Social media is full of people making candid confessions, and one thing that women often confess is that they don’t wash their bras that often, but it could be problematic
People aren’t washing their bras enough – and it’s causing big problems.
As well as leaving your boobs feeling pretty sweaty, it’s also pretty bad for you to neglect bra hygiene, as it’s problematic in more ways than you realise. None the less, it’s something many women admit to doing.
Influencer, Tannar, previously racked up 1million views in her TikTok video where she confessed she doesn’t wash her bras, even though she “hates to admit it”. She said it’s one of the many “gross” things people don’t realise women do.
In the video, she said: “When it comes to actually washing our bras, we barely do that. The only reason I’d wash a bra is if I saw dirt on it, it got messy or it started to smell. Until that point, I’m not doing it. It could be weeks, it could be months, possibly years, and I know I’m not alone in this.”
Lots of women seemed to agree but, as underboob sweat season is officially upon us, Pour Moi, a UK-based lingerie retailer, has urged people to wash their bras more often. According to Pour Moi’s recent global survey of 2,000 women, bras are washed just once every three weeks on average, but almost two-thirds of bra-wearers (60%) have experienced breakouts and rashes on their chests and backs.
Breakouts and irritation rashes are possible side effects of friction, lack of air circulation and sweating. This can be caused by wearing bras for a long time, wearing bras that aren’t properly washed or even wearing an ill-fitting bra.
Lingerie expert, Emma Woodrow, is now encouraging people to wash their bras regularly to avoid icky health problems. People don’t realise just how bad it can be for them.
Emma said: “How often you should wash your bras is a well-debated topic, but the truth is, it all comes down to your individual lifestyle factors as well as external factors. The weather is one of the environmental influences that have a big impact on the frequency you should be washing garments, as increased temperatures lead to more sweating which is easily absorbed by all aspects of the bra.
“It’s hard to avoid the itchiness that comes with underboob sweat and moisture on your back or chest, especially when you’re wearing a bra for prolonged periods – and an unwashed bra can exacerbate this problem. The important thing to remember is that sweating is the body’s natural cooling down system, so the solution should always be to wash your bras more often than trying to find ways to prevent sweating.”
Why do I need to wash my bra more?
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Risk of rash and irritation – When you are sweating, you’re more likely to create friction between your skin and the fabric of your underwear, which can create redness on the skin, and in some cases, can lead to longer-term rashes.
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Breakouts and spots – If your bra isn’t being washed properly in between wears then it is going to harbour sweat, dirt and grime from the skin leading to a breeding ground for bacteria. When this is then in constant contact with the skin, you’re more likely to be among 60% of bra-wearers who experience breakouts on their chest.
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Infection – If your rash gets inflamed, and you’re wearing a bra or clothing that is too tight, you could end up tearing the skin, which can be at risk of infection if sweat and dirt make contact with it. If you notice broken skin that looks red and inflamed, you must seek medical advice.
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Unpleasant odour – a build-up of sweat and dirt is almost definitely going to create an unpleasant smell. The best way to avoid this is to give your bras a much-needed cleanse using gently fragranced detergent and hot water, then laying it flat to dry (never use a tumble dryer as this can impact the integrity of the fabric structure and damage the quality).
Emma added: “If you are prone to sweating and know that underboob sweat is something you dread every summer, I would recommend purchasing bras made of naturally breathable fabrics, such as cotton or soft lace. Alternatively, you could opt for a bra that pushes your breasts away from the chest (such as a push-up bra or full-support) to avoid creating any excess sweaty areas on the body.”
