Do you slip off your bra and chuck it into the laundry bin, its final resting place before it begins the slow march to death? AKA the washing machine! Well ladies, you’re doing it wrong. The lifespan of a bra is generally not more than three years, even with the best care. The elastic will wear out over time and when that happens, the bra can no longer function in the way it’s meant to it’s time to ditch that bra. And by sticking it in the washing machine, along with the rest of your clothes, you ensure that your bra dies well before its time. Well we can’t have that can we? 

There are two basic options you have for washing bras: hand washing or machine washing. Within those two categories, there are of course various options and ways to go about it, but in the interest of keeping things relatively simple, with the additional knowledge that the jargon will probably lead you away from this page and very important topic, today we’ll cover the basics and then throw in one simple and basic option for you that actually falls more into the category of ‘rinsing’ rather than ‘washing’ but is still a really important thing to know about.

How to hand wash bras

So! Hand washing is, as you might guess, ideal when it comes to cleaning your bras. However, I am nothing if not a realist, and that means I know that not everyone is going to hand wash their bras; whether it’s because you don’t have the time or the inclination to do so. But at the end of the day, it is important to remember that hand washing your bras is a much more efficient process and is in their best interest. With that, here are your basic hand washing instructions:

  1. The best place to do your handwashing is a sink. Do I need to tell you to clean the sink first? I might need to tell you that, So tell you I will: PLEASE CLEAN THE SINK FIRST. If for whatever reason your sink isn’t the best spot for you to be hand washing  your bras, the bathtub or a washing bucket will suffice as well. The idea here is that you’ll want to create a standing body of water in which to put your detergent and the bras.
  2.  Fill the sink or tub or washing bucket with warm water and a mild detergent. When grocery shopping for detergent, make sure to pick one up that is on the milder side and that has no added dyes, to ensure a gentle wash. In addition to that, you should make note of this really important thing: you don’t need or want to use a lot of detergent – a teaspoon up to a tablespoon will do it, depending on the number of garments you have to wash. When you add your bras bras to the water, press them down so that they become fully submerged and saturated with the detergent solution. Once you’ve done this, leave them to soak for 10 to 15 minutes.
  3. After the time has passed, head back in and give each bra another gentle pressing, while submerged, as this helps to release oil and dirt trapped in the fabric. Next, you’ll want to drain that dingy, nasty water – take a second to observe how gray your bras just turned that water so that you can remember that the next time you try to convince yourself that a certain bra isn’t really dirty! – and rinse each bra properly with clean water. I would suggest, to ensure that the bras are rinsed completely of detergent, to drain, rinse out, replug, and refill the sink with clean water, and only then re-submerge your lingerie to give them a thorough rinse.
  4. Once you’re confident that you’ve rinsed the bras free of detergent, press gently on each one to squeeze out as much water as possible. While doing this, you should be careful not to wring or otherwise get too rough in your handling, as this might damage the bra. 

How to wash bras in washing machine

Now onto the second option for the portion of women who would prefer to machine wash. Even though this is not advisable, there are ways to ensure that you can still be careful. 

  1. If you’re going to machine wash your bras, you should at least go out and buy a couple of those small mesh laundry bags that zip up, into which you will place your bras. They can be found online or in lingerie stores. This little bag makes all the difference; it will keep your bra from bumping against some of your rougher items of clothing – jeans, yoga pants, etc.- and getting all tangled up. If the bras are washed loose, the straps will most likely wind themselves around larger items of clothing, and in the process, will get stretched out, leaving you with loose straps. And we all know there’s nothing more annoying than having to constantly yank a strap back up to your shoulders. Furthermore, the hooks on the bras will catch onto your clothes, which will cause result in them being caught up in places you really don’t want them to be. I’ve lost a couple of hooks to the washing machine, and I always feel terrible. 
  2. If you’ve got it, use the delicate cycle. If that option doesn’t exist on your machine, use the cold water wash cycle.

If neither of these options are ones that you find yourself taking, you do have door number 3. And behind that door lies ‘take them into the shower with you!’ No really, we’re not kidding. When you step into the shower. Just carry your bra in with you and give it a good rinse. This will not be as effective as the previously discussed method of hand washing bras, but it’ll do the job. 

Related read: How to Wash Bras in Washing Machine

There is one last thing to mention, and it might be the most important. Under no circumstances, ever, should you toss them in the dryer. No matter what temperature it is, the heat and moisture will reshape your bras into things that you really don’t want them to be. You should always air dry your bras, either by laying them out flat on a towel or by hanging them on a drying rack. If you prefer the hanging method, ensure that you don’t hang them by the straps, because they will get stretched out. Bras don’t need to be washed everyday, but they do get sufficiently dirty so you should make sure to give them at least a rinse after a couple of rotations.