How Often Should You Wash Your Bra? Experts Reveal The Magic Number

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How Often Should You Wash Your Bra? Experts Reveal The Magic Number

It's funny how most of us wash our underwear after only one wear but we tend to wear a bra multiple times before it makes it into the laundry basket.

One mom recently confessed that she rotates her three bras and only washes them once a month. Her admission garnered from negative reactions from people who deemed it "gross" and "grim."

But do you know how often you should actually be washing your bras? Daily? Weekly?

Chances are you are not doing it often enough. Experts have finally weighed in on the long-standing debate and what they have to say could come as a surprise to you.

According to Lexie Sachs, product analyst in the Textiles Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute., your bra should be tossed in the laundry after every 3-4 wears depending on your lifestyle.

"Every few wears should be sufficient, but it does depend on your activity level," says Sachs.

"For instance, if you're outside on a humid day and end up sweating a lot, you'll want to wash your bra sooner. On the other hand, if you throw a bra on for a couple hours, that might not count as a 'wear.' Washing gets rid of the oils and germs that accumulate, so the more oil you're producing, the more frequently you'll need to launder your bra," she added.

Unless you're a sweaty person, you can wear the same bra for a few days in a row before it needs to be cleaned. So in the case of the mom, if she's rotating between three bras, washing them every 3-4 weeks is ideal.

On the other hand, Sachs greatly discouraged that you wash your bra after every wear. This is because washing it too often "can damage the elasticity, which is essential for providing the proper support," says. Once the fit is compromised, the bra will not provide the required support and there really is nothing worse than an ill-fitting bra.

Sachs claims that washing your bra after the recommended amount of wears shouldn't compromise its quality and fit as long as you read and follow the instructions on the label.

So there you have it ladies! Will you be washing your bra more often after reading this? Let us know in the comments!

Blair isn't a bestselling author, but she has a knack for beautiful prose. When she isn't writing for Shared, she enjoys listening to podcasts.