How to Wash a Bra: The Right Way to Care for Your Bras

Let’s say it all together: Bras need to be washed — not necessarily after every single wear, but possibly more often than you're currently laundering them. (Don’t be embarrassed, we’ve all been there.)

We've all had a favorite bra that's more comfortable than others and works best with most outfits. Understandably, this could lead to skipped washes because you're always wearing it on laundry day. So, you should have enough bras that you actually like. You should also make sure they're clean and properly cared for, especially when you've invested in the good ones.

Keep scrolling to learn how to wash a bra, why this is important, and what you can do to make your bras last as long as possible.

Why proper bra care matters

Wearing clean clothes is a matter of personal hygiene — underwear and bras included.

Overwashing your bras (or laundering them the wrong way) could affect the elasticity and integrity of the delicate fabrics. On the other hand, not washing them enough could also compromise the materials. Plus, they might just look and feel dingy or have a funky smell.

Hand-washing vs. machine-washing: which is better?

You might not want to hear this, but when it comes to cleaning bras, hand-washing is the way to go. (Sigh.) Hand-washing bras and other delicate garments can help you avoid snagging the fabrics, overstretching the straps, or misshaping the cups. 

Of course, we realize not everyone will hand-wash their bras. Machine-washing can save you time, and some washers have delicate settings that are gentler than others.

But with this method, you'll risk damaging the materials because the agitation and spin cycles can cause twisting, warping, and snagging. The underwires could also pop through mid-wash, and the padding on a wireless bra could become permanently creased.

Hand-washing bras is no one's favorite thing to do, but neither is doing dishes, and we do it. (Hopefully.)

 

How to hand-wash a bra

Spoiler Alert: All you need is a tub, water, soap, a towel, and a good(ish) attitude.

1. Fill your kitchen sink, bathtub, or a small washing tub with cold or lukewarm water. (You can buy a small plastic tub specifically designed for hand-washing delicate garments.)
2. Add a few drops to a tablespoon of mild laundry detergent, depending on the size of your basin. Swirl the soap around until it's dissolved.
3. Submerge your bra and allow it to soak for up to 10 minutes, depending on how dirty it currently is.
4. Gently rub and press into the fabric with your fingers, focusing on dingier areas, like the shoulder straps, underbands, and side straps that sit underneath your armpits.
5. Rinse your bra with clean, cold water. You can do this under a gentle stream of water from a faucet or in another tub of clean water.
6. Then remove your bra from the water and place it on a clean, dry towel. Use another towel (or fold one side of the towel over) and carefully press down on the bra to remove excess water. (This is much gentler on the materials than twisting a bra to wring out water.)
7. Reshape the cups and lay your bra flat to allow it to air-dry.

How to machine-wash a bra (if you must, that is)

If hand-washing just isn't in the cards for you, we won't give you too a hard of a time about it. Here's how you can avoid damage when machine-washing a bra:

• Put your bras in a mesh laundry bag for lingerie. When washing bras and underwear in a washing machine, placing them in a mesh lingerie bag is best. It can help prevent twisting and snagging while keeping the hooks away from other garments.
• Use delicate wash settings. Choose a delicate or gentle wash cycle for your bras, and if possible, select the slowest spin speed or run them on a no-spin cycle. When you take them out, you can gently press out excess water with a clean, dry towel.
• Avoid heat. High temps can wear down elastane, spandex, and other stretchy bra materials. Cool water is usually best, but if you sweat in your bras or they have an odor, a warm/cold wash cycle can help freshen them up by killing the bacteria.
• Always air-dry. On a similar note, hot air from a traditional tumble dryer could degrade the fine fabric. And tumbling your bra might damage the underwire or misshape the cups. After washing your bras, we suggest reshaping them, then hanging them up or laying them flat to air-dry.

Common bra-washing mistakes to avoid

Now that you know your stuff, let's go over a few common mistakes to avoid:

• Overwashing. As mentioned, laundering bras too often could affect the integrity of the materials. Realistically, you can wear a bra two or three times between washes.
• Using hot water or high heat. Hot water or air is a no-no when washing bras and underwear. Opt for cool or lukewarm water, and air-dry whenever possible.
• Fast spin cycles. A fast spin cycle in a washing machine can lead to twisting, snagging, and creasing while prematurely wearing down the construction of a bra.
• Using harsh detergent. We've found that regular detergents like Tide can fray fine fabrics. A mild laundry detergent or soap specifically formulated for delicate fabrics or lingerie is ideal.

The point is, the more delicately you care for your delicates, the longer they'll hold up. To answer the question “how long do bras last?” more thoroughly, turn to our expert tips for proper bra care to keep your favorite bra around longer. 

How Often Should You Wash Your Bra?

Unlike underwear, bras don't necessarily need to be laundered after every use. Your most-worn bras should be washed about once a week. If you're asking, “how many bras should I own, then?” we recommend having three to four "everyday bras" in your rotation.

Special-occasion bras you only wear once in a while can be washed every few wears. But if your bra looks dirty or smells musty, go ahead and wash it.

Investing in good bras and taking care of them is worth it. If you're in the market for new ones, check out the best-selling bras from Negative Underwear, from our Whipped bras collection to our classic wireless bras.