Okay, so, you’ve shelled out some of your hard-earned money for a beautiful new bra, and you’ve worn it a few times, but now you can’t figure out how you should actually go about washing it. I’ve been there. Bending over the bathtub, trying to scrub it clean by hand *kinda* seems like a narrative you never asked to be a part of. But then again, do you really want to risk flushing all the money you spent straight down the drain by putting your bra in the washing machine, and possibly—gasp—damaging it?
Because of questions like these—which usually end with me just convincing myself, on more than one occasion, that I can get another wear out of my bra before laundering it—I spoke to Laura Henney, owner of The Rack Shack, an inclusive bra boutique in Brooklyn, New York. She gave me the 411 on the best ways to wash and care for your bras, and heads up: Turns out, you should be hand-washing your bras, but it’s simple, she promises.
Okay, let’s start with the basics: How often should I be washing my bras?
So the answer kinda depends on how often you wear a bra. You can probably get away with wearing a bra two or three times before washing it, but you also want to give your bra a rest in between wears so that it can retain its shape.
Henney, for instance, tells her clients to wear a different bra each day for a two-week period and then giving them all a wash together. “If you have, for example, a black, a white, a beige, and hot pink bra, whatever you have, wear black Monday, hot pink Tuesday, white Wednesday, and beige Thursday—it’s just better for the material of the bra,” she says. Rotating your bras gives the elastic a break in between each wear, so it can return to its original shape. Yes, this means you might have to invest in a few more bras, but we have some suggestions:
Do I really have to hand-wash my bras?
According to Henney, yes, hand-washing is the best way to get all the sweat and smells out of your bra, while also making sure your bra stays in good shape. And let me stop you mid eye roll at the archaic idea of doing laundry by hand—it’s really a lot easier than you might think. “What I always tell people is just put them in your sink with cold water and soap, go watch an episode of Netflix, rinse them out, and hang them over your shower curtain,” recommends Henney. TBH, that’s a process even my lazy, laundry-hating self can get behind.
What about machine-washing your bras inside a lingerie bag?
So, machine washing may not be the ideal way to clean your bras, but some of us (hi, guilty) prefer throwing ’em in the machine with our other clothes and calling it a day. Thankfully, Henney says you can still do that, but you just have to make sure your machine is on the gentle cycle. You will need one of those little net lingerie laundry bags to put your bras in. And try not to wash your bras along with anything too heavy, such as towels.
What detergent should I use to wash my bras?
There are two main criteria you need to meet when choosing a detergent to wash your bras. (1) It can’t have any bleach and (2) it can’t have any alcohol. “They have some amazing laundry detergents out there—my favorite is Soak,” Henney says. If the detergent you already have on hand isn’t safe for bras, just use a bit of baby shampoo.
Can I wash my bras with vinegar?
Some people wash their bras in water with a couple spoonfuls of vinegar for a more natural cleaning method, but Henney doesn’t love that idea. “It kills mildew, but I wouldn’t recommend washing your bras with vinegar because I want my stuff to smell nice,” she says. Fair.
Can I put my bras in the dryer?
If you’re out here putting your bras in the dryer, you need to make like the Spice Girls and stop. right. now. This is the number one mistake people make with their bras, according to Henney. Putting your bra in the dryer will mess with the shape and can make its structure deteriorate way faster. Make your investment last (hey, having boobs ain’t cheap!) by hanging your bras over your shower-curtain rod or laying them flat on a towel to dry.
Do I have to treat different types of bras differently?
If you’re worried that you have to do something special for your bralettes vs. your push-up bra, I’ve got great news for you: the answer is a big ol’ N-O. You can wash all your bras together, the same way. Hooray for equality!
What else can I do between washes to keep my bras in good shape?
You know those unrealistic movie scenes where a woman slips her arms through the straps of her bra and then clasps it behind her? Well, as it turns out, that’s actually the “proper” way to put on a bra. “A lot of people twist their bra and flip it over when they put the bra on, but that puts a lot of pressure on the wires and the wires will pop out even easier—and sooner,” Henney warns. “The best way is to put your arms through the straps first and bend forward so your boobs fall into the cups and then clasp in the back.” Ugh, fine.
Last piece of advice from Henney: Don’t fold your bra’s cups into one another to store them. Instead, lay your bras out flat and stack them on top of each other. When you pack your bras in your suitcase, fill the cups with socks to keep the shape. Genius!
