Your lingerie and swimwear are delicate garments, and giving time and attention to washing will help prolong their life.
Under-wired Garments
We recommend hand-washing bras and swimwear with under-wires, as machine washing can shrink the fabric, misshape the wires and cause them to push through the fabric. Cool water with a light detergent such as shampoo is best, as hot water can damage the delicate fabrics including lace, embroidery and elastic.
Drying
Never use the tumble dryer to dry your lingerie, as the hot temperatures and movement are hard on the fabrics and colours, and risky for under-wires. It's best to dry in the shade, and avoid direct sunlight, and heated towel rails!
Non under-wires
We still recommend hand-washing. There are no under-wires to break or bend, but handwashing protects the delicate fabrics, colours and hooks and eyes.
Staff Tip: We find it's quite easy to soak your bras in a little light detergent in the handbasin while you're in the shower, then rinse and hang over the shower to dry afterwards!
How many bras do I need?
We are often asked this question. We recommend a minimum of 3 to start with, one on, one in the drawer, one in the wash! One bra worn every day for 6 months has already had 180 wears!!
Swimwear
Under-wired swimwear needs the same care as under-wired bras. In addition, rinse your swimwear in cool water as soon as possible after wearing, and hand-wash in a light detergent, to minimise the effects of chlorine, salt water, sunblock and other spa additives on the delicate fabrics. Avoid using fabric conditioner as it breaks down lycra.
Dry out of direct sunlight - never tumble-dry!
Sports Bras
Hand-wash and dry as with the other styles. It is worth considering having more than one sports bra in your wardrobe - depending on how often you exercise, it will help you to have time to wash and dry your bras thoroughly between each use. As a guide, the manufacturer recommends you replace your sports bra after 30-40 washes, or as often as you replace your sports shoes. This ensures you are still getting the right amount of support (jump up and down - it's the best way to test!) It's particularly important with a sports bra to make sure the fabrics are firm, and still doing their job.
