13 Tips to keep your pantyhose in one piece

By Nicole

The pantyhose is such a wonderful piece of clothing. They are a lifesaver for when you still want to wear your cute skirts and dresses in the autumn or winter. It is also the ideal solution if you are feeling insecure about your bare legs: no one will see that you glow in the dark, have forgotten to shave your legs or have any red spots. However, they also have a reputation for often causing us a lot of moments of panic. The runs that can occur in pantyhoses are no fun at all.

So should you stop wearing pantyhoses altogether, in fear that something might go wrong during the day? We think that's nonsense. There are quite a few ways around this, depending on your type of pantyhose. We've collected all of the most useful tips and tricks for you. This way you can put on your favourite skirt or dress in the morning without worrying about whether your pantyhose will make it through the day or not.

1. Buy the right pantyhose

The first tip we’ll give you is to spend just a little more money on them. Those super affordable pantyhoses are not worth worrying about whether they’ll stay in one piece. Cheap pantyhoses are made of low quality fibres. Cheap pantyhoses also often lack reinforced seams at the feet and crotch. All this means is that the pantyhoses are not strong and will easily become damaged. We all know where that will lead in no time: super long runners. Unless you have remembered to bring an extra with you, you’re stuck with quite a problem. It really doesn't look good to walk around with a wrecked pantyhose all day. When you’re just outdoors it's not so bad. However in a professional environment, like the office, it's definitely not a pleasant feeling to be dealing with it. Especially when it happens at the beginning of the day. If you live too far from the office to grab a new pair at home during breaktime you're stuck with it for the rest of the day.

You can choose, among other things, a special anti-runner pantyhose. These are sold by many different brands nowadays. You can also choose pantyhose with a higher denier: thicker pantyhose are automatically sturdier.

So, we recommend buying a pantyhose that costs a little more, rather than spending the whole day worrying whether the cheap one will last. Your anxiety is completely justified: cheap pantyhoses are known for their risk of runners. Should you really have to make do with a cheap pair, read on below to find out how you can best prevent damage.

2. Pre-treat the pantyhose

Preventing problems is easier than solving them, don't you think? There are two steps you can take to prepare your pantyhose to be worn. This will reduce the likelihood of holes and runners ruining your beautiful pantyhose. A good start is half the battle.

3. Pantyhose in the freezer

Yes, you read that correctly: the freezer. First rinse the pantyhose with cool water. Carefully squeeze out the water as far as possible. Then put the pantyhose in a plastic bag and tie it shut. Leave them in the freezer overnight and then thaw them out at room temperature. An invisible protective layer will have formed over the pantyhose.

4. Spray hairspray on your pantyhose

This trick takes a little less work and time: You can lightly spray the pantyhose with hairspray. This helps to prevent damage. Apply this trick after performing the above tip first: it will make the pantyhose extra sturdy.

5. Cut your nails to prevent runners

You only have to run a sharp fingernail along the sensitive pantyhose once and you've already got yourself a runner. Unfortunately, this often happens when putting them on. So it's a good idea to take care of your nails beforehand. Make sure to clip your fingernails as well as your toenails.

Clip your fingernails

First of all, it is important to cut your fingernails. This is one of the most common culprits for runners that form above the ankle. A quick trim and/or filing of the nails ensures this doesn't happen to you. Your pantyhose is now much safer from self-inflicted damage.

Clip your toenails

How long has it been since you’ve taken a good look at your toenails? Many people forget for days or even weeks to take a look at the state of their toenails. Before you know it, they are too long and it's not just your socks that are at risk of getting holes. Your delicate pantyhose are even more at risk! So make sure you keep your toenails short. It's even better if you take a little time to file any of the sharp edges that are left after cutting them. All in all, it won't take you more than a few minutes anyway. Cutting your nails might save you from an entire day of embarrassment by wearing a damaged pantyhose. No time, or feel the need for some extra security? Then we recommend you wear a pair of thin socks under your pantyhose.

