Bra wearing

[Ralitsa]

hmmm, I've never gone to the extent of logging the dates and times I wear a bra, but I do wear one pretty much every day.

My only input to the conversation is on washing procedures. I'd suggest hand washing with a mild soap (some prefer woolite, but I just use bar soap) in warm water. I think machine washing is a bit violent; seriously, what are you getting on your bras that needs to be beaten out of them??? Then I hang them over the shower curtain bar just like Eileen said. I suspect that if you wash them this way, then they will last as long as you want them to no matter how frequently they are washed. But I don't actually know because I usually end up buying new ones just because they are cute and I want them, long before my old ones show much sign of wear.

[KimberlyS]

I usually wash a bra after two days, one day if I was really sweaty or I know i will not be wearing it again for a while. Now my wife on the other hand washes hers when she thinks she has worn them enough, or I whine too much or I just grab them and wash them.

I personally think three days would be the max as I agree with the body oils and sweat. But some quick searching on the web gave me some different results.

From the Hanes site:
PROMOTE A LONG LIFE
To get maximum life out of every bra, use these TLC strategies:
Choose warm (not hot) wash temperatures
Nix chlorine bleach or brighteners
Do not use fabric softeners
Stash underwire styles in a lingerie bag to avoid stretching/snagging in the washing machine
Avoid spandex-wrecking dryer heat like the plague
Rotate your workouts among several bras

Dear Prudie,
My girlfriend of six months has worn the same bra every day now for two weeks. I really wonder: Is this a normal thing for most women or a psychological issue? I feel it is a matter of hygiene, abnormal behavior, and also really gross.
—Dirty Laundry

And Prudie responds… [edited for length]
Dear Dirty,
Perhaps your worries about hygiene arise from watching too much soft-core porn in which women get in the shower and soap their breasts for extended periods. This is not because breasts are intrinsically dirty but because such scenes are gratifying to dirty minds. If bra hygiene were an actual issue, don’t you think American womanhood would have been subjected to decades of commercials along the lines of, “What’s that smell?” “It’s Myrna’s bra. Someone has to tell her!”

On your behalf, I actually polled some of the cleanest women I know on their bra-washing schedules. The answers ranged from “weekly” to “when my white bras look black and can walk themselves to the washing machine.” The average was a monthly laundering. So your girlfriend’s behavior is perfectly normal and neither unhygienic nor gross.
—Prudie

Your friendly neighborhood Lingerie Addict washes her bras once a week in the spring and summer, and once every two to three weeks during the fall and winter. I have several favorite “everyday” bras so I rotate them during the course of the week; each bra only gets worn once every 2-3 (or more!) days.

The general rule is that the more you sweat, the more often you should wash them, as sweat not only decomposes the fibers, but could also rust the underwires, and even result in a lingering “sour” smell (one that doesn’t go away).

Other tips include not wearing the same bra more than one day in a row (bras need time to air out as well as regain their original shape so as not to lose elasticity), always washing your bras by hand (though if you do use a washing machine, always use a lingerie wash bag), never machine-drying your bras, and using a special lingerie cleanser when you wash your bras to help them last longer.

From Good Housekeeping:
How Often Do You Need to Wash Your Bras?
Here's the (not-so) dirty truth.
By Lauren Piro

We've all peered into our dresser, wondering if we can get away with wearing our last clean T-shirt bra just one more day. Our experts offer the final word on all your burning bra-related laundry questions:
You shouldn't wash a bra after each wear.

Back away from the detergent, clean freaks. Washing your bra too often can do more harm than good. "Over-washing can damage the elasticity, which is essential for providing the proper support," says Lexie Sachs, product analyst in the Textiles Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute.

Carolyn Forte, director of the GHI Cleaning Lab agrees: "Once a bra loses its shape, the fit is compromised."
Unless you're really sweaty, wait three or four wears before washing.

"Every few wears should be sufficient, but it does depend on your activity level," says Sachs. "For instance, if you're outside on a humid day and end up sweating a lot, you'll want to wash your bra sooner. On the other hand, if you throw a bra on for a couple hours, that might not count as a 'wear.' Washing gets rid of the oils and germs that accumulate, so the more oil you're producing, the more frequently you'll need to launder your bra."

So, that lacy bra you break out for dressy occasions? It can probably live in your drawer for awhile. But your sports bra after spin class? Wash it after every use.
Don't worry too much about your "rotation."

Good news for those of us who just can't keep track of one more thing: We give you full permission to forget which bra you wore yesterday.

"You should have several bras to rotate through to avoid stressing elastic over time, but wearing the same bra two days in a row isn't an issue," says Sachs. "Taking it off at night should allow plenty of time for it to recover its shape and elasticity. If it can't do that in eight to twelve hours, waiting an extra day won't make a big difference."

Always heed the care tag.
In general, bras like a gentler bath to keep them in good shape, but check the labels for the best instructions.

"If you decide to wash a bra in the machine instead of the sink, select the most delicate cycle your washer offers, " says Forte. "And I'd recommend a special mesh bra bag. They cushion the bra and keep it from twisting and tangling."

"Mesh bags also help prevent bra hooks from snagging other garments," Sachs adds. "But also hook the bra before you throw it in the wash, and consider a mild detergent, like Woolite, since it'll be more gentle on the fabric."

Avoid the dryer.
"I suggest laying bras flat to dry," says Sachs. "The heat and agitation of a dryer can damage the bra's elasticity and shape, and hanging it can cause stretching."

Before you lay your bra out, make sure the cups aren't misshapen or folded, and use a towel to blot up excess water (don't wring or twist the bra). Sachs say that this method is even a good idea for sports bras. Even though they seem sturdier, they require careful tending to keep them as supportive as possible.
Don't cancel out your good intentions with bad storage.

"Line them up in a drawer, like they'd do in the store," says Forte. Crumples, creases, and haphazard piles can cause the bras to become misshapen.