From bathing and washing to frequent rotation, experts share tips to make underwear lasting

Last modified on Monday, November 8, 2021 18.58 EST

Jane Birkin’s mother suggested: “When you have nothing, all you can do is put on your silk underwear and start reading Proust.”

After 18 months of home orders, this sentiment sounds true, although I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who can replace silk underwear with corsets and Proust, well, news headlines.

Either way, silk underwear, delicate bras and underwear all need maintenance, so here are some expert advice on how to maintain them.

Araks Yeramyan, creative director of underwear brand Araks, recommends bringing your bra and underwear into the shower at the end of the day. "Rinse the bra after each use to extend the life of the bra, because the salt in the sweat will destroy the elasticity over time," she said. She recommends using natural shampoo or soap first, such as Dr. Bronner's lavender soap (for the body and underwear), and then rinse and gently squeeze out the moisture.

Belinda Everingham, CEO of cleaning products company Bondi Wash, also recommends washing hands, but her advice is more traditional. She said fill a bucket or sink with warm water and add detergent when the faucet is running. Then, put your delicate items in soapy water and rinse for a few minutes, then rinse under a cold tap and gently squeeze out the excess water, taking care not to pull the fabric.

If you can't wash your hands, Everingham says you can wash them in a delicate cycle and use a laundry bag to prevent the bra from hooking on other items in the machine. She said that the choice of detergent is important because delicate fabrics contain sensitive fibers that can be damaged.

"Avoid detergents that contain synthase or optical brighteners," she said, instead choosing a liquid detergent that is neutral in pH and labeled for delicate fabrics.

Never put bras and underwear in the dryer. Kate Nixon, the creative director behind the Kat brand, suggested putting a towel somewhere in the shade and laying each piece of clothing flat on it.

"This will ensure that the trim or elastic in your clothing is durable," she said. "For less delicate items, such as cotton briefs, you can hang them on a drying rack in the shade."

"Bra designed with no blood on the elastic center-the part between the cups-usually fit the best," Yeramyan said.

She recommends that you look for high-quality materials with a certain degree of flexibility, so that the bra can fit your body, provide you with the correct support and enhance your fit. The type of stitch used can also be an indicator of quality-"the best is the zigzag stitch".

When determining the fit, Yeramyan recommends that you try a bra with a T-shirt to make sure you like its look. In addition, she said, you should never fall from the cup, and the straps on your back should be straight and parallel to the floor-even if you raise your arms. Adjust the shoulder straps so that you can slide two fingers under them-otherwise they may be too tight.

Nixon recommends mixing your collection of underwear with underwear so that you don't have to wash your hands all the time. She said that there should be "a mixture of a more refined beautiful lace bra and a simpler cotton bra or underwear that you can wash off again and again."

Everingham recommends choosing a series of natural fibers, such as cotton, linen or silk. If properly maintained, they will last longer. She said these fibers are more susceptible to stains, and they are less likely to turn yellow with age.

Most women I know wear their favorite bras for several days, but Yeramyan says this is unwise. She said that bras should be worn in turns, because "elasticity takes time to relax between wearing. Generally speaking, no matter what you do, elasticity has a shelf life, but the better you take care of your work, the longer it lasts. ."

Although it is tempting to hang beautiful bras on doorknobs or chairs, you must carefully put them away. According to Nixon, storage is something that can easily be overlooked: "The way you store a beautiful lace bra in a drawer is very important."

Before you put the items away, please fasten the bra buckle, if any, put the items in the mesh laundry bag in the drawer. "This means that when you are looking for a specific item, no other bra buckle can hook on the delicate fabric and tear."