Taking Care of your Knickers

The memories of Granny washing her ‘smalls’ in the sink and hanging them in the kitchen to dry are now distant; we might think these were antiquated methods and put them to the back of our minds, but when it comes to delicates, Granny’s ways are still the best!

Delicates Wash by Eberjey

Although Granny had the right idea, the soap she used was possibly not the most delicate (carbolic soap anyone?); these days if we are to wash our lingerie by hand we can at least make the experience a more pleasant one, for our lingerie as well as our hands, by using delicate detergent. Faire Frou Frou have just started stocking this Delicates Wash by Eberjey $24; not only is it kind to your hands, but will give your lingerie a delicate floral scent, and, as it’s free of nasty chemicals and not tested on animals, you can get washing those smalls knowing no harm will be done to woman or beast!

The Laundress Starter Kit and Wash bag

Packaging is something we all hate to love; we know it’s gimmicky, but most of us are guilty of buying something purely because of its beautiful packaging. When it comes to washing lingerie by hand, we really need something to keep us interested otherwise we end up putting our latest silk knickers in the washing machine – muttering justifications to ourselves as we do it. Lingerie will last a whole lot longer if it’s hand-washed, and if it means using a nicely packaged product to keep us going, get something pretty to keep on your shelves! Check out The Laundress Starter Kit £28, available from Boudiche, which looks lovely from the outside, is organic and biodegradable, and, an ideal way to kick-start yourself into better habits; if you still insist on putting your lingerie in the washing machine, The Laundress does a lingerie Wash Bag £16, which will avoid those unwanted snags and long pieces of elastic that have to be unwound from the rest of your washing.
For US readers, The Laundress range is available at Gigi’s Closet – prices start at $6 for the Delicate Wash.

Vedette par Chantal Thomass

Ok, so we’ve just recommended washing your lingerie by hand, but we couldn’t help popping this amazing machine in! Chantal Thomass, designer of exquisite French lingerie, has designed this fabulously pink washing machine for Vedette, a French electrical goods company; according to Faire Frou Frou Boutique owner, Alison, there are only 300 of these beauties available with a price tag of 850 Euros, the proceeds of which will go to Paris Tous P’tits (a charity which helps disadvantaged babies). As the machine has a setting for lingerie, you would be excused from using a washboard and soap, and safe in the knowledge that you are doing a good deed.