Bra Care 101

So you just paid $$$ for your bra, and you're FINALLY happy to find something that fits.  That's great news, and we always love hearing those "transformation" stories.  The one thing that women often forget, is actually the most important: you must take care of your bra.  It doesn't matter how much it cost, if you don't care for your bra, it won't last.

In this post, we will talk about basics of proper bra care, a step-by-step guide on how to hand wash a bra, and information on how to choose a good lingerie soap.

Signs of improper care:

• underwire pops out or breaks
• lace breaks down or begins to tear
• fabric doesn't feel soft anymore
• color starts to turn brownish from sweat and soil
• the elastic stretches out too fast and you're always making adjustments (even if you just bought it a month ago)

At most bra boutiques, your bra lady will go over care instructions with you (and if they don't, ask!)  There is a reason they emphasize bra care - boutiques want happy customers!  Not to mention, returns are VERY expensive for small businesses, so it benefits the store to teach you about proper bra care.  At many bra stores, signs of improper care may void any return policy or warranty.  

Basics of proper bra care

• Hand washing is better than machine washing. We always recommend hand washing over machine washing, but if you must wash in the machine, be sure to use a lingerie bag.  The reason we recommend hand washing is that you have more control over how it is handled.  Washing machines can be rough on fabric, even with gentle cycle.  They won't last as long if you machine wash, and the fabric starts to wear a lot faster.
• NEVER PUT YOUR BRA IN THE DRYER.  Dryers are the leading cause of bra deaths.  While hand washing is recommended, hang drying is an absolute must.  Even on the lowest, gentlest cycle, dryers damage bras.  This is the major cause of underwire damage (breaking or bending), fabric damage (pilling, tears), and overall wear.  Dryers put undue heat and stress on the wire and elastic, causing it to break down and lose its support.  I have seen bras that were completely useless after even one trip through the dryer.  Any bra fitter can tell from a mile away if you have put your bra in the dryer even once, and it's possible that it could void any ability to return it.
• Wash bras every 3-4 wears, or anytime after you've had a "sweaty" day.  How often you wash really depends on how much you sweat and soil the bra.  Under normal circumstances, you can get away with washing it every few wears, but be sure to wash immediately if you've been active or sweating that day.  
• If your bra is all of a sudden getting itchy, it's because you need to wash it.  I used to hear this one a lot at my shop.  The bra is great when you take it home, but two weeks later it starts feeling itchy.  Ask yourself - when was the last time you washed it?  In general, the itchiness is caused by old sweat.  The sweat dries and then you put on the bra and sweat again.  It dries again, and so on.  Eventually that old sweat will build up and react with your skin, and it will feel reeeeeeealy uncomfortable.  The best way to combat this is to wash them regularly and be sure to give the band and underarm areas an extra scrub to remove any sweat/dirt.

When bra fitters try to sell you lingerie wash, it isn't a scam...
While they may make a few extra bucks selling you lingerie soap, bra shops make far more money on your purchase of bras.  If you don't properly care for your bra, it won't last you as long - that is the honest truth.  If you would rather put them in the washer and dryer, bust the underwire and ruin the fabric, I'm sure your local bra lady would happily sell you a bra in every 4-6 weeks.  However, most store owners care more about your bras lasting because that instills your trust in them.  Buy the damn bra soap!  You'll save yourself the discomfort and time shopping for new bras.

Things we DON'T recommend for washing your bra:
There are several different types of laundry soap to choose from, but "normal" detergent is too harsh for delicate fabric, and it will break down much faster...

• Woolite: while it says that it's made for delicates, this detergent is meant for heavier fabrics (not lace, silky fabrics, etc.).  Save it for your clothing, but not for the things you wear under your clothes.  
• Regular laundry detergent or pods: Again, these are great for the clothing you wear on the outside, but undergarments need something more mild.  You'll thank me later!

Top product recommendation: SOAK WASH
This might be super annoying, but I only have one thing to recommend.  That's because I have tried SO MANY other products and they just don't get the dirt out as well as this one does (especially for the price!)  Retails for around $16-17 per bottle (lasts me about 3-4 months per bottle, but I wash a LOT of stuff with it).

SOAK is by far the best lingerie wash on the market today, and here's why:

• It is a no-rinse formula, which means that you can throw your stuff in the sink, swish it around, and take them straight to the drying rack.  BONUS: you save a ton of water!
• The formula is plant-based, so it's safe to use for anything from laundry to cleaning baby toys
• It can get out TOUGH stains, so you can use this as a pre-treatment.  I use it all the time to wash my yoga pants, because the dryer destroys them.
• Soak uses recycled plastic and does not test on animals. This was initially my main reason for using this brand - I love companies that are socially and environmentally responsible.
• It comes in a ton of great scents, including "Scentless," which is their unscented variety.  My personal favorite scents are Lacey and Pineapple.​

If you don't opt for Soak, you can choose any lingerie wash.  When choosing a soap, here are some ingredients to avoid: bleach, sodium lauryl sulfate, synthetic fragrances, phthalates, phenols, brighteners, petroleum distillates, and 1,4-dioxane.

How to hand wash your bra
This may seem obvious, but we get a lot of questions about how to hand wash a bra.  Follow the quick steps below - it only takes 20 minutes from start to finish!

1. Clean out your sink and fill with warm (not too hot!) water.  Add about 1 tsp of Soak (or other lingerie detergent) for each gallon of water.  No need to over-use...you won't see huge suds, but that doesn't mean you need to dump more into the sink.
2. Gently swish the bras around.  Target soiled areas by scrubbing them gently together.
3. Let your bras soak in the water for 15-20 minutes
4. Do something relaxing while you wait :)
5. After letting the bras soak, gently swish them around again to get rid of any residual dirt and drain the sink.  If you use Soak, you can lightly wring them out and hang them.  If you use another detergent, gently rinse all soap out of your bras and squeeze out any extra suds before wringing out excess water.  Be gentle with the underwire when you wring them out - don't bend it!
6. Hang your bras to dry - you can use a clothesline, hanger, drying rack, or just hang them over your shower.  Avoid hanging a wet bra by the straps, because the excess water weight can cause them to stretch.

Helpful tips:

• Wash your bras in a rotation (leaving at least one clean bra out while you wash the rest), you will still have a bra to wear while you are waiting for the others to dry!
• If you wash them before bed, most lacy bras will be dry by morning.  Bras with foam or inserts may take an extra few hours.
• Don't use more detergent than the bottle recommends.  Some people think that suds equals clean, but that isn't the case.  It isn't necessary to overdo it.