Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
If you are wondering how to wash lace, the answer is: most safely by hand in lukewarm water (up to 30 °C) with a mild detergent for delicates, without rubbing or wringing. In a machine, it is washed in a mesh bag on a delicate programme with a low spin. It is dried flat in the shade and ironed from the wrong side through a cloth. Bleach and tumble dryers are not used, especially with stretch and synthetic lace.
Why lace needs special care
Lace is an openwork structure: the motifs are held together by thin threads and bridges that snag, stretch and break more easily than solid fabric. Stretch laces contain elastane, which loses its properties at high temperatures and in chlorine. Cotton laces shrink, and white synthetic laces yellow over time. That is why correct washing extends the life of the garment and preserves its appearance.
How to wash lace by hand
- Fill a basin with lukewarm water – up to 30 °C.
- Dissolve a small amount of liquid detergent for delicates or wool. Powder detergents can leave particles between the threads.
- Immerse the garment and leave it for 10–15 minutes.
- Move it gently with your hands, without rubbing or crumpling the lace.
- Rinse several times in clean lukewarm water until the foam disappears.
- Do not wring it out. Press the garment between two towels to absorb the water.
How to wash lace in a washing machine
- Put the garment in a mesh laundry bag – it protects against snagging on other clothes, zips and hooks.
- Fasten the hooks on bras so they do not catch the lace.
- Choose a programme for delicates or hand wash, 30 °C.
- Reduce the spin speed.
- Wash together with clothes of a similar colour and weight, without jeans and towels.
Temperature and detergent by type of lace
| Type of lace | Temperature | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stretch (polyamide/polyester + elastane) | up to 30 °C | no bleach, no tumble dryer |
| Synthetic non-stretch | 30 °C | delicate programme |
| Cotton lace and broderie | 30–40 °C, whites higher if the fabric is strong | may shrink |
| Guipure | 30 °C, by hand | do not crumple, dry flat |
| Lace with sequins and beads | by hand, lukewarm water | or professional dry cleaning |
Always follow the care label. If the garment contains several materials, care is determined by the most delicate of them.
Drying and ironing
Lace is dried flat on a dry towel or a jumper drying rack, away from direct sunlight and radiators. Hanging a wet garment stretches the lace under its own weight. Do not use a tumble dryer – the heat damages elastane and shrinks cotton.
Ironing is rarely necessary. If needed, iron from the wrong side at a low temperature, through a cotton cloth, on a soft pad so as not to flatten the relief. Synthetic laces can melt at high temperatures.
How to whiten yellowed white lace
White laces yellow from sweat, detergent residues and oxidation during long storage. Chlorine bleach is not suitable – it damages synthetic fibres and elastane and makes cotton brittle. Safer options are:
- soaking for a few hours in lukewarm water with an oxygen-based product for whites;
- for cotton laces – soaking in a bicarbonate of soda solution;
- drying in a bright place, but not in strong direct sunlight for synthetic laces.
Always test in a hidden spot first.
Caring for vintage lace
Old, handmade or heirloom laces are fragile. Do not machine wash them. Soak them in lukewarm water with a very mild detergent, laid on a mesh or cloth so you can lift them out without stretching them. Dry them flat, shaping them by hand. Store them wrapped in acid-free paper or a cotton cloth, not in plastic, which traps moisture.
How to wash lace – common mistakes
- Hot water – cotton shrinks and stretch is lost.
- Washing without a bag – snagging on zips and broken bridges.
- Wringing out – permanent stretching and deformation.
- Bleach – yellowing of synthetics and destruction of elastane.
- Fabric softener on stretch lace – it can reduce the recovery of the elastic threads.
Storing garments with lace
Garments with lace are stored clean and dry. Lingerie is laid flat in a drawer, not crammed in, so the edges and cups are not crushed. Dresses with heavy lace should not hang for long on a thin hanger – the weight stretches the shoulders; it is better to fold them with paper between the folds or hang them with internal supports. Avoid plastic covers for long-term storage, because they trap moisture and accelerate yellowing.
Care on the label: what the manufacturer must state
For brands, correct care information is part of quality. The symbols for washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and professional cleaning are given according to ISO 3758 on a care and composition label, together with the fibre composition. The label must be soft and non-irritating – especially on lingerie, where satin textile labels or labels printed on soft tape are often used.
Lace and labels from Polkom
Polkom is a Sofia-based manufacturer and wholesaler of haberdashery and garment accessories. We offer lace for lingerie, dresses and home textiles, as well as care and composition labels and textile labels with your logo and care symbols. We deliver across the EU. Send an inquiry for samples and a quote.
