It is a no-brainer that underwears should be washed after each use. But for your bras, how often should they be washed? Once a week? Twice a month? Never?
NO, YOU SHOULDN’T WASH A BRA AFTER EACH USE
OK. you are a very clean person, We get it. But washing your bra too often can do more harm than good. According to Lexie Sachs, a textile analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, “Over-washing can damage the elasticity, which is essential for providing the proper support.” And once a bra loses its shape, the fit is compromised. Bras That Don't Fit Correctly Can Be Unhealthy! Experts Have Warned.
SEE: Woman’s guide to knowing her real bra size
EXCEPT YOU’RE REALLY REALLY SWEATY, USE THREE OR FOUR TIMES BEFORE WASHING
In most cases, wearing your bras three or four times before washing is the best. But it depends on your activity level and how much sweat you’re producing when wearing your bra. And for the special bras that you throw on for a few hours for when the weather is cool, you may need to use many times before washing. But if you are wearing a regular daily use and you are not sweating a lot, you can wear three or four times before every wash.
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DON’T WORRY ABOUT ROTATION
No, you don’t have to stress yourself remembering which bra you wore yesterday. Ideally, you should have a few or many bras to rotate to avoid elastic stress, but wearing that same bra two days in a row isn’t a big deal. Lexie Sachs says, “Taking it off at night should allow plenty of time for it to recover its shape and elasticity. If it can’t do that in eight to twelve hours, waiting an extra day won’t make a big difference.”
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Lingerie hygiene tips for your bras
How often should you wash your bra?
It all depends on how often you use it. For example, if you rotate between many bras, you may only need to wash it once per month. However, if you rotate between two or three bras, you should probably wash it once every two weeks.
During warmer months, when you sweat more often, you may choose to launder your bra more frequently.
Do you have to hand wash your bra?
It may seem like a lot of (unnecessary) work, but it may be best to wash your bra in the sink, rather than in a washing machine – especially if they have an underwire.
The temperatures in the washing machine can actually alter the shape of the wire, which leaves you with an uncomfortable and potentially harmful bra.
To hand-wash bras, simply fill your sink with warm water and a delicate detergent. Place your bra in the soapy water, and let it sit for up to an hour.
Then, rinse with cold water and leave it to dry by laying it flat on a rack. If that’s not possible, you can also hang them in your shower to air dry.
When should I buy a new bra?
Again, this depends on how often you wear each bra. If you tend to wear the same bra over and over again, you’re probably going to need to replace it sooner than later.
And the truth is, most of us wear our bras for far too long! So, lucky you! You may need to stock up on some new, sexy bras soon.