Fortunately, if you are careful and smart you can use a modern washing machine for your items. Here’s how.

Firstly, make sure that you have an underwear wash bag as you’ll need to put your items into these inside your washing machine. This prevents any delicate embroidery or ties from being snagged on the agitator as the washing machine rotates. When putting items into the underwear bag, apply a mild detergent to any spot stains you need to attend to.

Do not fill the bag completely full and before putting them in the bag, make sure that any clips on things like bras are done up so they do not tangle up or tear any lace or embroidery detail. We suggest that you buy a number of mesh washing bags and half fill each bag rather than have just one or two bags that are tightly filled. After all, you spent a lot of money on your items so a few extra dollars on mesh washing bags is certainly worth it.

Use only cold water cycles on your washing machine, and if your machine has a cold, delicate cycle choose that. Washing lingerie in a warm or hot cycle is a recipe for disaster, as fabrics like satin are very susceptible to shrinkage and respond poorly to heat.

Before the spin cycle starts remove your items from the machine because it is the spin cycle where the most damage to lingerie items is usually done. Do not wring them dry, because this can wrinkle and damage your items. If you need to remove excess water, try putting them between two towels and pressing out the excess water that way.

If you are hanging your items on the line, do so with the items inside out or alternatively dry on a low temperature heater. Some ideas include putting the items on a clothes-horse under a heat pump on low temperature, near a wall mounted heater, or beside an oil column heater. Your goal is to dry the items slowly rather than rapidly so there is no shrinkage or excessive-wear on them.

If you have a question or want to share with us your thoughts about products or styles on Twitter, please do by using @intimatesau in your Tweets. We look forward to hearing from you.

We feel the fabrics, styles, stitching and attention to detail of the European lingerie we sell makes a huge difference which is why we don’t stock many of the other brands that customers may be used to here in Australia. Seeing is believing and we’re confident that those who receive the items we sell love them and we get many more positive comments about what we sell than anything else.

Lingerie that enhances what a woman loves about herself will make a woman feel comfortable, sensual and confident both for a romantic night with her special someone, as well as when wearing other clothing on top. This is even more true as many women are choosing to wear items that would once be considered the realm of lingerie-only, as clubwear.

Intimates.com.au now has two versions of our popular website – for browsing and buying on both mobile phones or desktop/laptop computers. The mobile based version will let you browse categories and items, add them to the cart, check your account for progress of an order or to view your order history, and to complete check out to purchase an item. The same security encryption technology called SSL will apply on your mobile phone as does in the regular store, so you can still buy online with the same confidence and pleasure as you did before. The same payment methods are supported and once you’ve completed an order you can check it in your order history on your laptop or home computer later.

To use the new system just open a web browser on your mobile phone and come to our shopping website at www.intimates.com.au. The website will detect you’re viewing the site on a mobile and change the view of the site appropriately. You can also choose to view the main site from your mobile if that’s what you prefer.

We’re excited about this new innovation, taking shopping for lingerie on intimates.com.au to the next level.

When buying from a selection of many items you love, how can you choose? While sensuality, sensitivity, style and fabric will indeed play a big part in your decision, as will colour, ultimately it should be comfort that is the deciding factor. This comes down to how you will feel wearing that item as much as it does how it fits your body shape. If you feel uncomfortable wearing an item because it accentuates part of your body you do not feel comfortable with, or an item like crotchless stockings is just out of your comfort zone, then you will not enjoy wearing the piece at all. There’s no point in wearing an item just for the sake of it.

How do you know what’s comfortable when buying online? Here are a few tips.

• Choose a fabric and style that you like the look of then go to some local shops and either try on or buy an item made from the same fabric. See how it feels on you and imagine yourself wearing the item that you’ve seen online. You may be able to buy something else from the same brand to see how it fits. Does the size match up with what you normally wear or do you need to make an over-or undercorrection. Also remember to research the fabric and read reviews of other garments made from the same materials as the one you want to buy. Imagine how it will fit you.
• Look at the size chart on the site before you buy. Measure yourself if necessary. Compare the measurements of the size you are thinking of buying to something in your wardrobe that you know fits you well. This will give you a point of reference to help you choose.
• Ask the store – they will be willing to answer your questions, and may even be able to ask the manufacturer if you have a question they cannot answer

If you’re buying for someone else, the same rules apply. Put yourself in the shoes of the girl wearing the item – how will it make her feel given what you know about her. Does it physically fit her measurements (look at other items in her underwear drawer if you’re not sure). Is it something she would like to wear or you have talked about her wearing? Is it something like what she has worn before? You are not choosing for yourself, you are choosing for her.

Every woman is different, and what makes one woman comfortable wiso don’t buy something because you like the picture, buy it because she will love it. Your goal is to make her feel special, and sexy in the lingerie that you’ve chosen.

Start by playing detective. Wait until she’s out and raid her underwear drawer. Even if she doesn’t have much in the way of lingerie at the moment, you can still get her size from her existing bras and panties. Check the tags, and remember to look at a few different ones. If she has lingerie already, check out the brand names that she seems to prefer. Write down the sizes that she prefers to wear and then you have some specifications to take to the lingerie shop.

Think about what your girlfriend’s style is. She is going to be happiest with something that makes her comfortable. Is she a romantic who adores frills everywhere, or is she a girl-next-door type who prefers saucy, flirty boy shorts? Maybe she is more daring and loves underwear and lingerie that is barely there! A quick look through her lingerie drawer will help you figure out what she likes.

Don’t forget to think about the color as well. Once again, use your experience to your best advantage. What does she wear when she’s feeling romantic or sexy? Black is a very common choice, and it tends to look good on women of all skin tones, so when in doubt, consider black. Of course, if she has a favorite color, that is typically a safe bet as well!

Take a few minutes to figure out what your girlfriend or wife wants in terms of her lingerie, and remember that you’ll be the one reaping the rewards!