How to wash innerwear so it actually lasts

A good bra can last a year or more of regular wear. Most do not, and the reason is almost always the wash rather than the wearing.

Innerwear is mostly elastane, and elastane has three enemies: heat, harsh detergent, and mechanical stress. Avoid those and everything else takes care of itself.

The short version: hand wash in cool water with a mild detergent, soak for no more than ten minutes, press the water out instead of wringing, and dry flat or hanging from the centre in the shade.

Hand washing, the short version

1. Fill a basin with cool water — never hot. Heat is what breaks elastane down.
2. Add a small amount of mild detergent. Skip anything with bleach or brighteners.
3. Soak for ten minutes. Longer does not clean better and does weaken elastic.
4. Squeeze gently through the fabric. Do not scrub the cups.
5. Rinse in clean, cool water until the water runs clear.

The wringing mistake

Wringing is the single most damaging thing you can do to a bra. It twists the elastic fibres past their recovery point and misshapes moulded cups permanently.

Instead: press the water out between your palms, then lay the piece flat on a towel, roll the towel up, and press. It removes most of the water without twisting anything.

If you must use a machine

Sometimes hand washing is not realistic. If you are machine washing:

• Use a lingerie bag — without one, hooks catch on everything
• Fasten every hook first, so it cannot snag other garments
• Cold water, gentle or delicates cycle
• Never with jeans, towels or anything with a zip

Drying: shade, not sun

Direct sunlight fades colour and degrades elastic. A tumble dryer does both, faster.

Dry flat or on a line in the shade. Hang bras by the centre gore or lay them flat — hanging by one strap stretches that strap out over time, and a stretched strap will never sit right again.

Storing without crushing

Moulded cups hold their shape until something crushes them. Stack bras front to back in a drawer, cups nested the same way round. Do not fold one cup into the other — the fold becomes permanent.

Moulded cups keep their shape when they are stacked rather than folded — and fasten the hooks before any machine wash. Shown: our Seamless Full Coverage Light Padded Bra in beige.

Rotate, and give things a rest

Elastic needs a day to recover its shape. Wearing the same bra two days running shortens its life noticeably.

Three or four in rotation, worn in turn, will outlast two worn constantly — by more than the maths suggests.

{{product:everyday-essentials-pack-2-bras-2-briefs-combo | Two bras and two briefs: enough to rotate}}

A realistic replacement schedule

Even with perfect care, everyday bras need replacing every six to twelve months. When the band no longer feels firm on the tightest hook, the elastic has gone, and no amount of adjustment will bring it back.

Shop this guide

• Seamless Full Coverage Light Padded Bra — moulded cups — store stacked, never folded
• Non-Padded Cotton Lycra Sports Bra — wash after every workout
• Everyday Full Coverage Briefs — soft cotton lycra for daily wear

Frequently asked questions

How often should I wash my bra?

Everyday bras can be worn two or three times between washes if you are not sweating much. Wash sports bras after every workout, and wash everything more often in hot, humid weather. Briefs need washing after every wear.

Can I wash bras in a washing machine?

Yes, if you are careful: put them in a lingerie bag, fasten every hook first, and use a cold, gentle cycle. Keep them away from jeans, towels and anything with a zip.

Why do bras lose their shape?

Heat, wringing and folding one cup into the other. Hot water and dryers break down the elastic, wringing twists it past recovery, and a folded moulded cup keeps the crease.

Is it okay to dry innerwear in the sun?

Strong direct sun fades colour and weakens elastic, so an airy, shaded spot is better. If you prefer the sun, turn pieces inside out and bring them in as soon as they are dry.

Which detergent is best for innerwear?

A mild liquid detergent without bleach or brighteners. Skip fabric softener on cotton innerwear — it coats the fibres and makes them less absorbent.

How long does a bra last?

With regular wear, six to twelve months. When the band no longer feels firm on the tightest hook, the elastic has gone and it is time to replace it.