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This $10 Product Is Changing the Way I Do Laundry (And Making My Life Easier!)

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By Mitra Sorrells Mar 28, 2017, 4:09 PM ET

I remember when I first started buying high quality (Read: Expensive!) bras and lingerie, I diligently followed the instructions on the tags that said hand wash. It was part of my Saturday morning routine—standing in front of the sink gently washing and rinsing each item. At first I didn’t mind the task, but then I started slacking. After all, there are sooo many better things to do on a Saturday morning. Such as brunch. And one Saturday at such a brunch I griped to a girlfriend about the frustration of dirty bras piling up in my laundry basket, waiting to be washed by hand. She looked at me with an expression of bewilderment. “Don’t you own laundry bags to wash your bras in the machine?” she asked. Huh? Which led to a detailed and enthusiastic explanation from her—followed by the arrival in my mailbox that Monday of the Bagail set of five laundry bags.

Thus, I became a believer, and I’m here to share this wisdom with you. A bit of a backstory: The reason bras, lacy lingerie and other delicate pieces are generally supposed to be hand-washed is because these items can easily be snagged, twisted, and stretched during the vigorous motion of a machine wash cycle. Mesh laundry bags remove that risk, protecting the items inside, while still allowing water and soap to flow through the small holes (small enough to ensure bra hooks don’t pop through—mandatory!). One thing I love about these bags is the zipper, as they’re made of colorful plastic that feels sturdy and won’t rust or snag delicate items. And when the zipper is closed, the pull tab tucks under a strip of elastic, which means you won’t hear them banging on your laundry drum during the cycle. I use my bags to wash all sorts of things, not just bras and lingerie but also strappy sundresses, tights, sweaters—pretty much anything that I think would get damaged in the wash. (Bonus: They’re also a great solution to keep socks together.)

The set comes with two small bags, two medium and one really big 24-by-24-inch bag, which I’ve used to wash my sneakers and even a shower curtain.

So, grab a set of these, or one of the similar versions we rounded up below, and your laundry routine will be a faster, more efficient process going forward, I promise. One more tip: Mesh laundry bags make a great gift for students going off to college or young people moving into their own apartment (or, ahem, slightly older people who may still be hand-washing their delicates!).