The things you should never do with your bras
Bras are an essential (and sometimes costly) part of most women’s everyday lives.
Do you find you’re replacing yours at a rapid rate? It could be because you’re not treating them correctly. If you take good care of your bras, they should last you for years.
Thankfully, the Good Housekeeping Institute has shared the biggest mistakes women are making when it comes to our underwear – and you’ll be relieved to know they’re pretty easy to fix.
How many mistakes are you guilty of? From where you store your bras to how you wash them, here’s what to avoid so you can get years of good use out of them before they need replacing.
DON’T: Wash them too often
Unlike undies, you can wear your bra a few times before needing to wash it.
“Every few wears should be sufficient, but it does depend on your activity level,” says Lexie Sachs from the Good Housekeeping Institute.
For instance, if you’re active and wear sports bras, these will need to be washed more often than your everyday bras.
But Lexie warns, be careful of washing your bras too often.
“Over-washing can damage the elasticity, which is essential for providing the proper support.”
If you don’t already, washing your bras in a lingerie bag or pillowcase – and avoiding popping them in the dryer – can help keep them in shape and last longer, whilst minimising damage.
DON’T: Keep them in a drawer
Hands up who is guilty of this? The Good Housekeeping Institute says storing your bras in a drawer is a mistake, even though this would be the obvious way most women would keep their delicates.
How you store your bras is particularly important between washes, as storing them in a drawer may encourage sweat and dust to “fester” – which could lead to bad odour or irritation, according to the Good Housekeeping Institute.
Their advice? Hang your bras. But not by the straps as this may cause stretching. It is recommended you hang them from the centre or leave them out somewhere “flat”.
DON’T: Buy the wrong size
If you have never been correctly fitted for a bra, you might be surprised to learn you have been buying the completely wrong size all these years.
Many women find a bra size they feel comfortable wearing and stick to it – assuming it is the correct fit.
But unfortunately, this is often not the case.
Even if you avoided a bra fitting in your teens or 20s, it’s never too late to get fitted correctly, as breast shape can fluctuate over the years due to hormones and weight changes.
So, next time you are looking to purchase a new bra, consider getting measured and ensure you buy one that you can only hook on the first clasp, so you have the option of tightening your bra down the track if it stretches.