Washing bras and knickers without ruining them
Short answer: Bras and thin knickers last longest in a laundry bag at 40 degrees without fabric softener. What ruins them is heat and hooks that catch on other clothes.
Laundry bag
A laundry bag stops the hooks on a bra from tearing other clothes and stops the straps from tangling and stretching in the drum. Thin knickers are also protected from wear caused by jeans and towels. Do not overfill the bag, so the water can get through. Read when to use a laundry bag.
40 degrees
Underwear gets clean at 40 degrees with an ordinary detergent. A higher temperature wears out the elastic faster without making the clothes noticeably cleaner. It is better to wash more often at a low temperature than less often at a high one. Choose a gentle programme if your machine has one.
No tumble dryer
The heat in a tumble dryer ruins the elastic in the underband faster than anything else. It goes slack and loses the support that makes a bra sit as it should. Air dry on a rack instead. Thin knickers and bras are usually dry after one night. See bamboo bra without underwire.
No fabric softener
Fabric softener leaves a film on the fibres. It may feel soft at first, but it reduces the ability of the fabric to move moisture away from the skin, which is exactly what bamboo viscose is good at. The fabric is soft enough on its own. Read more about fabric softener and bamboo.
Close the hooks
Always close the hooks before a bra goes in the wash, even when you use a laundry bag. Open hooks can catch on the bag or on each other and pull threads out of the fabric. It takes a few seconds and can save you a ruined bra. See how to wash a bra.
Sort by colour
Light and dark colours should be washed separately, especially the first few times. A light set of underwear can pick up colour from dark clothes and get a greyish tinge that is hard to remove. Wash underwear with other light garments rather than heavy towels and jeans, which cause more wear.
See the range
If you want to see the models in the same material, you can find bras and knickers gathered together. Many choose several identical pairs so they can be washed together in the same bag without sorting. See the models in bamboo bra without underwire and bamboo knickers.
Drying
Lay a bra flat to dry instead of hanging it by one strap. The weight of the water otherwise pulls the strap out of shape, and it never quite recovers. Knickers can be hung over a rail or laid flat. Avoid direct sun and radiators. See bamboo underwear for women.
Hand washing
If you have time, hand washing in lukewarm water is the gentlest option. Use a little mild detergent, let the garments soak briefly and rinse well. Do not wring the fabric, but press the water out between two towels. For everyday use, machine washing in a bag at 40 degrees is perfectly fine.
See also
The rest of the rules for washing, drying and storing bamboo clothing are gathered in one guide. There you will also find advice on how much detergent to use and how to help clothes keep their shape for longer. Read the full washing guide.
Frequently asked questions
Should a bra always go in a laundry bag?
It extends its life. The bag stops hooks from tearing other clothes and keeps the straps from stretching in the drum, so the bra holds its shape for longer.
Can bras and knickers go in the tumble dryer?
It is best not to. The heat wears out the elastic in the underband and waistband faster than anything else. Air drying takes a night and spares both fabric and elastic.
Why no fabric softener?
Softener leaves a film on the fibres that reduces the ability of the fabric to move moisture away from the skin. Bamboo viscose is soft enough without it.
See our range of bamboo panties.
