How to Wash Delicate Lace Fabric

Lace top

Lace is beautiful on garments, but washing it can seem like a difficult task. If there is a lot of lace on a garment, like a wedding dress for instance, it is always better to get it professionally cleaned at a dry cleaners. For those everyday garments, washing items that contain lace can be done at home in just a few minutes. Many lace garments have washing instructions on the label, so always check for any special requests before putting it in the wash cycle.

Instructions

1. Attach any buttons or snaps before putting the garment in the wash load. If the item does not specify hand wash only, then it is most likely safe for a gentle wash cycle only lasting 2 or 3 minutes. If it is hand wash only, use a small amount of mild detergent or club soda on the dirty spot and wipe clean.

2. Put the garment in a washing machine, using a gentle cycle and cold water. A mild detergent works best at removing stains while protecting the fabric and color if there is one. Use cold water in laundry loads because it not only saves energy, but it also prolongs the life of fibers and color.

3. Lay out to dry on a flat surface, or hang up to air dry on a hanger. Some lace pieces may need to be laid flat for shaping, using pins to attach it to the flat area so that it dries with its proper shape.

4. Avoid putting lace into the dryer or ironing it, since it can burn the delicate fibers.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not rub lace together when washing, it will displace the fibers.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish