How to wash shapewear so it lasts
How to wash shapewear and fajas so they keep their stretch: cool water, mild detergent, no softener or dryer, how often to wash, and how to store it.
Shapewear works because of its stretch. Wash it the wrong way and that stretch wears out early, and the piece that held you so well starts to sag, roll or lose its grip. The good news: caring for it takes about ten minutes and a sink.
Why does shapewear lose its stretch?
Most shapewear gets its hold from spandex, also called elastane or LYCRA. LYCRA explains that spandex breaks down faster when it is exposed to heat, chlorine, lotion, sunscreen and UV rays, and that this loss of elasticity changes how a garment fits and feels. So the goal of washing is simple: get the sweat and body oils out without heat, harsh chemicals or rough handling.
Start with the care label
In the US, the FTC Care Labeling Rule requires clothing labels to give complete instructions for regular care, including whether to wash by hand or machine and how to dry it, plus warnings about anything that would harm the garment. That label is written for your exact piece, so read it first. Our Smoothing Faja Bodysuit, Full Coverage Overbust Faja and High Waist Shaping Short all say the same thing: hand wash cold, lay flat to dry.
How do I hand wash a faja?
- Close every hook and zipper so nothing snags.
- Fill a basin with cool water and a small amount of mild detergent.
- Swish gently and press the suds through the fabric. Do not scrub. Leonisa recommends a brief soak, not a long one, so colors do not fade.
- Rinse in cool water until no soap is left. Colombiana Boutique notes that leftover detergent weakens elasticity over time.
- Do not wring or twist. Press the water out with a towel instead.
What should I never use on shapewear?
- Hot water. Leonisa says to avoid it entirely.
- Bleach. Colombiana Boutique says it weakens the fibers.
- Fabric softener. Leonisa says to skip it on delicates, and Colombiana Boutique says it reduces stretch recovery.
- The dryer, an iron or any other heat. Colombiana Boutique puts it bluntly: heat is what kills the lift.
Can I use the washing machine?
Check the label. Hand washing is the gentlest option, and Colombiana Boutique says even a delicate cycle can wear down firm faja fabric over time. If a label allows the machine, Leonisa suggests the most delicate cold setting, a mild detergent, all hooks and zippers closed, and a delicates bag. An old pillowcase tied shut works too.
How do I dry shapewear?
Lay it flat on a towel or drying rack in a cool, dry spot out of direct sun. Colombiana Boutique says direct sun fades the fabric and that a faja can take 12 to 24 hours to dry. Let it dry fully before you put it away, because folding it damp traps moisture.
How often should I wash it?
Often, but not after every single wear unless it is hot out. Leonisa suggests washing shapewear every three to four wears. Colombiana Boutique suggests every 2 to 3 wears in cool weather, and after every 1 to 2 wears in summer or on sweaty days, since sweat left in the fabric traps oils, bacteria and odor.
Both brands also suggest rotating. With two pieces, each one gets time to rest and dry between wears.
How should I store it?
Keep it somewhere cool and dry, since heat and humidity break down the fabric. Fold it flat instead of rolling it into a ball, keep it away from rough fabrics and loose zippers that can snag it, and skip plastic bags, which hold in moisture.
One more tip from LYCRA: lotion and sunscreen also wear spandex down. Keep that in mind on days you use body lotion or sunscreen under your shapewear.
Keep going: Shapewear compression levels explained: light vs firm and Comfortable shapewear for all-day wear at work: how to choose.
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Questions
Can I put shapewear in the dryer?
No. Shapewear brands like Leonisa and Colombiana Boutique say to keep it out of the dryer, and LYCRA notes that heat makes spandex lose elasticity faster. Lay it flat to air dry in the shade.
How often should I wash my faja?
Leonisa suggests every three to four wears. Colombiana Boutique suggests every 2 to 3 wears in cool weather and after every 1 to 2 wears on hot, sweaty days.
Can I machine wash shapewear?
Follow the care label first. Hand washing is gentlest. If a label allows the machine, Leonisa suggests the most delicate cold cycle, with hooks closed and the piece inside a mesh bag.
Should I use fabric softener on shapewear?
No. Leonisa says to skip fabric softener and bleach on delicates, and Colombiana Boutique says softener reduces stretch recovery.
Keep reading
Sources: Leonisa: how to wash delicates and shapewear · Colombiana Boutique: how to wash and store your fajas · LYCRA: what makes spandex lose elasticity · FTC: complying with the Care Labeling Rule