You’ve probably rationalized how often you need to wash your bras. And you know what we mean: “I’ve only worn this bra to work. I sit there all day at my desk in the air conditioning. And I didn’t even break a sweat! Surely, it’s not time to toss it in the laundry yet!”
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How often you need to wash your bras isn’t an exact science. But dermatologist Alok Vij, MD, says that as a general rule, you should wash them after every two to three wears.
How often should you wash your bra?
If you’re wondering “What qualifies as a ‘wear,’ anyhow?” it’s a valid question. Dr. Vij says it can mean different things, and your air-conditioned-office rationalizations aren’t all that far off.
“A few hours with a bra on with minimal sweating might not count as a full ‘wear,’” he says. “But a few hours with heavy sweating could count as a double or triple wear.”
It’s also important to rotate your bras, so the cups and straps can relax. This allows them to retain their shape and elasticity.
“You can wear the same bra two days in a row, as long as you take it off for several hours in between to allow the bra to relax,” Dr. Vij says. “But wearing a ‘lucky’ bra day in and day out will make it lose its shape more quickly.”
What happens if you don’t wash your bra?
Keeping your bra healthy is all about balancing the care for the fabric with the removal of skin debris, oils and sweat.
“All the dead skin cells, oils and sweat trapped under your bra make for a cesspool of bacteria and yeast,” Dr. Vij explains. “Not washing frequently enough can lead to stains and persistent odors on the bra — as well as skin irritation, rashes or local skin infections from yeast or bacteria.”
The best way to wash your bra
But the more often you wash your bra, the higher the stress you place on the fabric. The cups tend to lose their shape and the straps lose their elasticity. So, here’s how to wash your bras so they last as long as possible:
- Prep: Fasten the strap before washing, so it won’t get tangled or snag other clothes.
- Protect: Place your bra in a mesh laundry bag, so it won’t get twisted around other clothes.
- Wash: To prevent pilling and preserve elasticity, wash your bras on your laundry machine’s gentlest cycle using cold water.
- Air dry: Avoid the dryer at all costs, as the heat and vibration will ruin the fit and reduce your bra’s stretchy properties. Instead, lay your bra flat on a towel to dry, making sure the cups are positioned in their natural shape.
- Store: After drying, store your bras laid flat. Rolling or twisting (putting one cup inside the other) can permanently change the shape of the bra.
“With gentle care, quality bras can last for years,” Dr. Vij says. “But washing too frequently — or not frequently enough — can destroy your bra or mar your skin.”
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Ladies, let’s talk about something important! Our sports bras! If you’re a woman who loves working out, you probably have a drawer full of sports bras. Or, if you’re like me, you wear a sports bra everyday regardless of working out or not. They’re just so much more comfortable than regular bras! Even if you aren’t as sports bra obsessed as I am, how many of them should you actually own? Is there any magic number you need to reach here?
A general rule is to own 1 sports bra for every day that you exercise. If you exercise 4 days a week, you should own 4 sports bras. You should own more sports bras if you wear sports bras on a regular basis aside from working out.
Sports bras aren’t complicated, but there are some general basics and guidelines you should know. Let’s dive into the specifics of how many sports bras you should own based on your daily activities and needs. Don’t worry, it’ll definitely be bra-tastic! 😉 Sorry, that was dumb…
How often should you wash your sports bras?
Unless you’re sweating a lot, you don’t need to wash your sports bra every time you wear it. Actually, washing your sports bra too often can reduce its longevity by degrading the elastic. It’s best to wash your sports bra as often as you wash your other bras–every 3 to 4 wears or so.
There are exceptions to this though. If you sweat A LOT, you’ll want to wash your sports bra more often. There’s no hard and fast rule to this, but if you’re going to feel gross putting on your sports bra again, don’t do it. It’s time for the washing machine.
You should also wash your sports bras more often if you’re prone to acne. Rewearing sweaty clothes can be a disaster for those of us who are always fighting with their pimples. Sports bras are always rubbing against your skin, especially when you’re running. Having this sweaty piece of fabric graze your skin for an extended period of time isn’t the best for your pores. Wash your sports bras more often if this is a concern for you.
Based on these washing guidelines, think about how many sports bras you’ll use in between each of your regularly scheduled laundry times. If you’re a heavy sweater or acne prone, you’ll want more sports bras because they will need to be washed more often. On the other hand, if you can get away with washing your sports bras every 3 to 4 wears, you won’t need as many.
Can you rewear the same sports bra two days in a row?
Give your sports bras at least a day to air out and rest between wears. This guideline holds true for regular bras as well. Bras have elastic in them that help them hold their shape. If you wear the same bra two days in a row, you’ll stretch out the elastic and possibly damage it.
If you think about the fact that you need to space out the days you wear each sports bra, you’ll need to have a few extras on hand to fill in the gaps.
What if you have to double bra it?
Sometimes, you need more reinforcements to keep everything in place, especially during a run or hardcore workout. Obviously, you’ll need more sports bras if you’re wearing 2 of them at a time instead of just 1. The outer sports bra likely won’t get as dirty though, as it isn’t directly in contact with your skin and probably won’t get as sweaty. Unless you have a really sweaty workout that soaks through both sports bras, you can probably get away with washing the outer sports bra less often than the others. To keep it simple though, just wash it every 3 to 4 wears like all of your other bras.
What about wearing sports bras for exercise and for everyday use?
If you’re like me, you live in your sports bras. It’s an advantage of small cleavage! This means that I have a LOT of sports bras though. Basically, I have a small pile of fitness sports bras and a larger pile of everyday sports bras. I wash my fitness sports bras more often than my everyday sports bras, which means they get more wear and tear. Once one of my everyday sports bras starts to wear out, I transition it to the fitness sports bra pile and buy a fresh new everyday sports bra.
You could also mix up your fitness and everyday sports bras, as long as you only do so after each washing. You don’t want to put on a sweaty sports bra you used for your run yesterday as you’re on your way to work. For me, having designated fitness sports bras and everyday sports bras makes it easier for me to keep track of things. Who wants to think too hard first thing in the morning, anyway?
Follow your sports bra intuition
Luckily, sports bras are pretty cheap. If you feel like you don’t have enough, spit out $15 and add another one to your collection. Having too many is definitely better than having too few. There’s nothing worse than running out of essentials like these before laundry day rolls around. They’re also fun to collect. Grab a neon one, a rainbow one, a sleek one, you get the picture. Even though collecting sports bras doesn’t sound as cool as catching Pokemon, it’s something I’m down to get nerdy about.
The moral of the story is that your health is always the first priority. If you constantly find yourself wearing dirty sports bras because you don’t have enough of them, save your pores and buy a few extras. The exact number you need will completely depend on your lifestyle, your activities, and your body. At the worst you’ll be out $15 and a little bit of closet space. Who can argue with that? No go out and buy some fun sports bras!