How Often Does A Woman Really Need To Wash Her Bra?

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While it’s common practice to wash your underwear after each use to prevent bacterial growth and maintain freshness, knowing the proper protocol for your bra is a different story. The truth is, how often you wash your bra (and how you wash it) will impact how long it lasts and how well it maintains its integrity. We spoke to Jené Luciani Sena, known as “The Bra Expert” and author of The Bra Book, to learn how often you should be washing your bras, whether or not there’s such a thing as over-washing your bra, and how to store your bra properly.

How Often Should I Wash My Bra?

As a rule of thumb, Sena recommends washing your bra after each use. “Most modern-day bras are made from fabric blends commonly known as microfiber,” she explains. “This material is wicking, which means it absorbs all the ickiness from our pores and holds it within the fabric.” For this reason, it’s important to wash your bra between wearings to prevent odor from settling in.

Washing your bra after each use will also help increase its lifespan. “People always ask me how to make their bras last longer and my response is always the same — care for them properly, and they will,” says Sena. “While there are different schools of thought on how often to wash, some people recommend washing every few uses, any dirt, oil and sweat can break down the elasticity of the fabric over time.” Also, some women (especially menopausal women) sweat with minimal activity, making it that much more important to wash your bra consistently.

Of course, washing it after each use and having it ready for the next day isn’t feasible for everyone, so try having a few on rotation (or one for every day of the week). Sena recommends purchasing a few so you always have a fresh one on hand.

How to Wash Your Bras

You should always check the fabric content of your bra and follow its specific washing instructions, but generally speaking, hand-washing is the preferred method as it helps preserve the shape, fabric and elasticity. To achieve the best results, use lukewarm water and a mild detergent to gently rub the bra clean before rinsing. Then, let it air dry, preferably flat or hanging by the band versus the straps.

If you prefer to machine-wash your bra and it’s made out of microfiber (a combination of poly and Lycra/spandex), Sena says to put it in a mesh zippered wash bag and use cool water with a gentle detergent. A mesh bag not only makes sorting easier later and prevents the bra from snagging on your other clothes, but it also minimizes stretching and helps preserve the shape of the cups, underwires and bands. Sena says this is especially important if you’re washing an underwire bra in a machine with a center drum, as the underwire could bend and the straps could snag. Also, if your bra has removable cups, she recommends removing them before washing to prevent wrinkling and help them maintain their shape.

When it comes to drying, the same rules as hand-washing apply. “Don’t ever put your bra in a dryer,” warns Sena, “as the heat will break down the materials and cause fraying and holes.”

Can You Overwash a Bra?

Contrary to what you may think, Sena says there’s no such thing as over-washing a bra. Instead, the problem lies in not washing it enough or washing it the wrong way. “Under-washing your bra will damage the elasticity faster than washing it between every wearing,” she says. Improper washing (in hot water or on a vigorous cycle) is what will cause damage. “I can usually tell the difference between normal wear and tear on a bra and ones from improper care: Bent underwire or underwire poking through the fabric, fabric fraying after only a couple months, stretched-out straps and bent hook-and-eye closures in the band are all signs a bra was improperly washed.”

How to Store Your Bra

If your bra has foam cups, Sena says the best way to store them is by laying them flat and stacking them. “If your storage space requires you to fold them, fold them in half and put socks into the cups so they keep their shape.”

 
So how often do YOU wash your bras? Let us know in the comments below.