How to Make Your Lingerie Last

Four simple habits that can help your favourite bras keep their shape, comfort and support.

A good bra works surprisingly hard. The band, straps, cups and underwiring all have a job to do, and the way a bra is washed, dried and stored can affect how well those different parts hold up.

The reassuring part is that lingerie care does not need to become another complicated routine. A gentler wash, a little patience while drying and some extra room in the drawer can make a real difference.

THE SHORT VERSION: Wash gently, avoid unnecessary heat, store moulded bras without folding the cups and pay attention to changes in fit rather than relying on a fixed replacement date.

1. Washing: Treat it gently

Everyday bras do not necessarily need to be washed after every wear. Unless it has been a particularly warm day or you have been exercising, you can usually give a bra time to air before wearing it again. Sports bras and anything worn during heavy exercise should be washed after use.

Always check the care label first. Hand washing in cool water with a small amount of mild detergent is generally the gentlest option, particularly for lace, padded and underwired bras. Leave them to soak briefly, move them gently through the water and avoid rubbing, twisting or wringing.

If the care label allows machine washing, fasten the hooks and place each bra inside a zipped laundry bag before choosing a cool, gentle cycle. This helps prevent straps, lace and hooks from becoming tangled with the rest of the wash.

GOOD’S LINGERIE PICK: Secret Weapons Laundry Bag – made with reinforced, double-layered mesh to help protect hooks, wires and delicate fabrics in the washing machine.

2. Storage: Stack, do not fold

Moulded bras are best stored upright, with one sitting neatly behind the next. This gives the cups enough space to keep their shape and makes it much easier to see what is actually in your drawer.

Avoid folding one cup inside the other. It may save a little room, but it can stretch the centre of the bra and leave dents or creases in moulded cups. Fastening the hooks before putting bras away will also stop them catching on lace or other delicate fabrics.

Make sure everything is completely dry before it goes back into the drawer. If space allows, keeping everyday bras separate from tapes, straps and other accessories will make the whole drawer easier to organise.

3. Drying: Keep it away from heat

The tumble dryer may be convenient, but heat can damage elastic and distort padded or moulded cups. Direct heat from a radiator can have a similar effect.

After washing, gently reshape the cups and press the bra between two clean towels to remove some of the excess water. Do not twist or wring it. Lay it flat with the cups facing upwards and allow it to air dry naturally.

This may take a little longer, but it is one of the simplest ways to help lingerie retain its shape. Triumph’s lingerie-care guidance also recommends air drying bras naturally rather than tumble drying them.

4. When to replace: Watch the fit

There is no single replacement date that works for every bra. A favourite worn several times a week will naturally work harder than one kept for occasional wear, while washing, storage and changes in your body can all affect how long a bra remains supportive.

Pay attention to how a bra that once fitted well feels now. If the band rides up even on the tightest hook, the straps are constantly slipping, the cups have become misshapen or the wire no longer sits comfortably against your ribcage, it may no longer be giving you the support it should.

A change in fit does not always mean the bra is worn out. Your size or shape may have changed too. If you are unsure, a professional fitting can help you work out whether you need a different size, a different shape or simply a new version of an old favourite.

A little care goes a long way

You do not need a cupboard full of specialist products or a complicated washing routine. Treating your lingerie gently, protecting it in the machine, keeping it away from heat and giving it enough room in the drawer are the habits that matter most.

For those little wardrobe problems that call for an extra helping hand, Good’s also stocks:

Explore the full Good’s lingerie accessories collection.

If your bras are no longer sitting or feeling as they should, visit the Good’s lingerie department in Kilkenny for a professional fitting or read our online Bra Fit Guide.