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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How often do you wash your bra??

348 replies

Natalia457 · 27/07/2023 18:50

This afternoon my sister and I were chatting and this came up- she washes her bra's after every wear. I am quite the opposite... my brand's go many many wears between washes and never seem obviously dirty or have any kind of scent.

AIBU and a skanky cow or is she being a clean freak? Just wondering what the general consensus is?

Also to clarify... we had this conversation getting changed at the gym- the only exception to my rule is sports bra's which do get sweaty and are washed after every wear.

OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 27/07/2023 21:37

Bodybop · 27/07/2023 21:19

I’m not big/saggy boobed. It’s underwear. Some of you are stinky

It's not underwear like knickers tho - there's no discharge, nor much likelihood of bacteria, in the way there is with pants.

The answer is - as needed. For some people, it's more often than others.

For me, about every 2 - 3 wears. I never wear the same bra 2 days running. I hand wash my bras as they are underwired & don't last well in the machine.

I noted one poster said 'weeks' for her PJs. I can't understand this. I change mine every 2 days, was daily pre HRT, but even with the end of night sweats, they don't feel fresh any longer than that.

HollyBookBlue · 27/07/2023 21:43

Every 4 to ??? wears! Don't really know! If I had a black bra on yesterday but want to wear a white top today, the black bra goes back in the drawer and the white bra comes out.

OsirisservesAnubis · 27/07/2023 21:43

EarringsandLipstick · 27/07/2023 21:37

It's not underwear like knickers tho - there's no discharge, nor much likelihood of bacteria, in the way there is with pants.

The answer is - as needed. For some people, it's more often than others.

For me, about every 2 - 3 wears. I never wear the same bra 2 days running. I hand wash my bras as they are underwired & don't last well in the machine.

I noted one poster said 'weeks' for her PJs. I can't understand this. I change mine every 2 days, was daily pre HRT, but even with the end of night sweats, they don't feel fresh any longer than that.

Show quote history

I wash my PJs weekly, but I don't sleep in them. I wear them in the evening before bed.

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 27/07/2023 21:47

DelurkingAJ · 27/07/2023 19:09

Every day. I have about 10 and handwash once a week, so they last and last.

Same here. I invested in very high quality bras and take good care of them. Hand wash after every wear.

thenightsky · 27/07/2023 21:47

Those who wash every wear... How long do your bras last with all that washing and drying?

Tiqtaq · 27/07/2023 21:48

I read something about how washing everyday was ideal. I used to wash every 2/3 wears and only daily if hot weather.

This summer I bought loads of bras for around £6 each from a sale at Monki so I have plenty to wash daily.

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 27/07/2023 21:50

Clymene · 27/07/2023 19:25

If I washed my bra every day, I'd need to own about £800 worth of bras.

I don't.

Why?

Takes five minutes to hand wash and they dry overnight. I own six or seven really good ones and they are washed after each wearing. They were about the price you mentioned.

EarringsandLipstick · 27/07/2023 21:54

I wash my PJs weekly, but I don't sleep in them. I wear them in the evening before bed.

Ah! That makes sense.

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 27/07/2023 21:58

As to the environment: i wet the bra thoroughly, then spray the cleansing liquid (provided by the bra shop) from a bottle I've mixed it in.

Bra sits in basin for 5 or 10 minutes, then i rinse it while I'm showering and hang it to dry.

Minimal environmental impact. Clean bra. They are gently handled and last ages.

Branleuse · 27/07/2023 22:02

Every few days unless ive got sweaty, and then goes straight in the wash.

Bonfire23 · 27/07/2023 22:02

@ZeldaWillTellYourFortune mine definitely don't dry overnight! Takes 2 days usually unless I run a dehumidifier or it's winter and I can put them near a radiator

Fuckit83 · 27/07/2023 22:10

Oh. Wow. Erm.. yeah.. not daily...

..... Goes to put favourite bra in wash basket 🫣

StrawberryWater · 27/07/2023 22:12

Generally about every 4 days. Even though my boobs are massive I’m not that sweaty.

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 27/07/2023 22:14

Bonfire23 · 27/07/2023 22:02

@ZeldaWillTellYourFortune mine definitely don't dry overnight! Takes 2 days usually unless I run a dehumidifier or it's winter and I can put them near a radiator

Mine do.

Much of the cup area is a sort of tulle/mesh that dries quickly. I have huge breasts but oddly this design is very supportive.

At any rate, even if it took a couple of days, I'd wash after each wearing.

Endlesssummer2022 · 27/07/2023 22:14

Hahaha! I was thinking about this the other day. I generally wash myself twice a day as I love going to bed fresh and starting the day fresh. I sleep in knickers so change them twice a day and they are washed after every wear. I also wash all of my clothes (apart from jeans) after every wear except…..my bra, which I wear for days and days. I have a couple which I love and for some reason I don’t see them as ‘dirty’ even after a week.

It’s really weird how I treat my bras differently. I also find they go weird if they are washed too much and I find it hard to find the perfect bra so I don’t want to ruin them.

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 27/07/2023 22:19

I go a good few days maybe even a working week, I never sweat though.

tt9 · 27/07/2023 22:30

definitely after every wear... possible to get underboob fungal infections.

Bonfire23 · 27/07/2023 22:30

@ZeldaWillTellYourFortune I'm intrigued which design now! Mine seem to take ages to dry around the side areas mostly not the cup (mostly wear Elomi Matilda)

ColonelRhubarbBikini · 27/07/2023 22:31

Oh god like once a season Blush

In my defence I am always cold and never sweaty and they smell fine. I even get DH to sniff test for me.

I’m a nice clean, daily showers kinda gal apart from my secret skanky bra rebellion I promise Grin

Cocoalover · 27/07/2023 22:36

AskAgathaIfSheWantsACupOfTea · 27/07/2023 19:25

Oh god. I have one good bra and just wear it non stop. For weeks. Ok I think I need to remedy this.

Same as me lol is that gross? I don't see the harm it does 😂

sproutsandparsnips · 27/07/2023 22:39

About once or twice a week unless I've been to the gym or really really sweated and it smells.
I find the armpits of tops smell more than bras.

WeetabixTowels · 27/07/2023 22:40

Every 3 days or so.

DoAWheelie · 27/07/2023 22:42

When it smells. If I washed it every day it wouldn't fit after two weeks. Any bra that actually supports me tends to die in the washing machine quite quickly and I can't afford to replace them all the time.

Endlesssummer2022 · 27/07/2023 22:43

tt9 · 27/07/2023 22:30

definitely after every wear... possible to get underboob fungal infections.

But surely if you washed your skin every day this wouldn’t be an issue? I’ve literally never heard of anyone with boob fungus.

tt9 · 27/07/2023 22:47

Endlesssummer2022 · 27/07/2023 22:43

But surely if you washed your skin every day this wouldn’t be an issue? I’ve literally never heard of anyone with boob fungus.

Show quote history

People get fungal infections in all sorts of places... I can't remember what the frequency of washing was in the individuals I saw it in...

often the fungii that live in our skin generally can start growing in an out of control manner under certain circumstances eg. immunosuppression, increased moisture/warmth etc.

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