Last Updated on October 29, 2021
We all have that one super comfy bra we wear far more than we’d care to admit.
It might not be pretty, but it does what it should, keeping us supported and comfy under our clothes.
READ MORE: 4 Telltale Signs You’re Wearing the Wrong Bra Size
It’s not necessarily unhygienic to wear your favourite bra for days in a row, but what does matter is how frequently we wash our lingerie.
It goes without saying that we need to wash our knickers after every wear, but there’s so many theories about how often we need to put our bras in the wash that I wanted to find the answer out once and for all.
So I asked Curvy Kate‘s very own Bra Whisperer Katie Weir, who has over 10 years of experience in lingerie and can tell a person’s bra size just by looking at them. If there’s anyone who knows her underwear, it’s Katie.
The expert told me how often we should be putting our lingerie in the washing machine and the big no-no’s when it comes to how to wash our bras too.
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How often should you wash your bras?
Katie says, “You should wash your bra every FOUR wears, hand wash only and with NO fabric conditioner as this conditioner breaks down the elasticity of bras and prematurely ages them.”
It’s recommended that you air dry your lingerie too rather than putting them in the dryer, as this too breaks down elasticity and means they won’t last as long as they could.
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Is it bad to wear the same bra every day?
It’s fine to wear the same bra every day, but it will need to be washed more often and replaced sooner if you rotate a selection of bras.
This is due to the fact that more wear means it will also lose shape more quickly and stop supporting your boobs sufficiently.
What happens if you don’t wash your bra?
If you choose never to wash your bra, you could encourage acne to pop up on your chest, your bra will start to smell and eventually the bacteria could lead to an infection.
This is because clothes are one of the top skin irritants and bras are tight-fitting. New York dermatologist Joshua Zeichner told Buzzfeed Life that because your breasts are moist and warm, it’s easy for bacteria and yeast to form underneath them.
If you don’t fancy experiencing this, it’s best to wash your bra every few wears.
Can I wash my bra in the washing machine?
If you can’t be bothered to hand wash your underwear in the sink, most washing machines have hand wash settings that allow you to put your feet up while they do all the hard work.
These are usually set at a low temperature and run for a shorter length of time, which keeps your delicates looking fresher for longer.
Remember not to use any fabric conditioner and to hang your lingerie to dry rather than putting them in the tumble dryer if you want to keep the elastic working at its best.
You could also put your lingerie in a fabric bag to protect it. This keeps it from getting tangled up in your other washing, but also protects it from the tumbling of the washing machine.
Guppyfriend’s Washing Bag also catches microfibres, protecting our planet against microplastics.
Guppyfriend Washing Bag, £29.99, Lakeland – buy now
