Hosiery is made with thinner, more delicate fibers than other clothing like jeans or sweaters. So when it comes to the care of hosiery, it’s really important to exercise extra care. When your hosiery becomes stained, scrubbing too hard or using harsh chemical stain removers can degrade and hurt the fibers. To protect your hosiery from damage, it’s important to understand how to wash them and remove stains. Here is our guide to DIY hosiery stain removal.

Wash Your Hosiery

Start by filling a large bowl with warm water. Add the recommended amount of a gentle detergent. We recommend a hosiery-specific wash like Ames Walker. It’s best to wear gloves but if you don’t, remove any jewelry from your hands. You don’t want it catching and tearing. Place your hosiery in the bowl. Use your hands to gently wash the legs, waistband, and feet. While washing, inspect the hosiery for any stains. If you notice any stains that are not lifting, you will need to apply a stain removal solution.

Stain Removal Solutions For Your Hosiery

Depending on the type of stain you will need to add a capful of the following solutions to your bowl: 

● Hydrogen Peroxide: Coffee, blood, fruit, and vegetable stains

● Club Soda: Red wine, grease, and mud

● White Vinegar: Grass, lotion, and sweat

● Isopropyl Alcohol: Ink, makeup, and paint

Let the solution sit to lift the stain. If needed, you can guide it along by gently scrubbing it with a paper towel. You want to use paper towels because they have weaker fibers than your hosiery. So if you accidentally scrub the stain too hard, the paper towel will pile and tear and not your hosiery.

Properly Drying Your Hosiery

Once the stain has lifted, lay out a large towel on a flat surface. Remove the hosiery from the bowl. You then will gently squeeze the hosiery to wring out any excess water. Once you are done, you will lay the hosiery out on the towel. Air dry your tights. Then fold and put away.

Using these washing and stain removal techniques will protect your hosiery from damage during the wash. It will also lift any of the common stains that can occur when wearing them. The best way to keep your hosiery looking great is to invest in quality hosiery from the start. At Hoiseree.com, we offer the finest quality European hosiery. With proper care, our hosiery will last you a lifetime.