How to wash and store tights so they don't pill or lose their shape?

Tights usually look perfect… until the first wash. After washing, tights often become pilled, stretched at the waist, and snagged all over. Very often, the cause is not poor quality tights, but improper care. However, the good news is that you only need to remember a few rules for tights to maintain their proper shape and ecstatic appearance after washing. Check out our guide to learn more about this topic.

Washing tights – the most important rules

The best option for washing tights is hand washing. This is the safest method, especially for thin tights (10-30 DEN). How to hand wash tights? It is best to use lukewarm water for washing, absolutely not hot. You can add a little delicate laundry detergent or liquid lingerie wash to the water. Do not rub the material during washing; instead, gently knead it. It is very important not to wring the water out of the tights at the end, as this damages the fibers and stretches the structure of the tights. After washing, rinse them thoroughly in clean water.

Washing machine? Yes, but with protection

If you don't have time for hand washing, you can use a washing machine, but be sure to follow a few rules:

• lingerie bag – an absolute must,
• delicate / hand wash / silk program,
• temperature 20–30°C,
• no spinning or lowest spin speed,
• no towels or clothes with zippers in the same load.

Tights are most often damaged not by the washing itself, but by snagging on zippers, hooks, or Velcro.

Appropriate detergent

To safely wash tights, you need to choose the right detergent. Absolutely no bleaches, strong laundry powders, or enzyme-containing liquids should be used. Lingerie washes or those designed for delicate fabrics will work best. If strong chemicals are used to wash tights, they will unfortunately weaken the fibers and cause the material to pill.

Drying – the stage that most often damages tights

Once the tights are washed, you need to dry them. You also need to be careful with this. It's best not to dry tights on a radiator, not to put them in a tumble dryer, and not to wring them out or hang them by the elastic band. Tights should be gently shaken dry with a towel. It is best to lay them flat on a drying rack or towel and avoid high temperatures or direct sunlight. Too high a temperature deforms the elastane in the tights, causing them to lose elasticity and slip down when worn.

Storage – a small detail, a big difference

Proper storage of tights is also very important. They are most often kept in drawers. However, before putting them away, it is worth remembering a few rules. Firstly, it is best to roll up tights rather than crumpling them into a ball. To ensure that tights maintain their impeccable appearance for a long time, it is worth finding a separate compartment for them. Ideally, tights, especially thin ones, should be stored in organizers or boxes, which reduces the risk of pilling and runs.

Additional tricks to extend the life of tights

Are you wondering how else you can extend the life of your tights? Remember these simple tricks!

• Short, filed nails – 80% of snags occur during putting them on.
• Remove rings and watches while dressing.
• Don't wear the same pair every day – elastane needs "rest".
• Spray new tights lightly with hairspray around the toes – reduces the risk of runs.
• If a snag appears – a drop of clear nail polish on the edge can stop further unraveling.

Well-cared-for tights can be kept in impeccable condition for a really long time. Gentle use and washing are very important. Are you looking for durable tights that won't get damaged after the first wear? Check out the offer of our online store Lores.pl, where tights in many colors, sizes, patterns, and [various thicknesses] await you.