We get it. High-quality bras are not cheap (literally). But if you've been properly-fit and went home with bras that you adore -- we want to make sure they have the longest lifespan possible. Let's get into it.
GIRL MATH: You purchase a beige t-shirt bra that will become your new "go-to" under all of your clothes. The wires don't dig, the band is supportive, and those cups give the perfect lift and comfort. This bra was $70. You will wear this bra every day for the next 6 months. There are around 182 days in a 6-month span.
And what is 182 days DIVIDED by $70 = ??? You've guessed it. You're really investing around $2.60 per day on that bra.
Not only are you investing those $2.60, you're investing in your breast health, alleviating back and shoulder pain, and providing yourself with the peace of mind that comes with having a bra that doesn't make you absolutely miserable.
The math is mathing. That's for sure. So why did I make you do math?
That brings us to TIP #1: Investing in MORE THAN ONE BRA IN YOUR WARDROBE
to rotate daily. But Ashley's, you JUST SAID I would only be spending $2.60 per day for my bra to last 6 months. I mean yes, I did say that. BUT, let's do ONE MORE EQUATION -- stay with me.
365 days in a year, you buy 2 BRAS that you love, and rotate those out every other day (because only having ONE BRA increases the amount of natural wear-and-tear that lonely
bra goes through on the daily). 365 / $140 = ??? YUP, still that $2.60 per day! And truthfully, they have the potential to last LONGER than one calendar year, IF they are properly taken
care of.
Which leads us to... TIP #2: We don't just say "Hand wash, and line dry," at checkout to be jerks. Scientifically (yes, math AND science), the AMOUNT of water that a bra soaks and sits in for an elongated period of time in a washing machine causes the following: material stretching out faster and increased wear in the material (think, sedimentary rocks from literal science class). Additionally, the hook-and-eyes along the backs of your bras can easily get caught and snagged on any part of the washing machine (even in those pesky laundry bags).
Now don't even get me started on the dryer. I've been telling customers at checkout that if I find out they put their bras in the dryer, I will follow them to their homes and HAUNT THEM. We JUST discussed how you have invested your money into these bras.
You might as well throw them in a wood chipper as
soon as you leave the store if you think the dryer isn't destroying your bras. The extreme HEAT and rough tumbling around dryers is MURDER to bras. It doesn't matter if you put it on low, or "delicate," or even if your
bra is wirefree. The dryer is where those bras go to DIE!
Now here comes the best hack of all time for the busy and/or the lazy (me) when it comes to laundry. Bring
your bras into the shower with you, and rinse them with your body soap. Follow this with a hang dry in the shower, on a garment rack, or on your doorknob (wet floor sign encouraged for this last one). That's it! A shower, something you do (hopefully) frequently,
can be the best place to care for your bras.
Another way is by grabbing some Soak at checkout, or grabbing some online! There are some amazing scents (and scentless), that you simply plug a filled sink, put a cap-full or two of Soak in the water, submerge those bras and leave for 10-15 minutes, AND THAT'S ALL SHE WROTE! Hang to dry, and bang -- your bras live to see another day.
If you've stuck with me, I'll give you one final TIP #3: Store your bras either flat in a drawer OR hanging up. I can hear you now: "Ashley's, WHO CARES???"
Okay well, you'll CARE when your bras (especially ones with moulded t-shirt bra cups and padding) have indents and look visibly worse under your clothes. Proper storage will keep those bras in
the best shape possible, so don't write off this
final tip!
Okay! We've made it. Who knew there was so much THOUGHT going into bras and how to care for them. Well, we knew -- that's why we are here! Every bra fitting experience with us should include some education as to WHY we fit the way we fit, and that includes the longevity of your bras. And they (who are they?) don't call us bra experts for nothing! Thanks for tuning in besties! Hopefully we don't see you for a while, because that means you followed our tips, and your bras lived a long (about 6-12 months each), happy, natural lifespan. Until we meet again!
