I bought a mesh laundry bag once. The zipper broke on the third wash. The bag itself frayed by the tenth. And somehow — I still do not understand how — a bra strap worked its way through the mesh and wrapped around the agitator like a tourniquet.

Then my mom visited and watched me wrestle a tangled pile of delicates out of the washer. She walked to the linen closet, grabbed a pillowcase, and changed my laundry game forever.

Why a Pillowcase Beats a Mesh Bag

Mesh bags are designed to let water and detergent flow through. That part works. The problem is they also let friction through. Delicates inside a mesh bag still rub against other items in the wash — the mesh just means they rub through a layer of netting. Which is better than nothing, sure. But not great.

A pillowcase provides a solid fabric barrier. Your delicates are completely separated from jeans, towels, and anything with zippers or hooks. They still get clean — cotton pillowcases are permeable enough for water and detergent to pass through. But the mechanical agitation? It does not reach them.

I have washed the same lace-trimmed camisole 50 times in a pillowcase and it still looks new. The mesh bag version of the same camisole started fraying after 20 washes.

How to Do It

1. Put your delicates in a cotton pillowcase. Not polyester — polyester is less permeable. An old, soft pillowcase works best. Fill it no more than halfway so items can move freely.
2. Tie the open end in a loose knot. Not tight — you want water to flow in and out. Just tight enough that nothing escapes. Some people use a rubber band or a hair tie. I just knot the fabric.
3. Wash on cold, delicate cycle, low spin. The pillowcase will trap some air and float at first. That is normal. It will sink once it absorbs water.
4. Remove from pillowcase immediately after the cycle ends. Do not let wet delicates sit — that is how mildew starts.

What Goes in the Pillowcase

• Lingerie and underwear with lace, elastic, or delicate straps
• Silk and satin — anything that snags easily
• Swimwear — the pillowcase prevents straps from stretching around agitators
• Tights and hosiery — these are basically delicate magnets for zippers
• Anything with beads, sequins, or embroidery — these catch on everything

Drying Tips

Most delicates should not go in the dryer at all. I lay them flat on a towel on top of the dryer — the residual warmth speeds up drying without heat damage. If you must use the dryer, keep them in the pillowcase and use the lowest heat setting. The pillowcase adds an extra layer of protection.

For sweaters and anything that might stretch, always dry flat. Hanging wet knits stretches the fibers and you end up with weirdly elongated shoulders.