How to wash a bra: is it possible and how correctly in an automatic washing machine, in a bag and, if there is none, in a ball (sphere) for washing the bra, how to return the shape?

Underwear requires careful care and regular washing. Bras can have different designs, differ in color, fabrics used and design.

To properly wash such a delicate item, you must strictly follow all the rules.

You will find a lot of useful information about whether and how to properly wash a bra (in a bag and without one) in an automatic washing machine and by hand, how to dry it, and how to return the shape of a bra after washing at home.

Is it washable?

Automatic cleaning is very convenient, it gives good results and makes it easier to care for your bras. But this method is not available in all cases.

To make sure whether you can put your delicate item in the machine, you need to study the label on the product. On it, the manufacturer indicates possible types of washing and fabric composition.

Hand washing will come to the rescue in cases where machine washing cannot be used. Prohibiting factors include:

graceful lace model;
very complex cut, the shape of which can be lost during machine processing;
shedding material;
weariness of the product, which cannot be washed without soaking;
the dilapidation of the bra;
the presence of a large amount of decor (for example, glued rhinestones).

Hand washing should be preferred even in cases where the label is lost and the rules for caring for the product are unknown.

How to wash a bra by hand

If you choose the manual method for washing the product, you should follow the instructions:

Fill a basin with warm water.
Add detergent in the amount recommended by the manufacturer. While stirring the solution, wait until it is completely dissolved and soap foam appears.
Immerse the bra in water. Wait 10–15 minutes. If the item is heavily soiled, it can be left to soak for 20 minutes to an hour.
Rinse the product with gentle kneading movements. The straps can be lightly rubbed without stretching. After this, drain the cloudy water.
Rinse the item, changing the water in the basin several times until the drained liquid is no longer soapy. The rinse water should be lukewarm.
If the dirt is not washed off, then soaking, washing and rinsing can be repeated several times.
You cannot squeeze or twist the bra. After washing, the bra must be placed between 2 thick, clean terry towels. Lightly press the product to squeeze out excess moisture.

How to do it correctly in an automatic washing machine?

Washing bras in a washing machine should be done in special mesh bags or spherical containers.

Loading a bra into a drum without a protective bag can lead to unpleasant consequences:

deformations;
loss of elasticity;
loss of decorative elements (beads, bows, etc.);
accidental tearing of hooks;
fasteners catching on other things in the drum;
damage to the machine itself due to bones, hooks and other elements.

If there is no special bag, washing can be done in two ways:

manually;
placing the bra in the pillowcase and tying it tightly.

The alternative to a special mesh bag is inferior in terms of functionality. The main disadvantage of this design is the insufficient maintenance of the shape of the cups during washing in the drum.

But thick fabric will do a good job of protecting the machine and preventing the loss of small parts. This replacement option is best suited for washing bras with non-padded cups and sports models.

The procedure for processing in a machine without special devices:

Prepare your bra. If necessary, carry out minor repairs.
Place the item in a pillowcase made of non-fading fabric.
Tie the free edge of the improvised bag securely.
Place the product in the drum.
Pour liquid laundry detergent into the container on the body of the machine.
Set the mode to “delicate” or “manual”.
Adjust the water heating, it should be no more than +40ºС.
Set spin to minimum.
If there is such a function, turn off the dryer.
Start the work cycle.
After washing, the bra should be immediately taken out and dried.

The best results from machine washing will be achieved if you combine it with pre-soaking.

How to bleach a bra: synthetics, lace

Bras made from synthetic materials or lace must be bleached using special methods. This will preserve their appearance and integrity for a long time.

Quick whitening - video:

Soda with salt

You can wash your bra at home using baking soda and salt. To do this, you will need a very small amount of them and clean warm water. This method is suitable for any type of fabric used in the production of linen.

How to use:

Dilute with water (3 l) regular salt (2 tbsp) and soda (3 tbsp). If desired, you can also add a little washing powder.
Soak the bra in the solution for at least 20 minutes.
Wash the laundry as usual.

Washing should be set to no more than 40°C to prevent the material from yellowing. Additionally, manual rinsing is recommended.

Ammonia

The use of such a product guarantees quick whitening of underwear. You will need to stock up on one package of alcohol and clean water.

How to whiten:

Mix ammonia (5 tbsp) and clean warm water (5 l). Mix.
Soak the laundry for several hours (no more than 12).
Rinse and wash the bra as usual.

The item should be soaked for at least 2 hours to achieve the desired result.

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide has become one of the most popular means for cleaning any contaminants. It must be used with caution. If it is not possible to completely bleach with hydrogen peroxide, you can repeat it with the addition of ammonia.

How to proceed:

Dilute peroxide (2 tbsp) with cool, clean water (1 l).
Soak the laundry for 2 hours.
Rinse and wash by hand.

