Everyone knows that they are supposed to be gentle when they wash their bras and other delicates. While it can be good advice, however, it can be hard to follow. You would have to do a separate load just for your bras and underwear. The fact that bras that fit you well can be hard to find and can be expensive, means that you want to make them last as long as possible. It's important to not make mistakes. What follows are tips to help you avoid giving your bras the wrong kind of treatment.
You need to wash your panties after each day of wear. It's not the way your bras need to be treated, however. Unless you've been sweating a lot or feel that a bra actually has odor, you can wear it multiple times before you wash. Washing too often damages the elastic and the fabric. All you need to do is to smell your bra or look at it to see if it seems dirty. If it seems fine, it should be okay to wear without washing.
Even regular detergent can be too harsh for the lacy fabric that makes up bras. It's important to use special lingerie wash detergent that's designed to work well with the lace and elastic of bras. It's also important to never use bleach.
If you have the time and patience, washing lingerie by hand is the best way to go. If you do need to use the washing machine, however, you should put your bras in a mesh bag called a lingerie bag first. The problem with just throwing your bras in the machine with the rest of your stuff is that a general wash can get your bras tangled up and stretched out. When your bras are contained in a bag, they can't stretch out or tangle with other clothes. Even with a lingerie bag, it's a good idea to use the gentle cycle on the machine, and a low degree of heat.
Since sports bras are meant for the rough-and-tumble of an active life, many people assume that they can take rough treatment in a washing machine. Even if sports bras don't seem lacy, however, they still do have elastic and are delicate. It's important to use a lingerie bag and to not use a dryer.
The fact that bras have rubber-based elastic means that they don't typically do very well in the high-heat environment of a dryer. Tumble-drying can also result in damage to the underwiring as it bangs against the sides of the drum. Damaged underwiring can have dents that make it hard for them to hug your form properly when you wear them. It would be best for your bras if you could air-dry them. If you have to put them in the dryer, you should use the lowest heat setting possible.
Taking care of your bras does take a little extra effort. If you don't give them the care that they need, you'll simply spend time and money hunting for bras more often when you wear out the ones that you have. You might as well put in a little extra time and effort giving your existing bras the proper kind of treatment.