Caring for your bras

Whether you spend a lot of money on your bra’s or not, I bet you’d like to extend the life of your bras!

One of my FAVORITE products is this bra wash bag! Tide and Woolite both make the same bag, and you can easily find them at stores like WalMart and Target in the aisle where they sell ironing boards or several online stores.

I LOVE this bag and tell every woman I know about it! I’ve used it for years, I promptly bought one for my oldest daughter as soon as she moved out!

I know they say you should hand wash your bras , but let’s be honest, we often don’t have time for that in our busy lives. So, I just fold my bra, place it in the bag, zip it shut (be sure to fold the zipper under the tag so it doesn’t come open) then I throw the bag in the washer with a load of laundry, then I remove from the bag and hang to dry. *This bag is designed to hold up to 2 bras, there is a zipper on each end with a divider between the two so they don’t become tangled. I have also had no problems getting large (DDD) into this bag. ( for the record, I’m not the DDD LOL)

Now, if you want to be a little more caring than I am, you could still throw the bag in the washer on delicate with a delicate soap for even better care. But honestly, I’ve handled my Victoria Secret bra’s this way for years and have no problems with them falling apart any too soon.

Here are a few more tips on extending the life of your bras:

1. Have at LEAST 3 bras and rotate them each day! One on your body, one in the wash and one in the drawer. The same bra should not be worn two days in a row. The elastic will recover if given a day off to breathe and regain its shape.

2. Wash in COLD WATER. Cold water will assist in shocking the elastic to restore its stretch memory. Warm/hot water will cook the residual soap into the bra and break down the fabric. It is ideal to hand wash your bra in a gentle lingerie soap. If hand washing isn’t possible, clasp the hooks and eyes on the bra band and place in a lingerie bag and place in your washer on the “delicate” cycle.

3. Do not put your bra in the dryer. Heat will break down the elasticity of the bra . Always air dry your bras by lying flat or hang dry, but do not hang by the straps, hang by the piece in the center between the cups.

4. Store your bras flat. It is best to store your bras flat in your lingerie drawer or on a shelf, laying one on top of the other or one in front of the other on end. If you can’t store your bra’s flat without folding them – try hanging them.

picture from SOL

5. Keep them smelling pretty. Tuck in an empty bottle of your favorite perfume. Wrap it in a handkerchief to ensure that it doesn’t give off anything but a hint of scent.

I’d love to hear your bra storage ideas! – I just hang mine on a hook inside my closet.