Long Live Your Lingerie
By Suzanne Jackson
You found it! The perfect bra. It fit's.
It flatters. It's fabulous. Now, how do you
keep it that way? Your new bra won't last
forever but, by following the care instructions,
you can prolong its life. With proper care,
an everyday bra will last six months to a
year.
Bra Washing
Bras should be washed after each wearing.
Perfumes, lotions, and perspiration can mark
fine fabrics. Body chemistry can cause straps
and bands to lose elasticity. Regular washing
will help prevent this damage. Manufacturers
understand their product. Care instructions,
while brief, are always right. It's a good
idea to attach hooks and eyes, separate colors,
and wash matching sets together.
Hand wash
Fill sink with cool water and mild detergent.
Agitate or rub gently - do not soak for more
than 5 minutes.
Rinse well with cold water.
Gently squeeze out excess water - do not wring.
Blot dry with towel.
Machine wash
Always use a lingerie bag to keep your delicates
from twisting, stretching, and tangling during
the wash cycle. Wash on the delicate cycle.
Dry Cleaning
Some bras are simply not designed to be
hand or machine washed. If the manufacturer
recommends dry-cleaning, please follow their
advice.
Bra Drying
"Bras should always be line dried,"
says Jennifer from Client Services at VictoriasSecret.com.
"Heat of a dryer may destroy elasticity."
Machine drying cotton, underwire, and bras
with trim can cause shrinking, wire distortion,
and fraying.
After washing, reshape your bra and either
hang to drip dry or dry flat on a towel. Dry
bras away from radiators and sunshine to avoid
fading of colors and discoloration of whites.
Some plain nylon bras can be safely tumble-dried.
Check labels to be sure. If care instructions
allow machine drying, use a low heat setting
and a mesh lingerie bag.
Bra Detergents
Washing your bras in the detergent you use
for your other laundry can defeat the purpose
of your gentle laundering. Powdered detergents
may contain bleaching agents and enzymes.
Liquid detergents dissolve better and prevent
clogging up and hardening fine fibers. For
best results, use a detergent made for washing
delicate fabrics.
