Wash your bra? What, the what? Did you even know that you were supposed to wash your bra? After all, if you wash your favorite bra, that means taking it off, potentially ruining it FOREVER, and not being able to wear it for at least a day while it air-dries, right? Plus, considering that lingerie experts (yes, there really is such a thing) estimate that the average woman owns 9 bras but only actually wears 5-6 of them during the course of a year, bra washing becomes one of those forgotten tasks. If you’re like most women, you take it off, give it a sniff, and if it smells okay, you hang it back up on a hook in your closet or leave it on your dresser for tomorrow, right?
The question, of course, is: how often should you wash your bra? You wouldn’t dare think about wearing dirty underwear, right? So why is it that so many women (8 out of 10, according to a Cosmopolitan survey) only remember to wash their bras every few weeks? Here are the cold, hard facts about bra washing – when to do it and how!
How Often Should You Wash Your Bra?
Obviously, how often you wash your bra depends on your personal hygiene. If you’re a sweaty mess, remember that the sweat soaking into your bra is full of bacteria, and you should wash it accordingly. However, if you’re the average woman and not wearing your bra to the gym, experts recommend washing it after every 2-3 wears. Sports bras, on the other hand, which are used for exercise, should probably be washed with the regular laundry after each wear.
Ladies, that gives you two days with your favorite bra. And yes, considering you likely spent over $20 on that favorite bra, you really should consider hand washing it instead of throwing it in the washing machine. The washing machine, even on the gentle cycle, has agitation that can loosen the fibers, underwires, and the thread holding the bra together. And your bra should NEVER, and we mean NEVER, be put in the dryer.
The best way to wash your bra is by hand. And by hand, we don’t mean buying an old-fashioned washboard and rubbing it aggressively to get all the sweat and oils out. Instead, simply toss it in a sink or basin filled with cold water and your favorite gentle laundry detergent. Woolite, or even baby detergent, works well for bras. The cold water ensures that your bra doesn’t stretch out too much over time, which will increase its longevity. If you love your bra, then hand wash it in cold water with the least amount of detergent possible.
Start by soaking it, then gently use your hands to clean the bra. Rinse with more cold water until it’s clear and free of soap. Whatever you do, never wring it out, contort it, or squeeze it to remove excess water. Try to lay it flat with the padding facing up to maintain its shape. Once clean, place the bra between two dry towels and apply pressure to remove excess moisture. Then, gently reshape the bra, as sometimes the padding can move or come loose after washing. Afterward, lay it flat to air dry. Experts agree that air-drying is the best choice when drying a bra.
If you have a cotton bra, a sports bra, or one made from sturdier fabrics that aren’t as delicate as silk or lace, and you want to machine wash it, follow these tips. First, use the gentle cycle with a cold-water setting. Second, ensure that all straps, hooks, buckles, and zippers are fastened so the bra doesn’t come out of the washing machine a tangled mess. This also prevents fasteners from picking the fabric or poking holes in delicate lace. As for drying, unless it’s a cotton Lycra blend sports bra, avoid placing it in the dryer and follow the drying instructions above. Using laundry bags designed for lingerie in the wash cycle is a great way to protect your bra during machine washing. Just make sure not to mix your lingerie with rough towels or denim!
Another tip for bra washing: avoid using bleach, and keep bras away from other clothing that might bleed color. There’s nothing worse than pulling your favorite white bra from the wash only to find it stained. The delicate fabrics of lingerie easily pick up color from other pieces of clothing—again, another reason to hand wash!
Many of you are probably reading this article irritated that the experts recommend washing bras every two to three wears, right? The truth is that women have hundreds of sebaceous sweat glands around the breast area. These glands are tiny but are breeding grounds for bacteria. Your bra, if held under a black light, is probably festering with bacteria, dead skin cells, and possibly even mites, all of which thrive in the warm, soft fabric that sits on your body. All of these germs CAN lead to infections. So wash your bras, ladies! Wear them two or three times, and then make sure you clean them properly. Not only will you smell better, but your ‘girls’ will appreciate it too!
