So I recently got a binder! (oh my god, I never thought I'd be saying that but I'm SO HAPPY ASDFGHJKL)

While binding, I spent some time at a friend's house, and a family member of hers smokes. So at the moment my binder smells like cigarettes, which I don't mind personally. But the thing is I'm nervous that the smell of smoke will lead to my mom asking why I smell like cigarettes. Since nobody in my house smokes and I really have no excuse (and I'm a bad liar anyways) I'd have to explain the whole binder thing and I really don't want to do that. I've been wearing it around home, and even the idea that she might notice my chest is flat or something makes me nervous. Like, I'm sure I'll come out eventually and I'm sure she'll notice the binder eventually but I want to try and avoid both of my parents finding out for now. But ah I'm getting off topic.

So I need to clean it pretty much. I guess I just have a few questions:
Mine is from GC2B. I've seen instructions for cleaning other binders but not these specifically, how exactly would you go about cleaning a GC2B binder? It says "hand wash warm and hang to dry" which I get but like... do I need to use soap? Laundry detergent? Does it need to soak? And if so, for how long? HOW DOES THIS EVEN WORK OH MY GOD
Will cleaning it get rid of the cigarette smoke smell?
How often should I clean my binder?
Will cleaning it affect the size/tightness of it?

thanks guys

Cigarette smell is one that can be hard to get out of clothes, so I doubt it would lead to your mom finding out about your binder. But obviously if it smells bad you'd probably still want to clean it.

I don't know any specifics about GC2B binders since I don't have any, but if it says hand wash warm and hang dry, do that. You can literally hand wash (in which case, soaking in the soapy water for a bit is a good idea), or put it in a washing machine on hand wash cycle in warm water (I recommend the latter if it's possible, it tends to clean them much better). Unless it says otherwise somewhere, regular laundry detergent should be fine. You can hang it up in your closet to dry if it needs to stay out of sight.

Washing it might shrink it a little bit, normally just back to normal since it gets stretched out from your wearing it. As long as you don't put it in the dryer it should be perfectly fine. And you should wash it as often as you feel is needed; if it smells bad or looks dirty then it's definitely time to clean! I have two and I try to cycle and wash them once a week and I find that keeps them reasonably clean.

Congrats on your new binder!

yeah I imagine I'm probably being a bit paranoid

thanks man!

I second Dante's comments. It's hot where I live and I work outside a lot meaning my binder gets pretty gross. I just fill the sink with warm water and some laundry soap, let my binder soak for a bit, rinse it, and hang it up to dry. Hen it's good as new.

I've got a GC2B binder that I throw in the cold water laundry pile and wash with the rest of it. I hang it to dry--never put it in the dryer! Putting it in the dryer will shrink it.

If you don't want your parent finding it, you can wash it in the sink with warm, not hot water and dish soap. You can also use a TINY bit of laundry detergent instead, but it will take you forever to rinse it all out.

I currently live with my ex, who is 100% against my transition, so I hang my binder on a clothes hanger to dry and put it in the back of my closet (ironic, no?).

When I wash my gc2b binder, or my mom does, it goes in a delicates bag (I think that's what they're called?) and just gets washed in the machine, cold wash, with everything else. Then it gets hung up to dry, good as new. I've had mine for about 3 months now and haven't noticed any damage or risks to structural integrity so I'm thinking that's good enough. If you're really concerned, just follow the above posters' directions on hand washing, but I don't think it's necessary by any means. Glad you're enjoying your new binder!