Hosiery is very delicate, so it can snag, tear, and tangle in the regular wash. If you want your hosiery to last a lifetime, you’ll need to wash them properly. Here is a guide to washing your hosiery whether it is pantyhose, thigh highs, or knee socks.

Inspect For Tears

Before washing your tights look for any small holes, runs, snags, or tears. These can get worse during washing, so you’ll want to fix them right away. The best way to make sure a tear doesn’t get worse is by applying a small amount of clear nail polish to the area. Simply apply a thin layer of polish around the area to seal the edges and prevent further damage.

Hand-washing

Before washing any hosiery, make sure to take a moment to read the label for the manufacturer’s recommendations. Some tights will have instructions on the package they came in, so before tossing it, take time to read the washing instructions. Start by filling a sink with water at the recommended temperature. Add a small amount of delicate soap. Let your hose soak for 10-15 minutes, this will loosen any dirt or stains. Then remove any jewelry or wear gloves if you have sharp nails. Then gently rub the fabric together to remove any dirt. Then rinse the hosiery under the tap and squeeze out the excess water.

Machine Washing

In a perfect world, we’d hand wash all of our delicates, but sometimes we simply do not have the time. You can machine wash tights but you just have to make sure that you are careful. Start by purchasing a delicates laundry bag. Laundry bags protect your delicates from getting tangled, caught, or torn during the machine washing. Set your washing cycle to delicate and add a gentle soap. Make sure to always wash your hosiery alone.

Drying

Once you have washed your tights, you’ll want to dry them. Never place your hosiery in the dryer. Instead, place them on a lint-free towel and roll them to remove excess moisture. Then take another lint free towel and spread it out on a flat surface. Then place your hoisery on the towel, spread it out and let dry.

Not all hosiery is the same. No matter how diligently you care for your stockings, if you buy poor quality they will not last. Though it may be tempting to grab a five dollar pair from the big box store, you’ll actually spend more because you’ll have to replace them multiple times. Instead, purchase a high-quality pair from Hosieree.com. We stock the best brands in a full variety of colors, styles, and sizes. If you take care of them, our hosiery will last you for years.