It's time to get real ladies, when was the last time you washed your bra? Every woman knows that on those hot and humid days (or when you’ve been commuting to work on public transport), the band of your bra can get a little gross and feels in need of a rinse.
But according to Lexie Sachs, senior product analyst in the Textiles Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, you may be washing your bra too much.
"It's very personal and really it depends on your activity level or if you are somewhere really hot and humid," says Sachs. "You want to wash it just as you would with another type of clothing you would wear, but if you aren’t sweating a lot and wearing for regular use you can do it every few wears," Sachs said.
She notes that excessive washing can contribute to wear and tear and less elasticity with the bra, so it's ideal to wash bras in a mesh washing machine safe bag. This is especially important when it comes to how much you've paid for your bra. For those of us women who want a better support, we tend to pay more for a bra and want our bras to last longer.
So what does all this mean? It means, as a general rule, you should aim to wash your normal, everyday bras after every 3-4 wears. This is just a general guide though and if your bra smells or looks dirty then wash it!
So, how do you wash it? It actually depends on the bra. Take a look below:
How to wash a silk/lace bra
If your bra is made from very delicate materials such as lace or silk, always pop it into a laundry bag before washing to reduce the risk of it snagging on the inside of the drum. If you don’t have a mesh laundry bag at home, an empty pillowcase is a good alternative.
How to wash a sports bra
Compression-style sports bras are very resilient so it’s easy to hand wash or machine wash them using the steps above. However, if you wear a sports bra with pads, pop these out before washing and wash separately (use a laundry bag if machine washing) and then reshape them before drying.
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How to wash a nursing bra
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... ensuring you wash your nursing bras in the best way possible. Use a non-bio detergent for sensitive skin to minimise irritation, and reshape your bras while air drying so they don’t lose their shape or comfort.
How to preserve your bra in a washing machine
Choosing to wash a bra in the washing machine can often be the quickest and easier way to get them clean, but here is a quick 4-step process you should take to ensure you get the best results for this delicate item.
1 - Before washing your bras, always check the care label to ensure they’re made of materials that can be machine washed. Most bras are made from washable fabrics like cotton and polyester.
2 - Check for any stains, such as perspiration marks (especially on sports bras), or milk stains if you’re currently breastfeeding. Pre-treat stains with a small amount of laundry detergent.
3 - Fasten the hook & eye clasps on your bra before popping in the washing machine. This prevents the fastenings from getting caught in the drum and reduces the risk of damage to your bra.
4 - Use a cool temperature (around 30 degrees) as hot water may shrink your bra. Also use a mild detergent that is designed to be gentle on delicate items
