How and what to wash thermal underwear in a washing machine

Thermal underwear is a must-have for any winter. Specific clothing saves you from the cold and does not lose its heat-saving properties if you know the rules of care. We will tell you how to wash thermal underwear in a washing machine.

Study the tags

When the product is in your hands, do not forget to look at the label - the manufacturer has carefully included care information on it.

Explanation of instructions on the tag:

a container filled with water/crossed out washing machine icon – the item can only be washed by hand, machine spinning is prohibited;
numbers with a degree symbol – the maximum water temperature for washing;
image of a washing machine with a horizontal line - used gentle mode;
crossed out triangle – the use of bleaches is strictly prohibited;
iron – indicates the permissibility of ironing. Usually this is an icon with one dot inside, which indicates the possibility of ironing at temperatures up to 110 degrees;
crossed out circle – dry cleaning is prohibited.

Focus on the composition

If the label is cut off, look at the ingredients. Functional products are made from fabric with a unique weave. The basis is fibers of various origins: synthetic, natural, innovative.

Synthetics

Blends of synthetic fibers (viscose, polyester, polypropylene, acrylic) are ideal for extreme sports. They successfully retain heat and remove excess moisture.

To ensure that the item does not lose its declared properties, washing is carried out in a gentle mode at a temperature of 30 degrees. Synthetic models do not like machine spinning or drying.

Detailed recommendations:

polypropylene – the most effective in terms of heat-saving characteristics, as it produces zero absorption values. Requires a delicate approach, does not tolerate bleaches and chlorine-containing products. Temperature 30 degrees, no spin, no drying.
polyester – products of this class are usually used for sports. The underwear does not allow moisture to pass through and leaves the skin dry. The material is not very demanding, but can be washed separately from other things. Temperature – no higher than 40 degrees, the fiber does not like high temperatures. Machine washable on a delicate cycle, without spinning or drying. Priority is given to liquid, special detergents;
viscose – artificial cellulose fiber creates a feeling of coolness in the heat. Does not cause allergies. He needs a delicate regime, temperature up to 30 degrees. No machine spinning or drying, otherwise the item will shrink;
acrylic – as a rule, manufacturers offer mixed thermal underwear based on acrylic, polyester, and wool. The thing is warm, comfortable, and wicks away moisture well. The permissible washing temperature is 30-35 degrees, without spinning. Programs – wool, hand wash, delicate wash or synthetics. Additional rinsing is welcome. It is permissible to use conditioners and rinse aids, special bags for washing;
elastane – the product stretches and loses its shape due to rough washing.Use gentle manual mode And gel cleansers;
fleece – the texture is undemanding and successfully withstands gentle spinning in the washing machine. The fabric is cleaned using professional products.

Note! When washing by hand, a weak spin is included in the algorithm; in delicate washing it is absent.

Cotton

Products based on natural cotton, bamboo, soy fiber, and milk protein are intended for daily wear. They are not as durable as synthetics and carry some risks. If thermal underwear becomes saturated with moisture, it will lose its protective properties.

Proper care:

programs: delicate, hand wash, cotton at a temperature of 30-40 degrees;
Rinsing at low speed is acceptable. It takes 4 cycles to completely remove detergent;
the best choice is washing powder based on natural soap;
the fabric does not tolerate rough spinning, stain removers and chlorine-containing bleaches.

If the cotton fiber contains a small percentage of merino wool, a delicate wash at 30 degrees is required. Cleaning gel for wool fabrics is used.

Merino wool

Wool requires careful handling. Sets made from merino wool are high quality and warm, but difficult to care for. The products are characterized by antibacterial properties, so they should not be washed as often as cotton or synthetic ones.

It is important! When sweat stays inside merino thermal underwear for a long time, and the longer it is worn before washing, the more unpleasant and stronger the smell. This effect is strong in wool, in which it loses to polypropylene.

