Pop quiz, hot shot. Gentle cycle or hand wash?

At BGB, we love lingerie and we're sure you do too. Our underwear is our most delicate, yet most mighty article of clothing, enduring hours of wear and tear, but still expected to look beautiful and hold its luxurious feel for many wears. We have found that these powerhouses can stay fine and fresh looking for a good long time with a just a little special TLC.

The gentlest way to wash your intimates is in a sink or deep basin, filled with cold water and a little gentle detergent, such as Dreft, Ivory Snow, or Baby Shampoo or a specialty lingerie detergent which typically have the added benefit of being hypoallergenic to prevent any skin sensitivities. We recommend avoiding Woolite® as it may cause fabric pores to clog.

The actual cleaning is a snap: just soak your garment for a few minutes, then gently rub it with your hands to make sure you remove all traces of sweat, lotion, perfumes and oils that may have accumulated. Once done cleaning the garment, rinse with cold water to remove the detergent and remove the excess water by pressing it between two clean towels gently. Dry by laying it flat.

While always safest to wash by hand, if you do decide to machine-wash, always use the most delicate cycle, fasten hooks and eyes to prevent tangles, and use a lingerie bag to protect your delicate pieces. Never wring, never twist, and never put intimates into the dryer. The heat from a dryer will cause elastic, Spandex, and Lycra to break down, meaning you'll lose stretch and support.

Heat from an iron is also destructive to stretch and support fibers. If your pieces look a bit slouchy, give them a gentle steaming instead.

We want to help your favorite pieces endure, and by taking a little extra care you'll save money. When you are ready to freshen up your lingerie wardrobe, we've got a lovely assortment of supportive, supple underwear in styles that support, smooth, and beautify.