Clean-as-new Ballet Tights

Well, I've found it. The answer to my most disquieting question, "Can I ever get stockings or tights good-as-new clean?" I thought I had left this question behind in my mid-twenties, when wearing tights or stockings at all became futile. Small children ripped them almost instantly; $7-$9 a pair down the drain. I just stopped wearing them. As my Mo is in her 4th or 5th year of ballet, however, I am back to asking that question once again. Those tights are so nice right out of the package, but one wearing and those pesky grey marks around the feet just ruin them.

I've tried the little lingerie bags in the washing machine, detergent for delicates, soaking in the sink. I get passable, not great, results. Finally, I took to googling. I did find one suggestion for Hosiery Mate, which I did not try; and one suggestion for soaking in dish soap, which I did try. What actually worked?

I soaked the tights in Dawn and warm water (everything I read said hot water will break down the elastic) for about 30 minutes, and scrubbed the feet as best I could. That got better than average results, but they didn't look close to new. I followed this up however by lathering up the feet with plain old bathtub soap (Dove unscented). This made the difference between passable and angels-singing-the-Hallelujah-Chorus-in-your-head clean. I've included a shot of the tights I washed. One pair has been in use since last April, and the other has been used 3 times a week since the beginning of September.

I've also included the song I heard when I finished.