How often a bra should be washed

Short answer: After two to three wears, more often if you have sweated. Let it rest a day between wears so the elastic regains its spring. Wash it in a mesh bag at thirty degrees and dry it flat.

Why not every time

Every wash stretches the elastic, and the elastic is what carries the garment. So a bra lasts longer if it is washed after two or three wears rather than after each one. If you have not sweated and it has not been damp, it is perfectly reasonable to wait. See bamboo underwear for women.

Why rest it

The elastic contracts again when it is not stretched. One day of rest is enough, which is why three bras in rotation last longer than two worn in turn. It takes no special effort, only that you do not wear the same bra two days running. See bamboo bra without underwire.

The wash

Put the bra in a mesh bag and wash it at thirty degrees. The bag protects both the bra and the rest of the laundry, because straps and hooks cannot catch on anything. Always follow the care label if it says something different. Use no more detergent than necessary, so no residue stays in the fabric.

Close the hooks

Close the hooks before the bra goes in the wash, so they do not tear at other clothes or get bent. An open hook can catch on jumpers and socks and pull threads. It takes a few seconds, and it extends the life of both the bra and the clothes washed with it.

Drying

Dry the bra flat and never hang it by a strap. The weight of the water pulls the straps long, and once the elastic is stretched out it does not fully return. Lay it on a towel or a drying rack and turn it once so it dries evenly. Tumble drying is not advised, to protect the elastic.

Sports bras

A sports bra should be washed every time you have sweated in it. It fits close, and the sweat stays in the fabric, so bacteria and odour take hold quickly. Wash it the same way as an ordinary bra, in a mesh bag and dried flat. See bamboo sports bra.

How many bras you need

Three bras are a good rhythm, so one is always resting and one is clean. With three in rotation you can follow the rule of washing after two to three wears without running out of one to put on. If you only have two, each is worn more often and loses its spring sooner.

When is it finished

If the bra no longer fits snugly even on the outermost hook, the elastic has stretched out. It is a sign that it has been through many washes and many wears. With good care and rest between wears you can delay that point. Try it on and judge for yourself whether the fit still feels right.

A simple rule of thumb

Wash after two to three wears, and always after sport. Mesh bag, thirty degrees and dry flat. Rest it a day between wears, and keep three bras in rotation. With that routine the elastic keeps its spring longer, and you use fewer bras over a year. It is the simplest way to look after what you already own.