To wash shapewear, hand wash it in cool water with a mild detergent, gently press out the water and lay it flat to air dry. If you use a machine, choose a cold, delicate cycle with the piece inside a mesh laundry bag. Skip hot water, the dryer, bleach and fabric softener, since they wear out the stretch.
Good care keeps the hold, the smooth finish and the fit you paid for. Below are step-by-step hand and machine methods, a stain table, storage tips and a simple rotation plan.
Should you hand wash or machine wash shapewear?
Hand washing is the gentlest option and the best choice for pieces with boning, hooks, lace or silicone grip bands. Machine washing is fine for simple seamless pieces when you use the right settings. Here is how to do both.
How to hand wash shapewear
- Fill a clean sink or basin with cool or lukewarm water.
- Add a small amount of mild detergent and swish to dissolve it.
- Close any hooks or zippers, then turn the piece inside out.
- Submerge and soak for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Gently squeeze the suds through the fabric, paying extra attention to the gusset and waistband.
- Rinse in clean cool water until no suds remain.
- Press out water with your hands. Do not wring or twist.
- Roll the piece in a dry towel to absorb more water, then lay it flat to dry.
A seamless knit like the Tummy Control Seamless Bodysuit responds well to hand washing. Fasten the bottom snaps before it goes in the water so they do not snag the fabric, and give the thin straps a gentle squeeze rather than a tug.
How to machine wash shapewear
- Close all hooks, zippers and snaps.
- Turn the piece inside out and place it in a mesh laundry bag.
- Wash with similar lightweight items. Keep it away from towels, jeans and anything with zippers.
- Choose the delicate or hand-wash cycle with cold water and a low spin.
- Use a mild detergent and leave out softener.
- Take it out as soon as the cycle ends and reshape it while damp.
How should you dry shapewear?
Always air dry. Lay the piece flat on a drying rack or a clean towel, smoothing the fabric so it dries in its natural shape. Pieces with a waistband can also hang from the waistband, out of direct sun.
Keep shapewear away from radiators, heaters and hot sunny windows. Thick, multi-layer pieces may take a full day to dry, so plan your wash day around when you need them.
What ruins shapewear elastic?
Most shapewear gets its stretch from spandex or elastane blended with nylon. Those fibers are strong, but a few habits break them down quickly.
- Heat: hot water, the dryer and ironing weaken spandex and can leave it saggy or brittle.
- Bleach: chlorine bleach eats through elastic fibers and can discolor nude and dark shades.
- Fabric softener and dryer sheets: they coat the fibers, reduce stretch and make silicone grip strips less tacky.
- Wringing and twisting: this stretches the knit out of shape and can bend boning.
- Back-to-back wear: elastic needs about a day to recover its shape between wears.
Structured pieces need the most care. The Tummy Control Shaping Shorts have flexible boning in the waistband, a non-slip grip lining and sheer mesh panels, so hand washing and flat drying protect the boning and keep the grip lining tacky.
How do you remove common stains from shapewear?
Treat stains as soon as you can, always with cool water, and test any product on an inside seam first. This table covers the stains shapewear sees most often.
| Stain | What to do | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Makeup or foundation | Dab a little mild dish soap or detergent on the spot, work it in gently, rinse cool | Rubbing hard, which spreads the stain |
| Deodorant marks | Soak 15 minutes in cool water with mild detergent, then rinse | Hot water, which sets the residue |
| Body oil or lotion | Apply mild dish soap to cut the oil, let it sit 10 minutes, rinse cool | Solvents on silicone grip strips |
| Blood | Rinse right away in cold water, then dab with mild detergent | Warm or hot water |
| Yellowing on light shades | Soak in cool water with an oxygen-based, color-safe brightener, then rinse well | Chlorine bleach |
How often should you wash shapewear?
Anything worn directly against the skin, such as bodysuits, briefs and shaper shorts, is best washed after every wear. Body oils and perspiration build up in the fibers and break down elastic faster than washing does.
Pieces worn over a layer, like a waist shaper over a cami or leggings over underwear, can go two or three wears if they still look and smell fresh. Always wash new shapewear once before the first wear, after you have tried it on and decided to keep it.
Why should you rotate pairs of shapewear?
Elastic stretches while you wear it and slowly springs back when it rests. Wearing the same piece several days in a row never gives it that rest time, so it loosens faster and the hold softens.
A simple rule is to own at least two of anything you wear often: one on your body and one resting or drying. For daily wear, three is easier, since thicker pieces can take a day to air dry.
Everyday staples like the High-Waist Shaping Leggings are easy to rotate. They have light shaping, opaque breathable fabric and an anti-slip silicone waistband, so a cold delicate cycle without softener keeps that grip working.
How should you store shapewear?
- Fold, do not hang knit bodysuits and shorts, since hanging can stretch straps and shoulders over time.
- Keep pieces flat with boning laid straight, not bent or crushed in a full drawer.
- Close hooks and zippers before storing so they do not snag nearby lace or mesh.
- Store clean and fully dry to avoid odors and mildew.
- Keep away from sunlight to prevent fading in nude and colored shades.
If you are still deciding which pieces to add to your rotation, our guide on how to choose shapewear covers control levels and styles. You can also browse shaper shorts and leggings and seamless bodysuits, or read our FAQ for shipping and returns.
FAQ
Can you put shapewear in the dryer?
It is best not to. Dryer heat breaks down spandex and can warp boning and silicone grip strips. Lay shapewear flat or hang it in the shade to air dry.
How often should you wash shapewear?
Wash pieces worn against the skin, such as bodysuits, briefs and shaper shorts, after every wear. Pieces worn over a layer can go two or three wears if they still smell and look fresh.
Can I use fabric softener on shapewear?
Skip it. Softener coats the fibers, which weakens stretch and makes silicone grip bands less tacky. A gentle, mild detergent is all shapewear needs.
Why did my shapewear lose its stretch?
The usual causes are hot water, dryer heat, bleach, fabric softener and wearing the same piece several days in a row. Rotating pairs and air drying help elastic last longer.
Can I return shapewear after washing it?
Returns need to be unworn and unwashed with tags, within 30 days of delivery. Try pieces on over underwear before the first wash so you can still exchange the size.