1. Hand Wash

Ladies, ladies, ladies. One of the very first rules of bra care you should follow is to hand wash your bras. Most of your bras say this right on the label. I know it is a pain and a huge inconvenience, but it makes so much difference in them.

2. Use a Gentle Detergent

Use a gentle detergent on your bras. If you are using the same detergent on your bras as you are on your son’s grass and dirt stained baseball uniform, you are making a mistake. Pick up something gentle like Woolite at the store next time you go.

3. If You Must Machine Wash, Use This

I am also going to be honest with you here. While I do hand wash my bras, there are also times I cannot because of time constraints. When I must cheat, this is the way I do it. I wash my bras on the hand wash cycle and I use a lingerie bag. I never wash more than two at a time. I would never consider washing them on any other cycle, except maybe delicate.

4. Reshape

When you take your bra out of the washer or after you are finished handwashing it, reshape it. A lot of us have made the mistakes of just letting them dry as they are. When you do this, they are more likely to have rolling in the fabric or to get stretched out. Handle them carefully and reshape them. Work out any kinks or twists in them.

5. Dry Flat and Hooked

When I did start letting my bras dry on their own, I still made a huge mistake. I hung them over my shower rod or a door knob. This is so bad for your bras! It stretches them out and makes them misshapen. I learned to dry my bras flat and hooked in the back, as if I was wearing them.

6. Store Correctly

Another mistake I made for many years was attempting to fold them before I put them away. You should not be folding your bras. Your bras should be laid in the drawer carefully. Think of how they are displayed in drawers in most lingerie stores. That is how you should store them at home.

7. Don’t do the Flip

This last rule of bra care has more to do with how you wear your bra than you care for it when you are not laundering it. Most of us were taught to hook our bras while they were in front of us, twist the bra around to the front and flip it up. This is not the best way to put on your bra. That flip is not good for your bra. You should put it on from the front and do the hooks by twisting your arms round your back. While it takes some practice to become at ease with putting your bra on correctly, it can be done.

I have learned these rules of bra care through a lot of reading and also the instruction of my local lingerie shop. I have also observed that they really do make a difference. What rules of bra care do you follow?