How to wash tights to keep them in great condition

Tights are some of the most frequently worn pieces of clothing in most women’s wardrobes, so taking good care of them will ensure a longer lifespan. Something that may come as a surprise to you is how infrequently you actually need to wash your tights. 

Many women will throw their tights in the wash with their underwear after one use. However, some tights should only be washed after the second or third use. Some may even last up to the fifth or sixth time of being worn.

The best way to wash tights is by hand. It provides a delicate, gentle touch that a washing machine just can’t give. Considering these garments are quite thin and prone to a tear or snag, you want to treat them with as much care as you can. Handwashing is your best chance for that.

Before washing them, make sure you have removed all jewellery from your hands and your nails are well kept, so you don’t snag the tights. Once you’ve made sure of those, follow these steps to ensure the best possible clean for your tights.

1. Fill up the sink with lukewarm water (hot water may affect the shape of the tights) and a cup of laundry detergent. Any will do but if you can find a detergent specifically for delicates, even better. Before placing your tights in the water, turn them inside out.

2. Gently scrub at the areas where the most bacteria is likely to have collected, so the feet and crotch. Once finished, leave the tights to soak in the water for around 10 minutes.

3. Rinse them in cold water until there is no soap left anywhere on the tights. You may need to keep rinsing and draining to fully remove it all.

4. Hang the tights up and never put them in the tumble dryer. Once they’re all dry, fold the tights and put them away (or on!).

If you do have to use the washing machine to clean your tights, ensure that you have the correct settings in place so you don’t ruin them. Follow the below steps to be sure that your tights come out of the washing machine as clean as they’ve ever been, and the shape isn’t distorted.

1. Select a delicate cycle and a cold water temperature on the washing machine.

2. Place all of your tights into a mesh bag. This prevents any snagging or tangling with other clothes inside the machine. Using the mesh bag also prevents your tights from collecting a lot of lint, which is extremely difficult to remove. It also helps to stop your tights from twisting and potentially knotting, which would permanently damage the shape of your tights.

3. Add the right amount of laundry detergent into the machine. Again, use a delicate detergent if you have one.

4. Once dry, just like when you’ve hand washed your tights, do not place them in the tumble dryer with the rest of your laundry. Instead, hang them up on a hanger or clothes horse to ensure an even dryness.

You may be surprised to know that at SOCKSHOP, we don’t just sell socks. We also sell loungewear, underwear, gift sets, accessories, and tights. If you’re in need of a brand new pair of tights (or a handful) then you can’t go wrong shopping at SOCKSHOP. We have a wide range of tights available in many different styles, sizes and materials.

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