How long do bras really last?

​When thinking about buying a bra it’s well worth remembering that the typical lifespan for a good quality, well fitting bra is 6-9 months.  This is why I would recommend you buy 2 or 3 day to day bras to where in rotation.  If you have a favourite bra (and your budget allows) buy two or more of that one so you’re not tempted to reach for the same one every day.  It makes sense if you really think about it – the more bras you own, the less often you’ll have to wear them and the longer they’ll last.
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Here are some signs that your bra has to go:
– When you have to wear your bra on the tightest hook and it’s still roaming around or riding up your back
– When the elastic is so stretched out that it doesn’t bounce back anymore
– When your band or cup has holes in it
– When your body has changed and you need a new size
– When moulded cups have lost their shape
– When wires poke through the cup or break
– When the hooks are broken or ripped out
– When your bust is drooping and your bra no longer does its job

Sound familiar?  Every few months, check on your bras.  If your favourite bras are worn out and you need to replace them, get a refit or try something new, get in touch and book in for a Bespoke Bra Fitting at Boob-Ology.

Secret Weapons Lingerie Wash Bag = £5.95 at Boob-Ology 

Soak Full Size = £15 at Boob-Ology - 375 ml / 12 fl. oz, 75+ washes
Soak Travel Size = £9 at Boob-Ology - 90 ml / 3 fl. oz, 18+ washes

​Take good care of your bras and replace them when they’re past their sell by date.  Invest in quality bras, wash them according to the manufacturer’s guidelines and put them on properly (straps first, lean over and place your breast tissue inside the cups then hook the back of the bra behind you before adjusting cups and breast tissue to ensure you’re all in place) so as to avoid stretching out the band and/or damage to the cups/wire.  

Women often ask me how often they should change and/or wash their bras.  Ideally, you should hand wash your bras every two to three wears.  It's also a good idea to wear your bras in rotation so even your favourite bra gets a 'rest day'!  If you use the same bra for more than one day at a time, it will wear out prematurely.  Your bra must have a chance to ‘rest’ between uses.  This is because the textile fibres need to recover to retain their elasticity.

Always do up the bra at the back when you wash it.  This prevents the hook and eye fastening from becoming stuck in lace or other delicate material.  Use a mild laundry detergent and, if you choose to use a washing machine, place your bras in a lingerie wash bag and be sure to use a delicate wash cycle.  NEVER tumble dry your bra.  The heat in the tumble dryer destroys the elasticity of the garment and is the death of elastane.

If your bra has padding in the cups or shoulder straps, you need to stretch the padding so it doesn’t shrink.  After washing, stretch the wire band.  This prevents the underwire from creeping out.

Carefully squeeze the water out of the bra.  Never wring it.  Fold a dry towel around the bra and press carefully so the towel absorbs the excess water from the wet garment.  When you hang up your bra to dry, don’t hang it by the shoulder straps as these can stretch from the weight of the wet garment.  Instead, hang the bra so that the centre gore (the middle part between the cups) hangs across the washing line.  Delicate garments sometimes need to be dried flat.

Boob-Ology stocks lingerie wash bags from Australian brand, Secret Weapons, and Soak, a rinse free, pure, gentle and deliciously scented way to wash the delicate items you care about most.  Pick up a complimentary trial sachet of Soak when you come in for your bra fitting.

Time to bin your bra?  Boob-Ology is proud to participate in the Against Breast Cancer bra recycling scheme.  I am able to accept donations of any unwanted or unloved bras.  For every tonne of bras collected, Against Breast Cancer receives £700 to fund their research.  With over 30 million women in the UK you could really help make a difference!

The same bras also help to support small businesses in Africa. Together with our recycling partners, our textile recovery project prevents these bras going into landfill before giving them a new lease of life in developing countries such as Togo, Ghana and Kenya, where bras remain too expensive to produce locally.

Successful ventures like this keep many families in developing countries out of poverty whilst providing employment for people at home in the UK. Any bras that are genuinely beyond redemption are dismantled and disposed of properly.

If your favourite bras are worn out and you need to replace them, get a refit or try something new, get in touch and book in for a Bespoke Bra Fitting at Boob-Ology.  Simply use the online contact form book to book an appointment. 

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