How to Care for Ajouré Lace Underwear So It Lasts
By ZIMMERLI | Underwear, Nightwear & Loungewear | Published: 2026-10-15
Category: Tipps & Pflege
A step-by-step routine for washing and drying lace hipsters and other delicate pieces so the Ajouré rib and Calais lace keep their shape, pattern, and fit.
Quick answer
Wash Ajouré lace underwear by hand in cool water with a drop of mild detergent, then press it in a towel and dry it flat away from direct heat. If you must use a machine, put the piece in a lingerie laundry bag on a delicate cycle and skip the dryer entirely. This keeps the openwork rib from snagging and the Calais lace from losing its shape.
Why Ajouré rib and Calais lace need a gentler routine
Ajouré rib is a knit with deliberate openwork patterns, which means the yarn loops are exposed and easy to catch on zips, hooks, and rough seams. Calais lace is fine and structured, so it holds its shape best when it is not stretched or tumbled. Hot water and high heat weaken elastic fibers over time, which is why a lace hipster can start to feel loose long before the fabric looks worn.
This is also why you should treat lace pieces separately from towels, jeans, or anything with velcro. Loose hardware in a mixed load is the most common cause of pulled threads.
What you need before you start
Set aside a clean basin or sink, cool water, a mild liquid detergent without bleach or fabric softener, a soft towel, and a mesh lingerie laundry bag for the weeks you cannot hand wash. Fabric softener coats delicate fibers and reduces the natural breathability of cotton and modal, so leave it out.
Check the care label first. If a piece is marked dry clean only, follow that instead of the steps below.
How to dry and store lace without stretching it
After washing, lay the piece flat on a towel and reshape it gently with your hands. Hanging a wet lace hipster by the waistband lets gravity pull the fabric down, which distorts the fit. Keep it out of direct sun and away from radiators, since heat makes elastic brittle.
Once dry, fold lace pieces rather than hanging them. If you store them in a drawer with hooks, zips, or rough-textured items, place them in a cotton pouch or on top of smoother fabrics.
Step-by-step lace underwear care
- 1. Sort lace away from hardware: Keep lace hipsters and bras out of loads with zips, hooks, or velcro. Wash them with other delicates or on their own. Checkpoint: if you can hear metal in the load, the lace is not safe there.
- 2. Fill a basin with cool water: Use cool or lukewarm water and a small amount of mild detergent. Hot water is the fastest way to dull lace and relax elastic. Mistake to avoid: pouring detergent directly onto the lace; dilute it in the water first.
- 3. Hand wash for two to three minutes: Submerge the piece and press it gently with your palms. Do not rub, wring, or scrub the lace against itself. Checkpoint: the water should stay fairly clear; if it turns dark, rinse and repeat once.
- 4. Rinse without twisting: Drain the basin and refill with cool water until no suds remain. Never twist or wring the lace to speed up drying. Mistake to avoid: holding the piece by one corner while rinsing, which stretches the lace.
- 5. Press water out in a towel: Lay the piece flat on a clean towel, roll the towel up, and press down gently. The towel absorbs most of the water without stressing the fabric. Checkpoint: the piece should feel damp, not dripping.
- 6. Dry flat and reshape: Lay the piece flat on a dry towel or drying rack and reshape the waistband and lace trim with your fingers. Keep it away from direct sun and heat. Mistake to avoid: hanging wet lace, which pulls the fit out of shape.
- 7. Use a lingerie laundry bag when machine washing: If you machine wash, place each lace piece in its own mesh lingerie laundry bag, choose a delicate cycle with cool water, and use a low spin speed. Checkpoint: never put a lace piece in the dryer, even on low.
Product facts that affect care
- Maude Privé | Hipster aus Ajouré-Rippe mit Spitze aus Calais, tiefer Beinausschnitt - écru: Ajouré rib in pure cotton with Calais lace trim and a low leg cut, made in Swiss handwork. Cotton handles cool hand washing well, but the openwork rib and lace trim snag easily, so a mesh bag or hand wash is the safer choice.
- Pureness | Slip aus Modal - ruby wine: Pureness slip in soft micromodal with a dye-to-match waistband and elastic band. Modal is smooth and temperature-regulating, but its elastic waistband is the part most affected by heat, so keep water and drying temperatures low.
