How to care for your hosiery

Hosiery can have a profoundly positive impact on a finished look when dressing up, but unfortunately it can seem difficult to properly care for your hosiery, especially how quickly a pair can snag.  It is very annoying when a fingernail snags a thread in your favorite tights/pantyhose, ripping a run or a hole.  Even more annoying is when you find out that your favorite style is no longer commercially available. You can take steps, however, to take better care of your hosiery so that you can extend their lifespan and get better use out of them.

First and foremost, you are going to want to keep sharp or jagged edges away from your tights/pantyhose when putting them on. Make sure that your nails are smooth and free from chips, and take off any rings or other jewelry before you put your hosiery on. 


You gather each of the legs at the ankle, and then smooth over the foot and the leg gently. Do not jerk or pull as you go. Your hands should work up from the front to the back of the leg, pulling each of the legs equally.

Make sure that you stretch the yarns simultaneously when you put them on, while ensuring that you get a smooth appearance. You should be as gentle when you take your hosiery off. Keep in mind that some areas are more prone than others to accidents. 

The best way to wash your hosiery is to wash by hand. If you do not want to wash them by hand, then the best thing for you to do is to wash in a cool cycle in the machine using a lingerie bag designed specifically for hosiery. Make sure that you hang them up to dry after you spin dry them in the lingerie bag.  Never put them into the dryer.  


Once they are dry, store them in ziplock bags to protect them from any rough edges in the drawers.