How Often Should You Wash Your Bra?

How Often Experts Recommend Washing Your Bra

There are no established studies about the best hygiene practices when it comes to bra washing. However, there are sound recommendations you can follow. And no, you probably shouldn’t wear your bra for a week before washing it.

“As a dermatologist and skincare expert, I would recommend that bras be washed after every few wears to maintain proper hygiene and skin health,” says Kemunto Mokaya, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and lifestyle medicine expert and author of Live & Look Younger. That can differ depending on several factors, but should be every two to four wears in general.

From a gynecologist’s perspective, Christine Greves, MD, board-certified ob-gyn at Orlando Health Women's Institute Center for Obstetrics & Gynecology in Orlando, Florida, notes that though there is no established rule, she would recommend washing it every two to three wears.

Factors that would suggest you need to wash your bra sooner rather than later include your activity level, the season (you’ll sweat more in warmer summer months), if you had body odor, length of wear, and other things you apply to your body that could get on the bra, such as lotions or and perfume, Mokaya adds.

Why It’s Important to Wash Your Bra

Your bra has an intimate relationship with your skin. As such, the fabric collects sweat, dirt, and bacteria, Dr. Mokaya. “Wearing clean, fresh-smelling bras not only promotes better skin health, but also enhances comfort and boosts confidence throughout the day, which impacts your well-being,” she says.

The Right Way to Wash Your Bra

If you’re going to wash them in the washing machine, you should place them hooked in a mesh laundry bag first, which will help them hold their shape. Use cool water, gentle detergent, and a delicate cycle. Hang bras to dry.

In addition, Mokaya suggests running bras (and underwear) through an extra rinse cycle to ensure that there is no lingering detergent residue, which can be a source of skin irritation.

What Could Happen if You Don’t Wash Your Bra After a Couple Wears?

Yes, it’s tempting to wear a bra for a long time, says Dr. Greves — especially if nothing has happened. “Maybe your skin is not as sensitive and you’ve been lucky thus far,” she says.

Certain things in your life are governed by well-established rules, like wearing your seatbelt, but this is not one of them, she says. If you’re experiencing no problems from your bra wearing habits, you may not need to change a thing.

That said, it’s possible that several things could happen to your skin health, says Mokaya. The accumulation of aforementioned sweat, dead skin cells, and dirt on the bra “creates an environment conducive to bacterial and fungal growth, leading to potential infections, such as folliculitis or candida intertrigo,” she says.

Notice a ripe stench to your bras? “Bacteria present on the skin break down sweat and produce odor-causing compounds,” says Mokaya. You may also notice irritation and chafing from a sweat-damp bra rubbing against your skin or acne breakouts from accumulated bacteria and dirt that clogged pores in the area, she adds.

How to Stretch the Time Between Washing Your Bras

If you don’t want to toss them into the wash often, there are several things you can do to extend their pre-wash lifespan, says Mokaya:

• Wear antiperspirant to cut down on sweating.
• Wear your bra less often.
• Stick to cooler environments to limit sweating.

In addition, Greves recommends not sleeping in your bra. For many women, it’s unnecessary since you’re not fighting gravity when lying down. “Give your body a break to air out,” she says.

If wearing a bra at night makes you more comfortable, try putting on a soft wireless sleep bra for bed.

How Often to Wash Other Bras

The type of bra impacts how often you should wash it. Beyond everyday bras, here’s how to handle washing sports and nursing bras.

Sports Bras

You know what happens in sports bras. They’re there to control the bounce while you sweat — and depending on the activity, you may be sweating buckets.

“Sports bras should be washed after every wear,” says Mokaya. One exception is if you did a light, gentle activity, such as stretching or a restorative (and not heated) yoga class and consequently did not sweat much. If that was the case, you may be able to wear them one more time.

Although you’re not going to simply wash a sports bra without wearing them, the results speak to the fact that washing them breaks down their support structures. People said the sports bras maintained their comfort even after all those washes, however, and they may not consider replacing them.

For best results, follow the care instructions on the label, and keep in mind that your sports bras don’t last forever—get new ones when you find that they’re not holding you up as well as needed.

Nursing Bras

If you’re breastfeeding, you know how your breasts leak, especially in the beginning. And even though you might be exhausted, try to change this bra every one or two days, advises Greves.

If you’re leaking breast milk on the bra, you’ll want to change it. On the other hand, you can stretch it out to washing every two days if you use nursing pads to absorb some of this excess milk.

In addition, you can use what’s called a “milk saver” or “milk collector,” which is an insert that catches milk from the opposite breast that you’re actively nursing on as your milk lets down. Not only will that save your bra from being soaked, you can then empty this milk into a bottle to save it.

The Takeaway

• Experts recommend washing everyday bras every two to four wears, but factors like sweat, activity level, and season can impact frequency.
• Skipping washes allows sweat, bacteria, and dirt to build up, which can lead to skin infections, odor, irritation, and clogged pores.
• Sports bras should be washed after every wear due to heavy sweating, while nursing bras should be changed every one or two days given milk leakage.
• To extend the time between washes, try using antiperspirant, wearing your bra less frequently, and avoiding sleeping in it so your skin can air out.