By: HEATHER BIEN
You know that having a clean bra is important for looking good, feeling good, and yes—smelling good, too. But it can be easy to make mistakes during washing that end up doing more harm than good.
No one wants to find their bras are warped or worn after a trip in the washer and dryer. Not only is tossing a newish bra bad for your wallet, but it’s also bad for the environment. [You know what isn’t bad for the environment though? Bamboo bras!]
Correctly washing your bras is a necessary step in making sure that they live full and long lives. Rather than throwing them in the machine, take the right steps to make sure you’re taking care of your bras as much as they take care of you.
The Best Way to Wash Bras? By Hand
When it comes to underwire vs wireless bra styles, both types of bras have one thing in common - they’re delicate. Because bras are so delicate, they are important parts of our wardrobe that require special care. Hand washing plays a big role in maintaining the longevity of your best bras. Not sure how to go about hand washing bras?
Set aside some time every couple of weeks to take the following steps for bra care.
Round Up Your Supplies
First, gather the following:
- Mild detergent
- Sink, Bowl, or Basin of Water
- Towels
- Hangers or Drying Rack
Get Squeaky Clean
Once the stage is ready, wash your bras as follows.
-
Fill your container with cool or room temperature water. Avoid hot or lukewarm water, as higher temperatures can warp and damage the elastics in bras, changing their shape and fit.
-
Add a small amount of detergent. A tablespoon should do the trick. More soap isn’t always better. Instead of making your bras cleaner, extra detergent may leave a filmy residue.
-
Soak. Swish the bra around in the mixture and rub the suds into the fabric. You want to make sure it is saturated and soapy. When choosing how long to soak, consider your bras' material. Light, delicate lace bras only need ten minutes or so (the same goes for other delicate garments). If your bras have gone weeks (or months!) without a wash, you might want to leave them submerged for a full hour.
-
Rinse. Dump out the soapy water and refill your container with clean water. Rub the clean water into the bra, gently rinsing out the soap. Be careful not to twist or pull too hard on the bra. If the bra still looks (or smells!) less than spotless, repeat the previous steps.
-
Towel dry. Remove the clean bra from the water and lay it flat on a towel. Use another towel to pat it dry. Remember not to wring out the bra. The whole point of handwashing is to be more gentle than a washing machine!
-
Air dry. Allow the bra to dry on a hanger or a drying rack. Heat is another potential source of damage and can change the shape. An important thing to remember is to hang your bras by the center gore, the part that connects the two cups, not by the straps. The weight of the wet bra can stretch out the straps, causing damage over time.
- Store your bras properly. Find a clean, dry, and organized place to store your everyday bras. This will keep them damage-free and ready for the next wear. Check out our blog post about how to store bras for more details.
When Time’s in Short Supply, Machine Wash Your Bras
Sometimes you might not have the time, energy, or available supplies to wash your bras by hand. Luckily, there’s still a way to wash them in a machine while keeping them in good shape.
Here's how to wash a sports bra, an underwire bra, padded bras, bralette, and everything in between with a laundry machine.
What You’ll Need
Like handwashing, machine washing requires some special equipment. Make sure you have the following:
- Mesh or Lingerie Bag
- Washing Machine
- Gentle Laundry Detergent
- Hangers or Drying Rack
What To Do
Take a little more care with your bras than you would with your sturdier garments.
-
Put your bras in a mesh bag. Bags will help to prevent snagging, tangles, and twisting inside of the washing machine. Any extra layer of protection is better than none.
-
Start your cycle. Use cold water and the gentle or delicate cycle on your washing machine. Use a mild detergent and wash according to machine instructions. The less the bra is jumbled together with heavier fabrics that could bend wires or abrade fabrics, the better.
- Air dry. Even when using a machine washer, it’s important to allow the bras to air dry. Follow the same methods as outlined above to avoid risking heat damage.
Aside from bras, you can also follow these instructions when washing your other delicates. And when machine washing, proper storage is just as important (if not more)!
