DIY laundry bag for delicates (Make your own lingerie wash bag)

lingerie / delicates wash bag

If you have fine lingerie/undergarments, you need to read this. You need clean underwear in in your wardrobe at all times ofcourse and if you are the kind who find hand washing clothes a pain, washing them in the washing machine is the only option.

You definitely do not want your delicate bras tangled and snagged with other clothes in the washing machine. The color faded, elasticity nil – those are lingerie nightmares.

The only way to clean and intact lingerie is to put them into this fine, thin lightweight water penetrable machine washable delicates wash bag and put it in the machine with other clothes. No more tangles, no more snagging – just clean & safe underwear

Check out the related post on washing your Bras and other intimates the correct way – a 4 point checklist.

This sewing tutorial is for making a fine little bag that closes completely with a zipper and easily keeps my undergarments throughout the wash.

This bag will protect your bras and other delicate undergarments from the rough washing machine and dryer ride. It does a good job of keeping the lingerie from tumbling in the machine and preventing them from getting tangled up with the rest of the clothes in the wash. This is a 15-minute project, but the time varies if you choose to embroider something on the bag.

Tips for washing the undergarments/ bras in the washing machine

Before going into the sewing instruction, let me share some tips on washing the undergarments in the washing machine gained simply from washing them a lot.

If you have frilly underwear or ones with lace, they are better handwashed. Checkout this post on handwashing clothes for more details. Even in the bag, they may get damaged and lose their sheen. If you decide to wash in the machine, put them in the bag on a delicate cycle and never ever spin them in the machine. Do not wring them, just hang to dry after squeezing the excess water.
Always hook up the bras before putting it in the bag to wash. They loose ends can still tangle with other bras and frustrate you
Do not over stuff the bag if you want clean underwear. Overstuffing will make sure that the washing is not done properly.
Some people are prone to skin allergies and rashes, and the doctors usually advise a PH-balanced detergent. If you like that, ensure that the detergent you use is mild.
Do not toss the laundry wash bag with your lingerie with heavy clothes. Put them in similar clothes and, if possible, on a delicate cycle.
The elastic in most undergarments can be destroyed with heat, so be careful about using hot water in the wash.
Drying in the machine can damage undergarments. So decide to skip the dryer and hang them to dry unless you have run out of clean underwear and you have a meeting in 30 minutes.
Do not leave them in the washing machine and forget about it. Hang them to dry. Mildew can grow in wet clothes.
A soft press with a warm iron will keep them neat and tidy in the wardrobe

Materials needed to make the delicates/ lingerie laundry wash bag

About 1/4 yard of thin muslin cotton cloth; I am using a voile scrap piece I have after making some handkerchiefs.( Check out DIY for embroidered handkerchiefs ).

You can also use mesh; in fact, many prefer mesh bags because of the open net-like holes in them. But believe me when I say very thin cotton becomes like a net after a few washes.

✔Long zipper – The zipper should be 1″ longer than the short side of your laundry bag
✔ Zipper foot ; This is optional. You can sew close to the zipper with the regular foot as well.

Step 1
Cut out the fabric piece. I made one that is 10″ wide x 15″ long, So I need to cut a fabric piece that is 11 ” wide and 31 inches long. This is very customizable.

If you are a single person in the house and you do wash every other day, make a small one, but if you are a four-member family with once-a-week laundry, you DO need a big bag.

Step 2
Open up the zipper and place the zipper face down on the edge of the right side of the fabric’s short side – aligning the no-teeth side against the raw edge of the fabric. Pin in place.
Attach the zipper foot on the machine. Stitch close to the zipper feet. Let the zipper extend half an inch off the edge for safety. You can always cut it off later.

Pin in place.

Stitch with zipper foot close to the zipper tooth.

Step 3

Align the unstitched short side to the unstitched zipper edge right sides together. Pin in place. Sew the edges together.

Step 4

Top stitch the zipper in place from the right side of the fabric( Catch the seam allowance along with the zipper edge in the stitching).

Step 5

Turn the bag wrong side out. Bring the zipper 1-2 inch down from the top edge .

Align the long edges. Pin in place. Start stitching on the long side with the zipper end. Stitch the side seam two times. This double stitching is needed to withstand the tumbling in the washing machine

Before stitching the other side open the zipper a little, say 2 inches ( for turning the bag right side out). Keep the zipper opening close together with the help of pins. Pin the side seams together. Stitch the side seam with double stitches.

Cut off the extra zipper projecting outside the seam with a 1/4 seam. You may want to finish the fabric edges with a zig-zag stitch so that the edges do not unravel in the wash.

How to wash underwear? Question solved. Just toss the bag with your precious lingerie into the machine and wait for the clean ones.