If after all the actions the smell of the product remains, then the bra should be hung in fresh air for ventilation.

Hand wash from dirt at home

Manual processing is the right decision if there is any doubt whether it is possible to send the bra to the machine . With this type of washing, it is possible to carefully wash the product, paying attention to those places that need more careful treatment.

During manual work, as with the automatic processing cycle, it is necessary to ensure that the water is not too hot - up to +40ºС. During the washing process, intense exposure should be avoided.

More information about hand washing can be found here.

Why do you need a ball (sphere)?

Among the variety of bras, quite a few models have padded cups, and the shape is supported by underwires. The complex design of such bras can easily be damaged during washing in a machine.

Not only mesh bags help protect things, but also special spherical containers . When assembled, such a container consists of two balls placed one inside the other.

The openwork design with a large number of holes allows you to easily wash and rinse the product. Before loading into the drum, the bra is fastened and the cups are positioned so that they are between the two spheres.

At the same time, the dense ball protects the bra from the outside and prevents the cups from clumping inside. The disadvantage of this organization is the lack of protection against the loss of small elements, since the holes of the sphere are quite large.

When purchasing a ball for washing bras, you need to pay great attention to the reliability of the fasteners. If the fastenings are weak, the ball may open right in the drum .

This article will tell you more about containers for washing bras.

Washing bag

The bag is a structure made of synthetic mesh material. The fastener is usually organized in the form of a zipper.

Depending on the model and manufacturer, the bags may differ:

model;
shape;
size;
type of fastener;
color.

As a rule, bags are not spherical. The bra is placed in them in such a way that the cups fit one inside the other.

The downside, when compared with containers, is less quality support for the shape of the cups . But because of the fine-mesh mesh, there is a guarantee that all small and large (for example, seeds) parts that accidentally come off will be preserved.

When choosing a specific model, you need to pay attention to the quality of the item and the accuracy of execution. You can read more about laundry bags here.

Washing rules

Following certain recommendations during cleaning will allow you to refresh the item of underwear without losing its quality, and will also increase its service life.

Basic Rules.

It is recommended to wash this item of underwear once every 3-4 days, and in especially hot periods of the year - after each wear.
Before washing, fasten the item on all hooks.
It is permissible to carry out cleaning together with other light textiles that match the color, such as socks, T-shirts, pajamas.
Temperature regime – no more than 40 degrees.
It is recommended to use a liquid detergent.
Initially, soak for 15-20 minutes.

Read more ► How to wash a jacket at home: the best methods, step-by-step instructions

Why is more often not always better?

Maintaining hygiene and freshness of linen is achieved by regular washing. How often to treat an item depends on the intensity of use, color and many other factors.

Some bras require frequent washing - literally after a single use (for example, sports bras).

The maximum number of wears before washing should be no more than three. This approach will keep the item clean and will not lead to rapid wear.

You can find out more about the optimal number of times you should wash bras here.

How does the color of the product affect the care rules?

If you have several bras of different colors, you should keep in mind that it is unlikely that you will be able to wash them all together. All laundry must first be sorted according to color into black, white and colored .

Snow-white linen requires not only more frequent washing, but also the use of a special detergent designed for such a snowy shade.

Gels “for white things” contain bleaching components that act gently but effectively and do not contain chlorine.

The black color of linen is also capricious . When washed with unsuitable detergents and at high temperatures, the rich, bright pigment is washed out and fades, and the item itself loses its attractiveness. Constantly using laundry detergents labeled “for black clothes” will help prevent this situation.

Multi-colored items, as well as those that have a slight tint (for example, light beige, flesh-colored, ivory, etc.), should be washed with products intended for colored clothes. In this case, it is advisable to choose those that are intended directly for washing clothes and are available in liquid form.

Read about washing snow-white items and ways to restore their whiteness here.

Type of bra and type of fabric

Bras are made from fabrics of various compositions and their combinations. The care features largely depend on the material. Not every bra can withstand intensive machine washing, soaking, etc.

It is advisable to hand wash bras made from thin lace, with gel sealing of the cups, as well as designer models. Cotton bras without padded cups are less demanding to care for. Their washing can be more intensive, and their soaking can be longer.

Sconces with underwires can most often be washed both by hand and in a machine, unless prohibited by the manufacturer. But the presence of metal inserts makes prolonged contact with water and soaking undesirable, which can lead to the formation of rust.

This publication will tell you how to properly wash a bra with wires by hand and in a washing machine.

Bleaching methods: cotton

If the bra is made of cotton, then it is recommended to bleach it in several ways. All of them are simple and accessible, and cannot harm the material. Some of them can even be used for other materials.

Boiling

The first and simplest method is regular boiling. A small amount of gentle detergent may be added to the water.

How to boil:

Fill a galvanized or enameled container with water and bring to a boil.
Put your bra there. Boil for 30 minutes.

