Before coming to Soma, I was the biggest offender of hurriedly tossing all my laundry – tees, bras, panties, jeans, towels, whatever needed to be cleaned – into the washing machine. Untangling a bra strap from the agitator was a common occurrence, as were bent hooks and worn-out elastic. Thankfully, I’ve since learned some quick and easy tips to help extend the life of your lingerie:
READ THE CARE LABEL – Follow all instructions on the label. If it says to hand wash, please do! If you use the washing machine, always wash on the gentle cycle.
FASTEN THE HOOKS – Before putting the bra in the washer, fasten the hooks so it won’t tangle with other items, like a lingerie bag or another bra.
USE A LINGERIE BAG – Placing bras in a lingerie bag keeps them from getting caught around the agitator in a top-loader while washing.
USE COLD WATER – Most bras aren’t heavily soiled, so they don’t need hot or warm water. And cooler temperatures are less likely to wear out the fabric.
USE A MILD DETERGENT AND NO BLEACH – For gentle, yet thorough washing, try Soma’s Be Gentle Lingerie Wash.
AVOID THE DRYER – Unless the label states otherwise, don’t place bras in the dryer; the heat will wreak havoc on elastic and can cause the foam to shrink or crumble in foam cup bras.
STORE BRAS PROPERLY – To insure that your contour or molded bras keep their shape, never fold them in half with one cup inside the other. Instead, stack them in a row so the cups fit into each other or hang them in the closet.
SKIP A DAY – Don’t wear the same bra two days in a row; perspiration can cause elastic to deteriorate.
