How to Keep Your Expensive Lingerie Looking New

They were blush pink, lacy, and delicate. They made you feel like a million bucks when you wore them.

At least they did until you tossed them into your clothes dryer. The little elastic shards that popped out while they were going round and round made you feel you'd wasted your hard-earned money.

Delicate bras, panties, camisoles, slips, and other pieces of lingerie are manufactured to make you feel lovely as well as comfortable. And to make you want to eagerly part with a good chunk of your paycheck. The problem is, if you don't take care of them properly, they'll soon hit the trash can.

These days, you have your choice of many fabrics. What you buy governs how you should maintain the garments. According to the September 2007 issue of Washington Women, the main fabrics available now include:

Cotton: It's a perennial favorite of some women because of the way it absorbs moisture and how comfortable it feels against your skin. Of all the fabrics used today, it's the most reasonably priced and the easiest to maintain.

Lycra: This fabric is synthetic and contains elastic for tight-fitting lingerie. It's also lightweight, resistant to tears and rips, and stretchy.

Silk: Real silk is so-o- delicate . . . it's smooth and should wear a long time. It also absorbs moisture to keep you cool in hot weather and warm when the temperature plummets.

Satin: True satin is manufactured from silk plus synthetics such as acetate and rayon. It appears fetchingly glossy and feels soft and slippery. Most satin on the market in the United States is made from synthetic material such as rayon, acetate, and nylon. It usually looks great but can be tough to maintain.

You didn't buy pretty undergarments because they looked like the torn jeans in your closet. You can't just toss them into the washer with high-octane laundry detergent and recognize the product you pull out of the machine. Read the label first. Some lingerie might actually need to be dry cleaned. A number of pieces might have to be washed by hand to look good, while others could repeatedly make it through the washer.