Rules of care:

temperature – 30 degrees;
Machine wash in the "wool" mode ("Hand wash wool", "Tender wave", Golden cashmere"), delicate mode, children's, manual mode;
without automatic spinning - excess moisture is removed by hand;
without machine drying - carried out outdoors in a straightened form. Without direct sunlight, away from batteries and heating devices;
load 2 sets of thermal underwear into the drum, no more. There should be no waffle, terry towels, denim products, teddy bears, etc. together with it. This will provoke the formation of pellets, the fabric will felt and deform;
choose special detergents, without bleach;
use additional rinsing.

Recommendations are relevant for thermal underwear made of sheep wool, long fur of the Angora rabbit.

Frequency of care

Functional products have a tricky structure, due to which heat exchange occurs. The fibers form microcells that become clogged with dust and pieces of skin.

Pay attention to the timeliness of washing. Complex stains can ruin the fabric – it will lose its declared properties. The product will not let air through, and moisture will stop evaporating from the skin.

Important! Destructive changes in thermal underwear are noticeable when it freezes.

The frequency of machine washing depends on the purpose of the item:

for intensive sports training – daily, after each visit to the gym;
underwear for daily use – 2-3 times a week.

Washing machine modes

Thermal underwear that has stretched from washing loses its appearance and moisture-wicking properties. To prevent this from happening, choose the washing mode correctly.

Recommendations from experts:

For any types of functional fiber, set a gentle, cold mode. Acceptable programs: “Wool”, “Delicate”, “Handmade”, “Silk”, “Sensitive”, “Delicate linen” and so on;
if the temperature is set manually, turn the relay 30-40 degrees. Too hot water will disrupt the fibrous structure, the fabric will stretch, lose its shape and ability to thermoregulate;
To avoid damaging the fabric, turn off the spin cycle. Progressive washing machines have a delicate spin - its use is acceptable;
To completely rinse out detergents, turn on an additional rinse (“Super Rinse”, “Hygiene Plus”). The machine will dispense a large amount of water and wash away any remaining powder.

Don't forget to turn the item inside out. For complete safety, place it in a special washing bag.

What to put in the tray

Functional clothing requires the selection of special powders. Regular detergent is not suitable - it does not rinse completely and clogs the cells of the fabric. Thermal underwear will no longer serve its purpose after the first wash.

Overview of suitable detergents:

special - designed for thermal items, widely available in household chemicals departments. Of the minuses, we note the high cost, but this is compensated by the quality of the product. The detergent does not damage the material and carefully removes stains and unpleasant odors. The bonus strengthens the fiber and the fabric begins to “breathe”;
liquid gels – without losing efficiency, they outperform classic dry powders due to their softer effect. The formula penetrates deeply into thermal underwear, removes complex protein contaminants, and fights unpleasant odors.

Additional recommendations for choosing detergents

Materials containing polypropylene require products with antistatic properties. Polyester underwear likes special powder or products based on laundry soap. The fabric does not tolerate chlorine - it will destroy it and the item will have to be thrown away.

Woolen thermal underwear is washed with powders for delicate, woolen fabrics. The use of chlorine-containing substances is unacceptable. Special products are used even if wool is not the main ingredient in the product.

Thermal underwear made of merino and other types of wool does not tolerate powders with enzymes. Detergents gradually gnaw through the fiber structure and spoil the item, reducing durability and strength. On the other hand, powders without enzymes are worse at washing out protein stains that eat into the fabric. Gel detergents are the best choice.

Enzyme powders are powerless on synthetics. The bulk of protein stains are on the surface of the thermal underwear and partly come off on their own. It is enough to choose a gentle temperature mode paired with a special or gel product.

All types of thermal underwear respond well to rinses, conditioners. Additional treatment will give the product softness, a pleasant aroma, and preserve the color. It is enough to add 1 cap during the final rinse.

Conclusions

Thermal underwear is great for machine washing. Choose the appropriate mode and detergent, maintain the appearance and functionality of any, even the most innovative fabric.