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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:
Coronationstation · 27/07/2023 22:49

Usually every other day unless I’ve been particularly sweaty but I take it off as soon as I get home from work and wear a sports bra for anything more strenuous than a slow
walk.

wordler · 27/07/2023 22:55

Every wear now because peri menopause means I sweat more than I used to - and I now live in a country with hot humid weather. In my 20s I probably got 3-4 wears from a bra before washing.

Ladyoftheknight · 27/07/2023 22:56

OsirisservesAnubis · 27/07/2023 21:12

All my clothes sit next to skin - my trousers, my t shirts, my tank tops, shorts, skirts. They all directly touch my skin for extended periods of time. Do wash all clothes after 1 wear?

Show quote history

Yes... Next to skin means any clothes that directly touch your skin. Coats/jackets don't count, neither do shoes or waistcoats. Everything else, washed after every single wear!

Guiltridden12345 · 27/07/2023 23:03

I don’t understand why people wait for a wash - sink, soap (I use hand wash if I’m in bathroom), quick swirl, lather, rinse, hang. Takes less than a minute. Dries overnight. No excuses ladies!

StolenCookie · 27/07/2023 23:09

Almost never. I hardly sweat and my bras never smell. People washing them after every wear are mad!

Morewineplease10 · 27/07/2023 23:44

Every time if I'm sweaty. Otherwise 2 or 3 days.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 27/07/2023 23:46

Mummy2022FT · 27/07/2023 19:05

Every 3/4 days... I thought everyone else did this too? 🫣🫣 for me bras just aren't the same as knickers in that respect...

Same, until
Breastfeeding then daily or twice a day sometimes!

ToxicBiennial · 28/07/2023 00:06

3 to 5 days or if I think they smell unfresh. Sometimes I have gone to once per week. Glad I’m not the only one! (Underwear I do change every day of course).

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 28/07/2023 00:10

Guiltridden12345 · 27/07/2023 23:03

I don’t understand why people wait for a wash - sink, soap (I use hand wash if I’m in bathroom), quick swirl, lather, rinse, hang. Takes less than a minute. Dries overnight. No excuses ladies!

Agree with this.

I washed my dog's collar & harness more than some people wash their bras, apparently!

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 28/07/2023 00:11

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.

Bras aren't meant to be washed in the machine.

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 28/07/2023 00:12

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)

I think most of mine are Matilda. They dry quickly.

ChocolateyCrunch · 28/07/2023 00:19

You know those experts who tell you never wash jeans and wash bedding weekly? Well they say wash bras once or twice a week so I change mine when I do a white wash every Wednesday and Saturday.

caringcarer · 28/07/2023 00:21

In the winter I change them every other day and wash at end of week but in the summer when I get hot and sticky I change them every day. One day last week I got out the shower started to dry myself and it was so hot I started sweating again.

ALevelDisaster · 28/07/2023 00:23

Guiltridden12345 · 27/07/2023 23:03

I don’t understand why people wait for a wash - sink, soap (I use hand wash if I’m in bathroom), quick swirl, lather, rinse, hang. Takes less than a minute. Dries overnight. No excuses ladies!

I don’t need an excuse to avoid doing something completely unnecessary. Yes, I could hand wash a bra every day, but since there is no discernible negative outcome from leaving it longer than that and then putting them in the machine I’ll do that instead thanks.

CallieQ · 28/07/2023 01:01

No need to wash a bra after every wear!
Once or twice a week is enough

Gadolinite · 28/07/2023 01:11

wow… I will go weeks without washing mine! They never seem dirty or have any odour! I’m actually a clean freak about everything else 😄

Gadolinite · 28/07/2023 01:12

ALevelDisaster · 28/07/2023 00:23

I don’t need an excuse to avoid doing something completely unnecessary. Yes, I could hand wash a bra every day, but since there is no discernible negative outcome from leaving it longer than that and then putting them in the machine I’ll do that instead thanks.

Show quote history

😂😂😉

Can’t argue with that logic!

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 28/07/2023 01:25

Even people who don't think they sweat, do sweat.

Wearing a bra over and over and over will stretch and ruin it far more than daily hand washing would.

Honestly, weeks on end??

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 28/07/2023 01:27

Every two wears. Whenever I buy a new bra I get two matching pairs of knickers.

Wednesdaysotherchild · 28/07/2023 01:29

Every week or two, or when they show any signs of smelling. I sniff test every wear (I also take them off when I get home and never sleep in them). Meh, life is too short and resources are too finite to wash after each wear, blimey!

NewName122 · 28/07/2023 01:30

Yes op you're a bit nasty. I know you say it doesn't smell but it must do.

Wednesdaysotherchild · 28/07/2023 01:39

Maybe some people have a stronger body odour than others? Daily seems mental to me!

Mmhmmn · 28/07/2023 02:01

Natalia457 · 27/07/2023 19:05

Blush

Hahaha looks like I am a grotbag! But unless I am working out or in a very hot climate I don't really sweat!

Knickers I do indeed wash after every wear.. but I play fast and loose with jumpers bras and jeans!

I don't really sweat much and particularly not round that area. My bras go loads of wears between washes. You're not alone!! And I suspect I'm actually far worse! 😂

LordSalem · 28/07/2023 02:39

4-5 wears?! Seriously? I always run hot, so bras get one wear, same as whatever top I've worn that day. I’m not particularly dischargey in the knicker area but of course they're one wear and in the wash. Don’t you guys get tit soup? It's July! I get that it's raining but the temps are still up. Add in any form of exercise... Does make me wonder, are you wearing expensive perfectly fitted bras as opposed to the likes of me in Primarks often ill fitted but acceptable cheap bras? So want to get more wear out them?
Maybe you've just got better temperature control. If my death certificate doesn't say spontaneous human combustion that'd be a surprise. I'm 33 Grin

wordler · 28/07/2023 02:46

These types of posts are always madness because there is so much variation between:

where you live and the climate

your general personal sweatiness

how often you wash your body

your age - it often gets worse as you get older

quality of your bras and how you clean and air them

how long you are wearing the bra each time and what level of activity you are doing in it (if you put it on for an hour when the vicar comes over for a cup of tea vs an eight hour shift on your feet at a physically demanding job)