We all want to look good and feel good in our clothes. We spend lots of money on clothing every year, because we want to carry ourselves with our heads held high, backs straight, confident in the fact that we look great. Think of yourself as a stylish building, and your bras and undies are the foundation. Without a good foundation, that building just won’t look right! I’m writing a series on building those Fashion Foundations.
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So…let’s say you have this fancy gathering to go to. You spend a lot of money on a gorgeous dress at some high-end store. The dress is beautiful and fits amazing – all silk and handmade lace, beaded with jet. You go to the party, wear the dress, and get tons of compliments. Then you go home, throw it in the washing machine, and fling it in the dryer.
No? Then why would you do that to your bras, or your panties, or your shapewear? The designer of that gown intended for you to take care of it in a certain way, and the designers of your lingerie items intend on you caring for your products based on their recommendations. I hear so many women every day talking about how they just “throw their stuff in the washer”. Yeah, it’s easy to do, but it’s certainly not easy for your underthings! All that being knocked around, crowded by everything else in the washer, then flung to the side in the spin cycle – that’s HARD on those delicate fibers. I have a confession to make – I was one of those people. I threw my bras/undies/shapewear/whatever in the washer and dryer with my jeans and tees – and CONSTANTLY had problems with my molded cups crumpling, my wires coming out, and holes in the stitching. Since I’ve started washing by hand, I have had none of these problems, and my bras have lasted me right at a year and will possibly last longer.
Hand washing is the easiest way to extend the life of your lingerie.
The important thing when handwashing is making sure you use the right wash. You need a wash that will clean thoroughly, but gently. Forever New and Dreft are some good ones, and so are most biodegradable/organic washes. Steer clear of any washes containing petroleum, (most machine detergents do), since this could trap dirt in the fibers. Also, word on the street is that a certain wash (the stuff you shear from sheep-ite) isn’t very good either – it degrades lycra, causing the stretch in most bras to disappear. If you MUST wash lingerie in the washing machine, do yourself a favor and invest in a lingerie bag. This helps keep all delicate items together, so they don’t get knocked around as much, and will also help you remember to not put anything in the bag in the dryer!
These are the following two excuses I hear when it comes to handwashing, and why I think they’re bogus:
I never have time to wash, I’m too busy!
Depending on the level of activity, you can go two to three wearings before having to wash. However, it all depends on personal preference. In my case, I sweat a lot, and it is hot as Hades in the summer, so I usually wash every day. Some ladies just save up all their bras and undies, and then partake in a massive weekly wash on Sundays. Find what works with your schedule!
But I have to rinse for what feels like HOURS, and my stuff still feels soapy!
Some companies have started creating rinse-free washes, which prevents having to rinse and rinse and RINSE. The wash does all the work of getting the gunk out during a soak. It also saves time because you can go do some other things while washing. I typically wash my bras every day while I shower.
My favorite wash is Soak, a rinse-free wash that helps to strengthen the lycra fibers in lingerie while still getting them totally clean and fresh.
Let me show you how easy it is to use!
Step 1 – Get Soak. Game show hostess hand motions not necessary.
Step 2 – Go to your sink or other washing location.
Step 3 – Run cool water, add a squirt of Soak.
Step 4 – Add lingerie and swish a bit – you only need enough water to cover your items!
Step 5 – Let items soak for 15 minutes. Go shower, play with the dog, check Facebook, etc.
Step 6 – Pull items out, gently squeeze to remove excess water, and hang to dry!
TA-DA, everything is now clean!
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Another important way to take care of your lingerie is to NOT wear it more than a day at a time. Take a rubber band, stretch it across a room and hold it there for a long time. Eventually it will become misshapen and will not snap back into place. Those lycra fibers in your bras and in your shapewear act the same way! If you don’t give those items a day of rest between wearings, the fibers will stretch out much faster and shorten their life. So, on Monday, wear Bra 1 and Shaper 1, on Tuesday wear Bra 2 and Shaper 2, on Wednesday go back to Bra 1 and Shaper 1…and so on. That day of rest between wearings gives those fibers time to relax and snap back into their natural positions.
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If you are spending good money on your underthings, you want them to last as long as they possibly can. If you are rotating them on a regular basis and hand-washing, they should last you a few years, easily!
Next on Fashion Foundations – The wrapup, and some thoughts on women and lingerie.
Previously on Fashion Foundations:
Part 1 – Finding A Well-Fitted Bra
Part 2 – Building a Better Bra Wardrobe
Part 3 – Getting To The Bottom of Things (or, PANTIES!)
Part 4 – Shaping Up With Shapewear
Disclaimer: Although I work at Bra Genie as a Fitting Specialist, I am not receiving any compensation for this post.
NOLA nerdgirl, fashion and beauty geek, sci-fi and steampunk fan, corgi caretaker, photography buff, chocoholic, professional bra fitter, and other assorted oddities.