How Often Should You Wash Your Bra?
In general, bras should be washed after every three to six wears.
The amount of time between wearing and washing can depend on the season and your activities while wearing the bra. If you've been hitting the trail or the gym, sweat and dirt can build up on the bra. In that case, it would be better to wash sooner rather than later.
Another thing to consider is rotation. Wearing the same bras over and over can cause excessive wear and tear. Make sure you have more than one bra in your underwear drawer.
Find Your New Favorite Bra with Boody
After years of improper washing, are you finding that some of your bras are looking a bit worn out or misshapen? It's time to invest in a new staple piece for your bra wardrobe.
Boody’s bras are made from comfortable, flexible, and breathable bamboo viscose fabric that are as kind to the earth as they are to you and your laundry. Plus, they’re crafted for comfort without wires or hooks, so you don’t have to worry about snags and other damage in the wash.
Shop our line of ultra-soft undies today.
About the Author:
Heather Bien is a copywriter and writer based in Washington, DC. She works with retail, ecommerce, and creative brands on their website copy and digital presence, and her freelance writing has appeared on MyDomaine, Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, and more. When she's not with laptop and coffee in hand, you'll find her planning her next weekend getaway, working on her budding green thumb, or scouting for her next great vintage find.
Sources:
- Racked. Your Bra Needs a Washing. Here's How. https://www.racked.com/2015/10/9/9463285/bra-washing-guide
You may also like
Guide
The Best Father's Day 2023 Gifts...according to Boody
Father’s Day takes place on the third Sunday in June; this year it’s June 18th, 2023. For many of us, buying both a thoughtful and useful gift for our father’s and fatherly figures can typically prove to be a dilemma.
Guide
What to Look for When Buying Activewear
When it comes to what you workout in, it's important to consider how they make you feel and look—but also their impact on the environment. That's where sustainable activewear by Boody comes in.
Guide
What is Organic Cotton?
By: Heather Bien We’re all trying to be better stewards of Mother Earth. From recycling to upcycling and eating conscientiously to dressing mindfully, our choices affect the planet. So choosing organic cotton clothing seems like an easy decision, right? Not so fast! As with all sustainable choices, it’s important to take a moment to learn a bit more about why organic cotton might win over conventional cotton—and what makes these two materials different in the first place. Read on if you’re interested in learning about organic cotton and whether it’s the best choice for you and the environment. Conventional cotton Before we get into debating modern cotton farming techniques, let’s get familiar with the plant we’re talking about: cotton. It’s soft, durable, and probably on your body right now. But what else do you really know about cotton? Here are the basics: Cotton comes from the cotton plant – The cotton plant is a warm-season woody perennial shrub from the genus Gossypium and the family Malvaceae. Cotton fabric is made from the plant’s fibrous seed-hair (which is also called a cotton boll). Cotton is one of the top agricultural crops – Traditional cotton is the most widespread and profitable non-food crop in the world. Although the plant is capable of growing in any warm-weather climate, India and China are now the top producers of cotton globally. Cotton is thirsty – A normal cotton plant requires 10 gallons of water to reach peak potential. That doesn’t sound so bad, but multiplying it outward, that means it takes about 5,000 gallons of water to produce just 2.2 pounds of cotton fabric. Pests think it’s delicious – Not only is cotton thirsty, but it’s prone to pest infestations from bollworms, weevils, aphids, stink bugs, thrips, and spider mites. In order to combat these common pests, conventional cotton is routinely sprayed with a veritable salad-dressing of pesticides, many of which can remain in the soil and water supply for years afterward. Cotton harvesting requires defoliation – In order to quickly and efficiently harvest cotton, many commercial growers use chemical defoliants to strip the leaves from the cotton plant prior to harvesting the bolls. Like pesticides, these chemicals remain in the environment and on the cotton itself. Is organic cotton better? All of those cotton factoids point pretty compellingly to buying and wearing organic cotton fabric. But first, it’s important to understand what sets this organic alternative apart. Why exactly is “organic” cotton anyway? You might associate the word organic with your healthy fruits and