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When we buy bras, especially good quality ones, we want them to last as long as possible. It’s insane how pricey bras can be, but that’s a topic we’ll cover in another post! Today we’re talking about how a little bit of love can make your cute or sexy bra’s life extend a great deal.
How long does a bra actually last? Well, that primarily depends on the material and quality thereof that the item is made of, how often you wear it, and how you care for it.
A goof quality bra would come from a specialized shop, as these are usually made to last as opposed to a more inexpensive bra bought at a larger outlet chain. Trying to put a figure on it, you could say that a bra lasts about two years, but honestly, many womxn wear theirs a lot longer than that. You can also extend the life of your bra by caring for it with a little bit of love.
An excellent tip for increasing the life of your bra is to have several bras to alternate between. You need a handful – between three and five, at a minimum, as you don’t want to wear the same bra for more than one day at a time.
This would wear the bra out prematurely. Your bra has got to have ‘rest’ time between uses. The textile fibres in the bra, especially bras that contain elastane (most bras contain this), need time to recover.
The time between wears gives them a chance to bounce back to their original shape – they have to contract for a few days, not just overnight. The elastane helps prevent the elastic fabric from losing the shape – if the bra was made from 100% cotton, for example, it’d stretch and lose its shape quite soon after being worn frequently. Elastine helps in the process of bouncing back, but needs help from you as it won’t retain the stretchy shape forever.
When your bra is stretched to the point of wearing it on the tightest/innermost hook still feels too loose for you, that;s the sign: time to upcycle that baby into a pot plant holder. Your inner plant goddess will giggle whenever guests blush and compliment your …macrame.
Flat, flat, flat. Now that’s something curvy womxn’s bras are not. That is the best way to store them, though. The bra should be stored on a flat surface – a draw is ideal, so you could lay them flat, cups up. Each bra can be placed on top of the other, so they support each other as they lay. A bonus for you is that you can see them, and they don’t tangle as easily in this way.
Yeah, you’re busy. Or low energy. Or it’s just not been your day, your week, or month. It’s 2020. Maybe it hasn;t even been your year. But trust me when I say, you wanna spend those extra minutes hand washing your bras. For persons who are unable to hand wash, a lingerie bag will suffice – but sadly, your bra’s life will be shortened.
You don’t need to wash your bra after every time you;ve worn it (use this at your discretion: if you just hit the gym, or have been running around in the dead heat of a summer day…i’d say wash it). After every two or three uses will be enough for the average bra. A bra with a silicon band, however, would need washing after every wear or two as sweat eats away at the silicone, causing it to degrade faster over time. You should, as far as possible, follow the washing advice on your bra label, but a good rule of thumb is to not wash your underwired bras in the washing machine – not even if it’s in a wash bag. A little tip: always do up the hook and eyes when you;re washing your bra – this helps them not get stuck onto delicate lace.
When handwashing, let your bra soak for a few hours or overnight in a clean bowl of water. Don’t use hot water, as this can destroy elasticity. If the bra is super delicate, use cold water. Otherwise, lukewarm will suffice. Soaking helps to get rid of the dead skin. After soaking, rub it gently and remember to focus especially on the side under the armpit area, and inside the cups, as this is where the most dirt gathers. Rinse the bra carefully under cool water. If, on the off chance, your underwired bra can be machine washed, use the program for delicates and avoid spinning, and avoid washing with heavy clothes, such as denims and coats.
Washing a padded bra? Then you’re going to have to stretch the padding so it doesn’t shrink. You should also stretch the wire band that the underwire is sewn into (the casing), as this will help prevent it from shrinking, and eventually having your wires pop out.
Carefully press the water out of your bra but do not wring it.
Fold a dry towel around it and press again to get the excess moisture. Don’t hang your bra to dry from the shoulder straps as this will stretch with the weight of the garment. Hang it from the center gore (the bit between the cups) so it drapes over your washing line. Some bras should be dried flat. Please, never ever store a damp bra in your wardrobe. Always let it dry completely before storing. A little care will go a long, long way in extending the life of your lingerie.
