to wash bra only once a week?

[CHJR]

I don?t think I?m a dirty sow but maybe I am. My mother died before I started wearing bras and well before and after that we spent a lot of time moving around, often unable to wash clothes or even shop for them (refugees), so sometimes I discover strange gaps in my, er, general knowledge. No one?s ever suggested I smell or anything but hand washing bras is such a bother, and the machine damages them, so I tend to do it only once a week, assuming I've not been especially sweaty. But of course I change pants daily, and vests ? is once a week too little for bras? What should I teach my DD?

And what about things like tights? Was a bit surprised recently to learn my SIL washes them after EVERY wearing, but even more surprised to realise she also doesn?t wear pants under them. She?s American though, maybe they?re just different? Or she personally is?

I wash bras after about a weeks worth of wear, I wash in machine abut hang out to dry. Don't bother with the hand wash instructions!

Tights I wash after every wear, but I get rather smelly feet so I would never want to put a pair back on again!

Wow, really?

It's never occurred to me not to wash after every wear ( ie daily). It's underwear so wash after each use same as pants/ socks/ tights.

Although I have about 30 pairs and have to match pants :)

Oh and I don't hand wash/ delicate etc, just hung in machine at 40 with everything else. Seem to have survived fine like this for years

Wash every time. Bung in machine with everything else. (Wear sports bras so no underwriting.)

Under wiring!

I do what others do - wear about three or four, rotate them and wash the lot about every three - four weeks. Am glad I am not the only skanky one ... but I only wash them when they look like they need doing! Pants and tights every day, and always knickers when wearing tights (or any other time when leaving the house tbh!)

Ooooooh, you are all so helpful. I wish I had known about mumsnet when we first arrived! Have put laundry net bags and a few more bras on my shopping list!

I would never wash a bra after every wear. A few days, then it gets washed. Pants and tights, once only.

I wear my bra twice then wash it. I'm also one for wearing matching and always buy two pairs of knickers when buying a bra. It goes in my normal wash usually on 30, maybe on 40. Agree with using a laundry bag to stop bra getting ruined.
My sister wears hers about 3/4 times and has bigger boobs so each to their own...

Wear bras 2 days maybe three days in winter, wash in bag in washing machine with no problems. Always wash tights after every wearing - and of course wear knickers! Dd is 9 - wash her knickers and tights every day but maybe a few days with vests.

I wash pants and tights after one day's use but bras... when I think of it. Definitely not daily.

I have no idea how often you "should" wash them. They are a lot more expensive than pants and more easily damaged by washing than pants are. I'd want to own about 10 if I were changing them daily. I actually own 4.

I don't ever remember being taught anything about how often to wash stuff but washing was done once a week in my house. I think people change clothing a lot more simply because it's easy nowadays when almost everyone has a washing machine.

I have two that fit properly, they were from a boutique shop and the woman who sold them to me told me to wash them as little as possible. Apparently heat and water damage the Lycra.

They are amazing bras, I can run in them and everything without wobble (F cup so quite an achievement).

I don't think I smell...my boobs stay nice and high though!

Wash after 1 or 2 days wearing if the weather is cool enough. What do folk do in warm sweaty weather? My bras last ages even with all the washing they get on with a main wash at 40 degrees.

So how many bras do people have? I must have about 15 plus sports bras.

I wash mine every three days, but I never put them in the machine. I soak overnight in cold water with a bit of shampoo added, then rinse and hang out the next morning. I forget who told me to use shampoo instead of laundry powder, but it does get the dirt to lift off. I have been doing this for years.

I'll often buy 3 pairs of pants to go with a bra. So wear for a few days.

I wash my bras once a week, in the machine, cool wash, using a laundry bag . I can't be bothered handwashing them, it's just another chore. I have three so each one gets worn 2-3 days max.

They are fine.

I've got loads of bras and pants and I put clean ones on every day. I would only ever wear tights once too. It's the same with tops - one wear then washed. I'm actually very surprised that anyone wouldn't wash underwear or a top after each use.

Actually I have a lot more than three, these are my comfy every day ones which get the most use.

Oh and I've never handwashed a bra in my life - and I'm not a young thing!

om absolute goodness i am total skank.
one fitting bra.
wash it every 3-4 weeks. don't sweat much and have a shower twice a day.
i need clean therapy

how do you afford so many bras???
how do you afford so many shoes?

how do you afford so many washing cycles?

My salary pays for them.

Only wear them for 2 days max. I sometimes get sweaty on my back or under my breasts, and bras are tight against your skin. Certainly wouldn't wear one for a week.

(Washing machine, wool cycle, in washing bags, they go in with other 30C items like sports kit or leggings.)

I do not replace bras just because they are old (isn't the recommendation something hilarious like six months?) but only if I no longer have enough intervention-friendly bras in my drawer.

Also I get mine from the outlet "village" so pay £12 or less for each £40+ bra. That helps too.

Blinking Nora, you're a clean lot!!! I only have one bra (really should buy some more, but as they cost upwards of £35, I tend to only have one at a time) and it probably gets handwashed once a month if I remember.

I really should have another NN for these types of 'how clean are you' type threads. I would like to point out that I do change my pants every day .