veggies, but it’s not always clear what this term means when it comes to cotton. For many years, there was not a standard definition, but today, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) require that any cotton product labeled “organic” meet the following criteria: Made with fibers from USDA-certified organic crops Third-party certified (ie., through the Global Organic Textile Standard) under the National Organic Program standards Has a specific percentage of organic material (depending on the crop) But this definition is a little circular, so we need also to define USDA-certified organic crops. According to the USDA, organic crop standards are defined as follows: Land must have had no prohibited substances applied to it for at least three years before the harvest of an organic crop. Soil fertility and crop nutrients will be managed through tillage and cultivation practices, crop rotations, and cover crops. These can be supplemented with animal and crop waste materials and allowed synthetic materials. Crop pests, weeds, and diseases will be controlled primarily through management practices, including physical, mechanical, and biological controls. When these practices are not sufficient, a biological, botanical, or synthetic substance approved for use on the National List may be used. Operations must use organic seeds and other planting stock when available. The use of genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, and sewage sludge is prohibited. What is organic cotton? In short, it’s cotton that is farmed according to these practices and certified organic by the USDA. Why should you choose organic cotton? With fewer pesticides, fewer synthetic chemicals, and more thoughtful cultivation practices, organic cotton can certainly offer a more environmentally friendly choice when compared to regular cotton. Is organic cotton sustainable? Here are a few other reasons why organic cotton can be a better alternative for you and the earth: It’s better for our water resources – According to an analysis by the Textile Exchange, producing an organic cotton T-shirt requires 1,982 fewer gallons of water compared to a regular cotton T-shirt. Because organic cotton uses less chemicals, its production also releases fewer toxins into our aquatic ecosystems. It’s good for the soil (and our carbon footprint) – According to the Soil Association, the more natural cultivation practices and fewer pesticides used by organic cotton farmers can support healthier soil. That soil, in turn, can absorb more carbon from our atmosphere and help keep the planet healthy. It encourages biodiversity – Multiple studies have shown that organic farming practices can encourage more diversity among the animal species of our planet. Sustainability is sometimes in the eye of the beholder. But when it comes to plant-derived textiles, the ones which help us create a healthier world are always a better alternative. Explore the benefits of bamboo with Boody Whether you choose to purchase conventional or organic cotton clothing, the fact that you are shopping mindfully for yourself is a win for the environment. At Boody, we believe in bringing you quality, comfy, sustainable clothing basics that keep you feeling good about yourself and your personal impact on Mother Earth. From our sleepwear to our loungewear, women’s bamboo shirts to our underwear, sustainable and ethical are our touchstones. Our clothing is made of bamboo viscose, requiring less water than cotton while putting precious oxygen back into the environment. That just feels good, doesn’t it? Explore the bamboo benefits today, with Boody. Sources: Britannica. Cotton. https://www.britannica.com/topic/cotton-fibre-and-plant Cotton. The Story of Cotton - Where Cotton Grows. https://www.cotton.org/pubs/cottoncounts/story/where.cfm World Wildlife Federation. Cotton. https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/cotton Textile Exchange. Quick Guide to Organic Cotton. https://textileexchange.org/quick-guide-to-organic-cotton Soil Association. What is organic cotton? https://www.soilassociation.org/take-action/organic-living/fashion-textiles/organic-cotton/ USDA. Conservation and Biological Diversity in Organic Production. https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2016/02/29/conservation-and-biological-diversity-organic-production About the Author: Heather Bien is a copywriter and writer based in Washington, DC. She works with retail, ecommerce, and creative brands on their website copy and digital presence, and her freelance writing has appeared on MyDomaine, Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, and more. When she's not with laptop and coffee in hand, you'll find her planning her next weekend getaway, working on her budding green thumb, or scouting for her next great vintage find.
