How do bras get dirty

No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article methods. Tips and Warnings. Things You'll Need. Related Articles. Article Summary. Method 1. Fill a sink with warm water and add some mild detergent. Unless you are washing a great number of hand-wash items, you will only need between 1 teaspoon and 1 tablespoon of detergent.

Be sure that you are using an alcohol-free detergent intended for hand washing garments. Fill a sink or bucket with lukewarm water, then add your homemade detergent. Dilute some liquid castile soap with water, and add it to a sink or bucket filled with warm water.

Mix the detergent into the water. Do this by swishing your hand around in the water. Keep doing this until you get some bubbles and foam. Do not get concerned if there is not a lot of foam; too many suds will not only not clean better, but wastes detergent, and makes rinsing a longer process.

Add the bras in. Try to wash similar colors together, especially cotton bras, as dark colors can discolor light colors. Bras made of synthetic materials can typically be washed together without fear of "bleeding". Let the bras sit in the soapy water for 10 to 15 minutes. This allows the detergent to dissolve any oils or dirt.

For particularly dirty bras, leave them in the water for one hour. Swish and squish the bras. This helps loosen and dirt and oils. The water will be pretty murky by now. Drain the dirty water and rinse the bras with clean water. Do this until the water runs clear. Consider rinsing them in the bathtub, which will give you more space.

Repeat the soapy water bath and rinsing for very dirty bras. If your bras have not been washed in a while, you may need to give them another soak in fresh, soapy water; do not use the old, dirty water again. Be sure to rinse the bras well, until there is no soap left. Press the bras between two towels to remove any moisture. Lay the bra down on a towel, and cover it with another towel.

Press down on the bra and towel. Do not squeeze or wring the bra. Reshape the cups and let the bra air dry. You can either hang the bra up or you can lay it down on a clean, dry towel. If you choose to hang the bra to dry, do not hang it by the straps, as this will cause them to stretch. Instead, drape the bra by the middle over a clothesline or a drying rack.

You can also clip the band of the bra to a hanger. Method 2. Close the claps and hooks. If you do not close your bra, the hooks will often catch on other items in the wash and may rip them, or the hooks may deform. Straps can sometimes tangle on other laundry items, which may put stress on them. If your bra does not have any closures such as a sports bra , then do not worry about this. Put the bra in a mesh lingerie bag. This will prevent the bra from getting tangled in other items.

It will also protect it from rougher items, such as jeans. It can also be handy for sorting later. Washing your bras is probably at the bottom of your list of priorities. Literally: how do you even wash them in the first place? Are they delicates? Hand wash setting? Can you use Vanish without getting weird bleach spots all over them? They are the Bermuda triangle of undergarments, a mystery. You wouldn't think of wearing knickers two days in a row but admitting to wearing the same bra all week has become socially acceptable because we ALL do it.

And so it shouldn't come as a surprise that your bras might actually be grossly dirty: but they are. They are far, far filthier than you could imagine.

Did you think simply putting them in the wash was going to cut it? Simply soak bras and underwear in lukewarm, soapy water for 15 to 20 minutes. Harrington and Salardino offer a few pieces of advice to make your bras and underwear last longer:. News U. Politics Joe Biden Congress Extremism. Special Projects Highline.

HuffPost Personal Video Horoscopes. Follow Us. Terms Privacy Policy. Jupiterimages via Getty Images. Harrington and Salardino offer a few pieces of advice to make your bras and underwear last longer: Sports bra should be laundered after every use.