How-to wash a bra

The best way to wash lingerie is by hand.

How-to wash a bra the best way is a simple, yet often misunderstood process.

Wash bra

How To Wash Bras and Panties

This video summarizes how to hand wash a bra.

Hand wash

Hand washing a bra is the preferred method, as it is the gentlest and makes them last the longest by hurting shape, elasticity, and color the least.

Materials

• Detergent-free lingerie wash, such as Forever New
  • Although detergent harms undergarment elasticity, if a proper wash is not available, a mild, non-biological detergent will comparatively do the least harm
  • Some use a mild baby shampoo (if hand washing in the shower)
• Sink or large basin

Procedure

1. Fill a large basin or sink with lukewarm water, and add a little detergent (about a third of the detergent used for a regular laundry load).
2. Add the bra to the detergent-filled water.
3. Let the bra soak for a few minutes; make sure they it is completely wet.
4. After soaking, gently "pump" it up and down in the water a few times to loosen dirt.
5. To remove spots, rub them gently with your hands. Pay special attention to the underwire, straps, and the portion of the panel near the armpit, as these locations accumulate more sweat and dirt. This should only take a few minutes.
6. Empty the sink of dirty water and refill with clean, lukewarm or cool water.
7. Rinse the bra in the running water.
8. Pump the bra in the water once more to wash away any residual detergent.

Salad spinner

A variant of hand-washing is the salad spinner method, first discussed by Carathebug on Busty Girl Comics. This method is gentle on bras and may decrease time spent washing, although the amount of water and soap used is greater.

=Materials

• Detergent-free lingerie wash, such as Forever New
  • Although detergent harms undergarment elasticity, if a proper wash is not available, a mild, non-biological detergent will comparatively do the least harm
• Salad spinner large enough to fit bra

Procedure

1. Fill salad spinner with lukewarm water and add a little detergent.
2. Add the bra to the detergent-filled water.
3. Let the bra soak for a few minutes; make sure they it is completely wet.
4. After soaking, spin the salad spinner 6-8 times.
5. To remove spots, rub them gently with your hands. Pay special attention to the underwire, straps, and the portion of the panel near the armpit, as these locations accumulate more sweat and dirt. This should only take a few minutes.
6. Remove bra; rinse under cool or lukewarm water to remove excess soap.

Washing machine

Machine washing is rough on lingerie, and it will greatly reduce their lifespans.

Materials

• Lingerie and delicates detergent (mild, non-biological)
• Garment bag

Procedure

1. Put the bras in a garment bag.
2. Put garment bag in the washing machine.
3. Add the gentle detergent, but do not use fabric softener, as this will reduce elasticity.
4. Set the machine for a cool wash on the delicates cycle.
5. When the cycle is complete, remove the entire garment bag.
6. Take the bra out of the bag.

Dry bra

Air dry

1. Lay a towel flat next on a solid surface.
2. Gently reshape the cups of a molded-cup bra.
3. Lay it entirely flat on the towel, trying to keep the straps and panels loose and uncrumpled.
4. Allow the bra to fully dry before storage.

Salad spinner method

This method reduces overall drying time, and is particularly helpful for drying bras with thicker padding or lining.

1. Put the bra in the spinner. Make sure the bra will not get crushed when the spinner is closed.
2. Close the spinner.
3. Spin the bra 6-8 times in the spinner.
4. Remove from spinner, and air dry as usual.

Extend bra lifespan

There are several tips one can use to extend bra lifespan for its maximum level. Firstly, store bras with with their cups shaped correctly, not crushed. In addition, let each bra rest at least one full day between wearings, and ideally wash it after every one. As a bra is worn, sweat and dead skin cells become embedded in the fabric and elastic. The longer a bra is worn without washing it, the more sweat and dirt will build up and the harder it will be to clean. Over time, this wears away at the bra, decreasing its life.

See also

• Bra anatomy
• How-to alter a bra