6. Put on the pantyhose correctly

There is definitely a right way and a wrong way to put on your pantyhose. It's not a matter of preference. In order to make sure that you don't pull a runner into your pantyhose while you're putting them on, you should put them on in the following way. First, roll up the pantyhose until only the foot is left. Then carefully put your foot in with your toes curled down. Then, with care, you can slowly roll the pantyhose up your legs. Make sure that you do not hold your hand in the position of a claw, but that you keep your fingers as flat as possible against your leg. This way there is as little contact as possible between your toenails, fingernails and your pantyhose.

7. Pantyhose gloves

It might be you've never heard of them before: pantyhose gloves. We'll be honest: we didn't know about this either. But it doesn't sound like such a crazy idea. You don't have to worry about having sharp nails this way. You just put on your pantyhose gloves and your pantyhose is completely safe from runners when put it on. This also means you don’t have to cut your nails short to keep your pantyhose if that isn’t what you want to do.

8. Prepare your legs for a pantyhose accident

In the event of a serious runner exposing part of your leg, you'll want to be prepared. So even if you're wearing pantyhose, it's best to shave your legs. You never know when a hole or runner might eventually expose them.

9. ALWAYS take extra pantyhoses with you

The best thing you can do for yourself to create peace of mind is to take an extra pair of pantyhoses with you. You never know what kind of freak accidents could happen and you don't want to regret not doing it. An extra pantyhose takes up almost no space in your bag. Should it come in a somewhat large cardboard package, you can remove it and put the pantyhose in a plastic or cloth bag. We do not recommend you to just throw the pantyhose in your bag as is. There is a good chance that you have something sharp in your bag, like a pair of keys, which could damage the pantyhose.

10. Be careful with jewellery and watches

When you put on a pantyhose, it might be best to leave your ring off for once. A watch and jewellery worn on your wrist or hands are also capable of doing a lot of damage. Your forearms and hands often lean on your lap during the day. So just choose a nice necklace for today’s occasion. The rest is better off being left at home.

11. Wash your pantyhose the right way

Did you manage? Has your pantyhose survived the day without any runners in it? If so, you can of course use them again. In a moment we will tell you how to get them cleaned for next time.

Washing your pantyhose by hand

The best way to gently wash your pantyhose is by hand. To do this, mix a little detergent into a bucket of warm (not hot!) water. Make sure that if you wash your pantyhose by hand, you have short or at least not sharp nails. Otherwise, you run the risk of damaging them and you don't want to go through all of this trouble just for that to happen.

Washing your pantyhose in the washing machine

Don't feel like washing your pantyhose by hand? Then the washing machine is the way to go. There are two important steps you should take before putting them in the washing machine. Firstly, protect your pantyhose by putting them in a laundry bag, for example the ones used for washing bras. By the way, this is not the time to multitask! The pantyhose should not be placed in a laundry bag together with bras: their hooks can damage them during washing. Then make sure you select the right washing programme: a pantyhose should not be washed at a hotter temperature than 30 degrees Celsius. Also, the pantyhose should not be tumble dried or ironed.

12. Store them well

Your pantyhose has been washed and is now ready for another round. Next time you take them out of the closet, they shouldn't get caught on the way out on something and be torn to pieces. So where should you safely keep them until you need them again? We recommend taking this simple step to keep your pantyhose safe: keep the box it came in! Don't have it anymore? Then put the pantyhose in a separate small bag. They’re likely to fit in a small plastic sandwich bag, for example.

13. Help! I already have a hole or runner in my pantyhose

Have you got a hole or runner in your pantyhose and no back-up pantyhose on you? The only thing you can do now is to stop it from going from bad to worse. This is done by simply stopping the hole or runner from getting bigger. You can do this in two different ways. The first way is to apply a little nail polish around the edges of the hole/runner. This will prevent it from tearing any further. You can also use a good amount of hairspray as a second option: however, this does not offer the same level of sturdiness as the first.

Curious to read more about practical fashion tips on clothing and accessories? Here are some of our other interesting related blogs:

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