As the world's largest specialty retailer of lingerie, Victoria's Secret has become the go-to shop for fashion-forward bras, panties, lingerie, sleepwear, and casual wear. Loyal Victoria's Secret shoppers flock to more than 1,350 retail stores and the website to rack up annual worldwide sales of nearly $7 billion. By any measure, that is a lot of lingerie!

Known for its signature bras -- including Dream Angels, Body by Victoria, and the T-Shirt Bra collections -- Victoria's Secret made an indelible mark on the lingerie market by focusing on fit, fashion, and quality at affordable price points. Their attractive storefronts have demystified the lingerie shopping experience and transformed look of the American mall. 

But while the "secret" is definitely out, one question remains for fans of this popular brand: What's the best way to wash and care for VS lingerie? Can it be washed by machine? And what's the best way to do it?

Heritage Park Laundry Essentials is here with answers. Read on to learn our "secrets" to successfully washing your VS bras, panties, shapewear, and sleepwear without causing damage!

Start By Choosing the Right Detergent

When it comes to cleaning Victoria's Secret bras and panties, you most certainly want a detergent that cleans well, as these garments are subject to a variety of environmental and biological stains. At the same time, you should choose a detergent that won't damage the fabric or cause irritation; after all, this is "intimate apparel" that touches the most delicate parts of your sensitive skin. Regular detergent is simply too harsh while lingerie detergent doesn't always get the job done.

The good news is you don't need a specialty detergent just for delicates and lingerie. 

Heritage Park All-Purpose Laundry Detergent is an all-purpose product that's perfect for washing Victoria's Secret bras and underwear. The fragrance-free, concentrated, pH-neutral formula is hypoallergenic, non-irritating, and dermatologist tested. Our detergents contain no dyes, sulfates, phosphates, chlorine, bleach or brighteners. Instead, they contain natural, plant-based ingredients (read more about our ingredients here) including a proprietary blend of enzymes that work to remove most common stains; you can learn more about laundry enzymes here. This gentle detergent is also dermatologist tested. (Note: we also offer All-Purpose Detergent in Lavender Mist and Shore Breeze for those preferring a light scent).

Important Care Note for Silk: Any pure silk or silk blend garment should not be laundered with an enzyme detergent. Enzymes break down proteins to remove stains; however, they can degrade the integrity of silk, which is itself a protein-based fiber. For any silk or silk blend lingerie, use Heritage Park Silk and Wool Laundry Detergent. This formula will get your Victoria's Secret silk garments clean without damaging the delicate fabric.

Treat Stains Promptly / Pre-Treat for Best Results

In an ideal world, you'd be able to treat any stain as soon as it occurs. But -- as we know -- life doesn't always work that way. But you will have a better result if you treat stains sooner rather than later. Here are a few tips for tackling stains on your Victoria's Secret garments:

• Blot or rinse stains as soon as you possibly can, ideally from the reverse side to "force" the stain out of the fabric
• Blood stains should be rinsed in cold water; hot water will cause the blood to coagulate and stick
• Use an enzyme spray to pre-treat stains or make your own pre-soak with a concentrated solution of Heritage Park All-Purpose Detergent
• Pro tip: Keep a small wash basin in your laundry room prepped and ready to pre-soak so you can toss items in that you don't have time to launder immediately

Click here to learn more about how to handle various types of stains. Note: as we said above, you should never use enzyme detergent on silk. However, you may use an enzyme detergent or stain remover on a very occasional basis to treat a stain on silk; be sure to test first on an inconspicuous area.

Fine Mesh Wash Bags: Your Victoria's Secret Lingerie's Best Friend

Your washing machine -- especially if it has an agitator mechanism -- is a rough environment for your lingerie. Along with the agitator's potential to twist, tangle, and stretch your lingerie, the inside of your machine may have metal nicks and burrs that can do serious damage to your favorite VS bra or panty. This is why we always recommend investing in a set of fine mesh laundry bags and using them religiously when machine washing. Made from 100% premium 70-gram fine woven polyester micro mesh, our wash bags feature a high-quality zipper closure with elastic cover that keeps your items secure and stays quiet in the machine. The gusseted bottom expands to let items move freely inside so your items get clean while staying well protected. (Of course, if you are hand washing in a sink or utility tub there is no reason to use a lingerie bag).

Simple Steps for Washing Your Victoria's Secret Bras, Lingerie, Shapewear, and Sleepwear

By following these guidelines, you will be able to launder your Victoria's Secret bras, panties, shapewear, and sleep garments successfully at home in your machine.

• Always read the care instructions and content label any garment before washing. This is especially important for learning if your item contains silk (which means an enzyme-free detergent) or any embellishments or lace that require special care like hand washing only. 
• For Victoria's Secret bras, rotate them daily. A day of rest will allow the elastic band and straps to regain their shape, which will help them last longer. A good rule: one bra in the wash, one bra to wear, one bra to spare.
• Fasten any bra hooks or closures, and any buttons on shapewear, nightgowns or sleepwear before washing. 
• Place delicate items in a fine mesh bag before you wash.
• Choose the absolute most delicate cycle with minimal spin and do not overload your machine. (Most underwire bras can even be machine washed on a delicate or hand-wash cycle).
• Use cool water to lukewarm water.
• Use the appropriate amount of Heritage Park laundry detergent. Use All-Purpose Laundry Detergent for cotton and synthetic fabrics, Silk and Wool Detergent for natural fibers.
• NEVER use fabric softener or bleach, which can damage the fabric of your bra/lingerie and cause yellowing/fading of color.
• Don't wring if your intimates are still wet after washing. Blot on a towel to remove excess water.
• Hang your bras and lingerie to dry. The heat of the dryer will damage the elastic in these garments (especially shapewear!) and can cause the fabric/padding in your VS bra to dimple and lose shape. Lay bras flat to dry or hang them (not by the straps) over a drying rack or clipped upside down by the band to dry.

Following these guidelines can definitely help you effectively clean your Victoria's Secret garments to make them last and stay beautiful longer.

Heritage Park Laundry Essentials

At Heritage Park, caring for fine fabric is our passion. As lifelong collectors of luxury sheets, towels, and cloths, we found many commercially available "gentle detergents" either damaged our fabrics or didn't get the job done, leaving stains. We knew we could do better. So we developed a formula with the perfect balance of powerful -- yet safe -- ingredients designed to remove tough, set-in stains while remaining gentle on luxury linens. Please connect with us at (800) 977-1841 or visit our store or email us with any product feedback or cleaning questions.