How to Wash a Bra

Posted by Johneen Manning Jan 15, 2008

I don't know about you, but I find bra-shopping dangerously expensive! Up to sixty dollars for a little bit of fabric and wire! But I can't resist: when I go shopping for lingerie, I'm lucky if I don't leave the store with four new bras, six new pairs of panties, and at least $200 less in my purse. Which is why I make a rule of caring for these delicate garments properly. Here are a few tips that I use to make my bras and panties last longer:

Lengthen the life of your bras by hand washing them in lukewarm water with a gentle detergent – I use Forever New, but there are many great products available. Then squeeze the water out and line dry. Never use bleach, wring dry or expose lingerie to dryer heat; all of these things will cause shrinkage or damage the elasticity and fragile fabric, which ultimately affects fit. The same goes for panties and hosiery.

Finally, know when to say goodbye to a worn-out bra. The manager at my favorite local lingerie boutique told me that you should replace frequently-worn bras every six months. There's nothing worse than a ratty old bra, so throw out those favorites you've been wearing for the past ten years – they probably aren't the right bra size anymore, anyway!

When I find that I absolutely love a particular brand or style of bra, I'll pick up at least two in black and nude (the colors I wear most often), and maybe even spurge on a few other fun colors. This way, I can rotate them and not worry about wearing them out so soon.