After this, the laundry will again acquire a bright white color.

Laundry soap

Regular laundry soap, which can be found in any store, will also help make your favorite bra white again.

How to use:

Grate the soap and dissolve in warm water.
Soak the laundry in the solution for half an hour.
Hand wash, rinse well, hang to dry.

Bleaches

You can find a large number of different bleaches in stores. They are chlorine-containing, optical and oxygen. Any will do.

How to proceed:

Make a bleach solution according to package directions.
Soak the white bra for one hour.
Machine wash on delicate cycle.

It is not recommended to soak laundry for too long, as the metal inserts may rust and the material itself may develop yellow spots. Oxygen bleaches can also be used on synthetic fabrics.

Blue

Whitening using blue stain is a time-tested method. However, maximum care will be required to ensure that the white linen is not spoiled.

Application:

Dilute the blue in warm water, stir thoroughly.
Soak the bra for 15 minutes.
Rinse in cool water.

Prolonged soaking may result in a noticeable blue tint, which will ruin the appearance of the laundry.

White

One of the most effective ways to whiten laundry is to bleach it. It can only be used for cotton, since bras made of synthetics or other materials can quickly deteriorate.

How to use:

Dilute one spoon of white with warm water (3 l).
Soak the bra for 20 minutes.
Rinse in cool water.

It is not recommended to use this product several times in a row, as the smell will be much more difficult to remove, and the structure of the fabric may be destroyed.

How to return the form?

Washing and drying a bra in violation of the laundry care rules can lead to deformation of the item. It is very easy to spoil a delicate product.

Bras are sensitive to many factors:

prolonged wetness;
intense exposure;
use hot water when washing;
processing in a machine without a bag, etc.

The main defects that may appear as a result of washing:

Problems with the bones (bending, tissue breakdown, etc.).
Stretched straps.
Creases on the compacted cup.

Creases on the cup

Damage to the cups may be irreparable. The following recommendations will help you try to save the situation:

The cup is moistened with water, straightened, and for the drying period a roll of a towel or a corner of a pillow is placed inside.
If the edge of the cup is deformed, it is moistened with water, and, pulling it back with your hands, it is straightened. In this state, dry, making sure that the free edge of the cup does not warp.

Serious creases in the foam of the cups may be impossible to fix, as well as to restore the original condition of the item.

What to do with the bones?

If a bone pops out during washing, you can carefully put it back in place and sew up the hole.

In cases where the bone not only pops out, but is also deformed, it will have to be replaced. For this, you can use a part from an old bra, or buy a new one in the sewing accessories department.

Stretched straps

The problem with stretched straps can be solved in several ways:

tighten the existing straps by moving the locking mechanism to the desired length and making them shorter;
replace with new ones.

The easiest way to replace the removable straps. New ones can be purchased at lingerie stores or in departments selling sewing accessories.

Whitening with household chemicals

White

Restoring with white, which can be purchased at any hardware store, is considered an effective, but not particularly gentle method for fabric fibers. Chlorine, which is part of the household product, helps to loosen the threads, which leads to a rapid change in the appearance of the product. Experts advise resorting to the use of whiteness only when other methods do not work.

Important: whiteness is not used for washing synthetics. A nude bra is also not treated with it.

This product is used to whiten items of clothing in the following way:

Add 15-20 g of whiteness to 3 liters of cool water and add washing powder. Thoroughly dissolve solids.
Place the bra into the resulting mixture and leave for no more than 20 minutes.
After the specified time, lightly rub heavily soiled areas and rinse in water at a temperature not exceeding 40°.

Oxygen bleach

Use oxygen bleach according to the following instructions:

Dissolve 1 cap of the chemical in warm water;
Place the item to be bleached into the solution and leave for at least 9 hours;
after the specified time, rinse the bra thoroughly;
If necessary, the bra can be additionally washed in a machine or by hand, adding any detergent.

Bra bag

Recommendations

The rules of washing clothes that have become a habit will make this job easy. The following recommendations will help with washing:

At the end of washing, the washing machine must be unloaded immediately to avoid deformation of the laundry and its prolonged exposure to dampness.
Washing and hand washing must be carried out using rubber gloves.
With an unusual, originally decorated bra, you should not experiment with machine washing - it is better to process the item by hand.
If the bra has removable decor, it is better to remove it before washing.
If the bra is sweaty, it should be washed even if it was worn only once.
High-quality bras withstand washing better and last much longer than those carelessly made from low-grade materials.
Recommendations on the product label must be followed.
A bra with compacted foam cups and push-up pads is very heavy when wet, so you should hang it up to dry only after a gentle spin. Otherwise, under the influence of weight, the cups may become deformed and the elastic bands may stretch.
The use of liquid detergents is preferable to powders.

Whatever bra model is washed, the impact should only be delicate.

You will find maximum useful information about washing clothes and various fabric products here.