored cotton boxer shorts. Avoid surprises (and shrinkage of the fabric) by taking a look at the washing instructions.
The temperature depends on the material
It is now clear that in determining the temperature at which you, should wash your underpants, you therefore look at the material that the is made of. For underwear, it can words made of two different types of materials. Briefly, natural materials and synthetic materials.
For natural materials, they come from cotton plants or various types of wood such as bamboo, for example. For synthetic materials, they are woven using special production techniques. When washing underpants, it is always important to keep in mind that the washing instructions for natural materials are still somewhat different than for synthetic materials.
Washing underwear made of natural materials
So the answer to the question "at how many degrees to wash underpants" depends on the type of material. In case we are talking about natural materials, you can think of cotton boxer shorts, linen, modal underwear, viscose and bamboo boxer shorts. With laundry made of these types of materials, it is always a good idea to wash them on the coldest possible rinse cycle first anyway. Or just by hand in cold water. This is important because you can rinse excess dye that way.
Now for something more concrete. You want to know how many degrees is appropriate for washing your underwear. Unless otherwise stated in the laundry label of your underwear, you can assume a maximum of 40 °C for colored cotton. For white cotton, go for up to 60 °C. Do you have underwear made of modal, viscose, tencel or bamboo? Then these can be washed at up to 40 °C.
Preferably do not put underpants made of natural materials in the dryer. The risk of shrinkage is high, elastic materials wear out faster and the shape of your underpants may well change, making them less comfortable.
Washing underwear made from synthetic materials?
Underwear made from synthetic materials should never be washed at temperatures higher than 40 °C. This way, you will prevent your underpants from discoloring. For that matter, synthetic underpants should also not be put in the dryer. In fact, they are often as good as dry by the time they come out of the washing machine. This reduces the need to get them completely dry quickly.
What detergent to use for washing your underwear
Always choose a mild, hypoallergenic detergent for underwear to prevent skin irritation. Detergents without fragrances and dyes are ideal, especially for sensitive skin. For delicate fabrics such as lace and silk, use a special detergent for delicate laundry. Be sure to rinse your underwear well to remove detergent residue. A liquid detergent is often better because it leaves less residue than powder.
Carefree washing your underwear on vacation
On vacation, we all take underwear with us. Washing underpants at how many degrees is then not the first question you can ask yourself. This is because how you go on vacation may well be the determining factor. Are you going on vacation to a nice campground? Then no doubt you can use a laundromat, most campsites have them. Are you going to a hotel for a few days or have a nice backpacking trip in mind? Then you will probably have to fall back on hand washing at some point.
Tips and Tricks on washing your underwear
Throughout this blog, I've given you quite a few tips and I think you should come a long way. Washing cotton briefs is not much different from washing microfiber boxer shorts in that regard. However, you may still have questions. About preserving the color of your clothes, the mode of the wash cycle or the choice of liquid detergent or the increasingly popular laundry strips. Please contact me through customer service, I'm happy to help you get started so you can enjoy beautiful and comfortable underwear for as long as possible.
One final tip
Are you going to wash several (different) underpants at the same time? Then pay attention; the washing instructions may differ between them. In this case, choose the lowest recommended program on the washing machine. Also be careful when mixing underwear with differences in color. You don't want your white briefs to turn gray because of black boxer shorts, nor do you want a bright orange pair of shorts to turn a shade of brown.... But I'll leave that up to you; maybe you'll create a really beautiful, unique color.
