How To Machine-Wash Bras: Don’t!

It seems like everybody wants to know how to machine-wash bras. Based on conversations with you all at Broad, most folks know it’s not ideal, but don’t know why or what to do instead. I’ve covered bra care briefly before, but this is going to be a deeper dive. Ready? Let’s go!

What happens when you machine-wash bras?

Washing your bras in the machine shortens their lifespan. Bras that go in the washing machine are more likely to have underwires snap or poke out. They’re more likely to tear, either from the machine’s agitation or from snagging on other items of clothing. The cups are more likely to lose their shape, especially on a t-shirt bra. The elastic will stretch out more quickly, again from agitation or from wrapping around other clothing. The clasps are more likely to become damaged or get lost entirely. And putting your bra in the dryer just ups all those risks!

Sure, there are some ways to manage the risks of machine-washing bras. You can fasten the bra’s hooks and place it in a mesh wash bag for protection, use cool water and the delicates cycle, and skip the dryer in favour of hanging the bra or laying it flat to dry. But even this best case scenario is harder on your bra than is necessary.

So what’s the best way to wash bras?

The best way to wash a bra is by hand, in cool water, and then hang it or lay it flat to dry. This sounds like more of an ordeal than it is! I refused to hand-wash anything for literally years, because the idea of scrubbing and soaking and rinsing and wringing was just. too. much. What made a difference was finding the right method and detergent for me. I like Soak because it lets me skip the scrubbing and rinsing steps: just soak, press out excess water, and hang to dry. (Pro-tip: never wring out your bras. You’ll jack up the cups and damage the elastic. Instead, use a towel and your hands to gently press out the water – no twisting or squeezing.)

This method protects bras from all that agitation, and eliminates the risk of them getting twisted or caught on other clothing. This is the gentlest way to care for your bras, and the gentler you are, the longer your bras will last. I’m not saying hand-washing is the key to bra immortality, because that doesn’t exist. Every bra has a lifespan. But if you can extend it a bit, why not?

How often should you wash your bras?

Ideally you’d wash a bra after 1-3 wears. Like hand-washing, this sounds harder than it is! But if you have a bra wardrobe of at least 2-3 bras, you can just wash them all together once a week. And it’s worth it when you consider that sweat, body oils, dead skin cells, and products like lotion and deodorant all work together to wreck your bras. You can minimize the impact by not letting them build up.

Plus, the more frequently you wash your bras, the less effort you have to put into it. A bra that’s only been worn a few times can be cleaned with a quick soak. But a bra that you’ve worn for a month straight is gonna need a little more elbow grease – think soaking, scrubbing, and settling for stains and discolouration. And remember, gentler is better for bras, so scrubbing isn’t great!

Bottom line: Do what works for you.

I know that some of you are just not going to wash your bras by hand, or as frequently as we recommend. I get it! You have a life and other priorities. Machine-washing your bras doesn’t make you lazy or a bad person. There are plenty of good reasons to skip hand-washing, and we all have to manage our own spoons. This post isn’t intended to shame anyone! Our job is to give you the information you need to make the choices that are right for you. For some people, that means babying their bra wardrobe for years. For others, it means replacing bras more frequently so that they don’t have to baby them. Either choice can be the right one, if it’s right for you.