A good bra can change the way your clothes fit, how confident you feel, and how comfortable you are all day. But most of us can’t take care of our bra as well as we should. Your bras are one of—if not the—most important articles of clothing you own. Yet when it comes to care, they often get neglected. In fact, bras are probably also the most abused, mistreated garments we own. We throw them in the washing machine unprotected, bend their underwires, misshape their cups, wear them month after month without replacement, and then curse them when they’re not as comfortable or supportive as they once were. Because bras work so hard, a little extra care pays off in better comfort, smoother silhouettes under clothing, and far fewer “I can’t wait to take this off” moments.
Caring properly for your bras is important, but we’re all busy. It’s not realistic to expect every woman to take the time to hand-wash her bras every single time. So here are some tips on caring for your bras in a way that will extend their life and keep you looking forever stylish, without cramping your style. Think of these habits as small tweaks to your routine rather than a whole new chore list—once they are in place, they become second nature.
Why Bra Care Matters
Bras are made from delicate materials: elastic, lace, mesh, padding, and sometimes underwire. These don’t respond well to:
Avoid digging straps, gaping cups, and stretched-out bands
Ultimate Bra Care Guide: Make Your Bras Last Longer
With a few simple habits, you can keep your bras looking new, feeling supportive, and lasting much longer. This guide will show you how.
Washing and Drying
We know it’s best to hand-wash and soak your bras with either a gentle detergent like Woolite or a soda-based cleansing wash like Forever New. In fact, it can make your bra last up to 30 percent longer. When you wash bra in hand, gently press the soapy water through the fabric, then press the bra in a towel to remove excess water instead of wringing or twisting it, which can distort the cups and stretch the band.
But that doesn’t mean the washing machine is the enemy. Some things to keep in mind if you’re machine-washing your bras:
Don’t forget to check the tag. If your bra has special washing instructions, follow them.
A front-loading washer is ideal; it doesn’t have a drum and is therefore gentler on your clothes. However, if you don’t have one of these, be sure to use a netted garment bag (some are made especially for bras) or a protective casing like the plastic ball-shaped BraBABY. Using something like the BraBABY also helps retain the shape of the bra’s cups, which often end up getting crushed. When a bra is tossed in alone, without “protection,” a top-loading washing machine can be especially dangerous to straps and bands, as they can “catch” on the drum and get damaged. In the case of an underwire bra, the machine can damage the underwire by bending it or weakening the fabric, causing poke-through, so you’ll want to take extra care.
Be sure to first fasten the hooks, so they don’t catch on other garments.
Never use bleach, and always use a gentle detergent.
Put the machine on the gentlest cycle possible (most have a “delicate” cycle) and always use cold water. Bras are made from very sensitive fabrics and excessive heat can ruin them.
Don’t use fabric softener as well, especially on sports bras, because it coats the fibers, breaks down elastic more quickly, and can stop moisture-wicking fabrics from doing their job.
While washing your bras in washing machine can work if you’re careful, machine-drying is NEVER OK; the heat from the dryer is especially bad for your bras! You should always hang your bras or lay them flat to dry. A good option for helping your bra retain its shape while air-drying is the Bra Smart. You just place your bra into the bra-shaped plastic mold and let it dry with the help of ventilated slits in the plastic. It even comes with a hanger for hanging. If you are air-drying without a special mold, gently reshape the cups with your hands and drape the bra over a rack or towel so the band is supported and the straps aren’t bearing all the weight.
Whatever you do, do not dry clean or iron your bras. Again, exposing your bra to heat is a bad idea! High heat and harsh solvents can destroy delicate lace, satin, and decorative trims and accessories long before the bra “looks old” to the naked eye.
If you’re lucky enough to have a husband who does the laundry, either share these tips or put your bras aside and do them yourself. He may not “get” the importance of taking such care. An easy shortcut is to keep a small mesh bag in the hamper just for bras, with a note to always use cold water and the gentle cycle—this way anyone helping with laundry can follow your system.
Storing Your Bras
How you store your bras can also have an effect on their longevity. The best way to store bras is to lay them flat in a drawer (unhooked), one right after another. The cups of one bra can sit inside the cups of the next, with tissue paper placed in between. Never fold the cups or shove your bra into or through a too-tight space, as this can permanently damage the cups and underwire.
Molded and padded bras in particular should never have one cup flipped inside the other; soft, unlined styles are a bit more forgiving but still benefit from being laid out neatly. Avoid hanging bras by their straps for long-term storage, since this can stretch the straps and reduce support over time.
Packing Bras for Travel
Packing your bras for a trip can be especially troublesome. To avoid damaging them while travelling, place softer items like socks inside the cups to help them retain their shape, and nestle them into their own spot in your suitcase, preferably on the side where there aren’t any items on top of them. Try to surround them with lightweight clothing rather than shoes or heavy toiletry bags, which are more likely to crush the cups during travel. If you travel often or own expensive molded or push-up styles, a bra case can easily pay for itself by preventing misshapen cups and broken underwires.
More Tips to Extend the Life of Your Bra
Wash them frequently (if possible, after every use) to remove dirt and oil that accumulate during the day.
If you don’t wash your bras after every use, at the very least don’t wear the same bra day after day. Instead, rotate between three or four, giving each one a day or two in-between to “rest.” Contact with your body heat day after day will cause the bra to stretch and deteriorate faster.
Having a small “bra wardrobe” of everyday styles, sports bras, and special-occasion pieces means no single bra has to handle all the wear and tear. Sports bras and high-impact styles should be washed after every workout, since sweat, movement, and friction are much tougher on elastic and fabric than regular daily wear.
How to Know When It’s Time to Replace Your Bra
As a rule of thumb, a bra you wear a lot will need to be replaced after approximately six months because of stretching, wear, and tear—a small price to pay for comfort and support! Here are a few indicators that it’s time to give your bra the old heave-ho:
You find yourself moving to the tighter hook as time passes, indicating that the fabric is starting to stretch out.
The color starts to fade.
The fabric starts looking worn.
The underwire starts poking out.
Other red flags include the band riding up your back, straps digging in or constantly slipping down, or the center of the bra no longer resting against your chest signs the fit and support are no longer what they should be.
Utilize these tips, and you and your bras will have a long and happy life together! When you do replace a bra, consider getting measured or refitted—our bodies change over time, and the right size and style can be just as important as good care in keeping you comfortable and supported.
Conclusion
Taking care of your bra doesn’t have to be difficult or fussy. With simple changes in washing, drying, and storing, your bras will maintain their comfort, support, and appearance much longer. Utilize these tips and you and your bras will have a long and happy life together.
Founder & Editor of Textile Learner. He is a Textile Consultant, Blogger & Entrepreneur. Mr. Kiron is working as a textile consultant in several local and international companies. He is also a contributor of Wikipedia.
