For many women, tights are quintessential wardrobe items. They’re designed to serve a practical purpose—i.e., to provide the wearer with an extra layer of warmth and protection—but they can also be worn to show off the wearer’s legs and give their outfit some stylish flair. Tights are typically made from nylon or cotton, but some varieties also come in lycra and spandex. Such products offer a comfortable and snug fit that can give whoever wears them more confidence to flaunt their outfit of the day.
If your tights are among the MVPs of your wardrobe, they’re sure to get a lot of use. But that also makes even the best pairs more susceptible to damage. Remember that tights can easily get runs and tears when they’re not properly taken care of. If you’ve invested in top-quality tights and want to make them last for several seasons, here are five care tips you can follow to keep them in good shape for longer.
Put Them on the Correct Way
Although tights are made to accommodate some stretching, this doesn’t mean that they won’t break when tugged. Since most pairs of tights are also designed to be thin, they have a higher chance of getting ripped when you suddenly pull on them. Their waistbands can also overstretch, and when they lose their elasticity, they’ll no longer be able to fit you the right way.
To ensure that your tights won’t get damaged or lose their stretch so easily, it’s important to wear them properly. When you put on a pair of tights, don’t tug them by the waistband. Instead, bunch up the fabric, put one foot in, and gently roll it up above your knee before you start on the other leg. Then, gently pull up your tights to the waist, and you’re done.
Don’t forget to leave enough room in the toe area of a pair of full-length tights. This will keep your toenails from scratching the fabric and keep the pair usable for the longest possible time.
Handwash Your Tights
When it comes to keeping your tights clean, it’s recommended to handwash them instead of throwing them into the washing machine. Even a washing machine’s gentlest wash setting can still be too harsh on your tights and cause damage to your favorite pairs. Handwashing them is the best method because it’s gentler on the fabric and because you’ll be the one controlling the friction.
To ensure that you’re handwashing your tights properly, turn them inside out and use cold water. This way, you can prevent lint buildup while keeping the fabric’s strength intact. You should also use a mild detergent or a detergent formulated for delicate clothes so as not to damage your tights.
Be Careful if You Insist on Using the Washing Machine
If you’d still prefer to use your washing machine to wash your tights, you’ll need to do a little more preparation before you start the appliance.
First, set your washing machine to delicate mode so it can wash your tights with less risk of ripping them up. Next, place your tights inside a mesh laundry bag and wash them separately from the rest of your clothes. Finally, use cold water and mild detergent when washing your tights to preserve their stretch and the strength of their fabrics’ fibers.
Air-Dry Instead of Using the Dryer
It’s tempting to throw all your newly washed tights into the dryer to get them to dry quickly. However, using the dryer will damage your tights fast. Not only will the heat of the appliance destroy the fibers that prevent runs, but it’ll also cause your tights to shrink.
It’s always the better option to air-dry your tights. Hanging your tights on the clothesline, towel rack, or even your shower curtain rod will allow them to dry naturally, which is better than exposing them to the heat of the dryer. To avoid wrinkles, make sure that the tights aren’t bunched up when you hang them on your clothesline.
Store Your Tights Properly
Lastly, to get the most mileage out of your tights, you’ll want to store them properly. It may be tempting to stuff all your tights inside your closet or drawers with your socks and underwear. But in reality, this method can make your tights vulnerable to being pulled, laddered, or ripped up during storage.
One of the simplest and most effective ways to store your tights is to gently roll them up before you store them in your drawers. That way, your tights won’t end up in a tangled mess, and you won’t accidentally tug on the tights while fetching other items. If you have a lot of hanging space in your closet, on the other hand, you can hang your tights on coat hangers or pocket hangers. That will ensure that they stay organized and easy for you to access.
A good pair of tights will provide the wearer with warmth and comfort, as well as a more stylish touch to a variety of outfits. But because they’re more fragile than bottoms like pants or leggings, they need to be cared for properly so they won’t get damaged too easily. Use the tips listed above to keep your tights in good condition and ready to be added to your favorite ensembles.
