The correct way to wash bra tops and nursing bras so they don't lose their shape

October 7, 2025

How to care for bra tops and nursing bras to make them last longer

A bra top, also known as an innerwear with a cup or an innerwear with a cup, is an innerwear that has a built-in cup or pad inside a tank top or camisole to serve as a bra. Since you don't need to wear a bra underneath, you don't have to worry about the shoulder straps sticking out or your underwear showing through, so you can wear it neatly even when wearing light clothing in the summer. Rie Hirashima, a mother of four and a laundry expert, will explain in detail how to care for such a convenient bra top.

How to wash your bra top correctly

Basically, it can be washed in the same way as T-shirts and tank tops, and can be washed in the standard cycle of the washing machine. However, in order to prevent the cup from losing its shape, it is important to always fold it in a laundry bag before placing it in the laundry bag . When putting it in the laundry net, please fold it neatly inside. In addition, you can further reduce damage caused by washing by washing in the stylish clothes cycle.

Click here for the basics of washing using a washing machine

How to dry a bra top

To prevent the strap from stretching due to the weight of the moisture-containing fabric, especially for types with elastic straps, fold the strap in half under the cup and hang it on a clothesline or the handle of a hanger to keep it in a nice shape. Masu.

How to wash a nursing bra

Basically, it's the same procedure as the bra top mentioned above. However, nursing bras tend to get dirty with breast milk, baby drool, and vomit. These stains are difficult to remove with regular washing, and even if you think the stains have been removed temporarily, over time they can accumulate and cause stains and odors. Here, we would like to introduce you to the soaking method using our product "Rinenna #1".

How to wash nursing bras and bra tops using Rinenna #1

Things to prepare

Rinenna#1
bucket or sink
rubber gloves

Fill a bucket with hot water and make a cleaning solution for nursing bras and bra tops.

Pour 40℃ hot water into a bucket, add Rinenna #1 and dissolve it well.

What we recommend here is "RINENNA Pro 0 #ZERO 30g". This is also effective for washing fashionable clothes, so we recommend adding one drop to your washing liquid to help remove stains even better. Place the nursing bra in the soaking solution with the dirty side facing down and let it soak for about 30 minutes.

Put the nursing bra/bra top in the cleaning solution and gently shake it.

If you have removable pads from your bra, remove them in advance and put them on separately. If you wash the pad with it on, detergent may remain on the pad and it will be difficult to dry. Also, be sure to fasten any metal fittings such as hooks, as they may get caught on lace or fabric. Do not rub or knead as this will damage the fabric .

Rinse thoroughly so that no detergent remains

Instead of rinsing with running water, collect water in a bucket and gently shake it to rinse. If detergent remains at this time, it may cause discoloration or rough skin, so be sure to rinse thoroughly until there are no more bubbles.

Wrap the nursing bra/bra top in a towel and dry it.

Roll up a towel and put it in the cups on both sides of the nursing bra, adjust the shape, then wrap it in another towel and press it lightly to drain the water. By adding a towel, the cup will not lose its shape and will maintain its beautiful shape. If you use a dryer at this point, the wire will lose its shape and the fabric will be damaged, so be careful. Wrap the pad in a towel and dry it as well. Do not wring the nursing bra or pads as this will cause them to lose their shape. Gently adjust the shape and dry with a towel. Nursing bras can be washed in a washing machine, but you can make them last longer by using a laundry net made specifically for bras and washing them by hand or dry. By washing your bras in a special laundry net, you can prevent decorations from rubbing against the fabric of other clothing that was not placed in the net, and prevent hooks and decorations from damaging the fabric of other clothing. This is recommended when washing in a washing machine.

How to dry a nursing bra

Drying your clothes in a well-ventilated place immediately after washing will prevent mold and odors.

Pinch the sides together and dry in the shade.

All you need is a skirt hanger or a pinch hanger.

Turn the nursing bra upside down and pinch the armpits together to dry. At this time, be careful not to pinch the wire part. We also recommend drying it in the shade, away from direct sunlight. By drying your bra in the shade, you can prevent the color of your bra from fading and improve its odor-preventing effect. If you have a pad, place it in a well-ventilated laundry net with a coarse mesh and dry it in the shade. This way, you can dry your nursing bra or pad without losing its shape or damaging the fabric. Allow the pad to dry completely before putting it back into the nursing bra.

How often should you wash your bra top?

As for how often to wash your bra top, wash it every time you take it off. A bra top is the same as underwear. If you don't wash it, sweat and sebum will damage the fabric and accelerate its deterioration.

Steps on how to fold a bra top

① Place the front side up. Place the cup breast side up so that it is stable. ② Indent one side of the cup in the opposite direction and fold it lengthwise. To stack the cups and fold them lengthwise, gently indent one cup. ③ Put the shoulder strap into the cup and fold the hem about 1/3. Place the shoulder straps into the recessed cup. Fold the hem as well. ④ Insert the cup part into the bag part of the hem. Open the folded hem. Insert the cup part and adjust the shape and it's done. If the cup gets crushed when folded, it may cause wrinkles or lose its shape. To protect the cup, we recommend folding it in thirds when storing. After folding, there is no problem even if you stack them on top of each other or arrange them vertically.

Does your bra top stink? !

Reasons why bra top smells

Reasons why your bra top smells: Sweat in the chest and armpits tends to smell bad in the first place.

Since the bra top is in close contact with the skin, the chest area tends to get stuffy and the sebum and grime make it easy for bacteria to breed. When sweat mixed with proteins and fats is added to this, the bacteria that grows and breaks down the sweat creates an odor. Preventing the growth of bacteria on your bra top will also help prevent odors .

Reasons why your bra top stinks 2: If you use it for a long time, bacteria will grow and it will become smelly.

As dirt accumulates over a long period of use, it becomes easier for bacteria to grow. Also, since the cup and fabric of a bra top overlap, it has poor ventilation and is difficult to dry. If you dry your clothes indoors, it will be even harder to dry, and bacteria will grow, resulting in a half-dried odor . This is not limited to bra tops, but also applies to thick bras such as padded ones.

Reasons why your bra top smells: Body odor and aging odor may be the cause of the odor.

Body odor and aging odor can also cause odor . Before menstruation, the sebaceous glands secrete more and the odor may become stronger. The odor of sebum is also related to diet, and the odor tends to become stronger when you eat a lot of meat and spices. When we think of aging odor, we tend to think of it as a male thing, but women can have it too. The cause of aging odor is the oxidation of sebum, but female hormones have the ability to suppress active oxygen that causes oxidation in the body. As we get older, the secretion of female hormones decreases, which causes sebum to oxidize more easily, resulting in an aging odor. Furthermore, fatigue and stress are said to worsen the odor of aging. If you are concerned about body odor, you may be able to improve it by reviewing your lifestyle .

There are other surprising causes! ?

・Keep your washing tub clean to prevent odors .

When your laundry smells, you tend to think that the laundry itself is the cause, but a surprising pitfall is dirt in the laundry layer. If the laundry layer is dirty, your clothes will get dirty even after washing. It's hard to notice because you can't see the back side of the washing layer, but mold will grow as you use it. This is a perfect place for mold to grow due to moisture, dirt on clothes, and humidity. Clean the wash layer regularly to prevent the causes of odors . If possible, leave the washing machine lid open after washing to prevent moisture from building up. In addition, the "Rinenna #3 TUB CLEANER" is recommended for regular cleaning of the washing tub . Because it is oxygen-based, there is no unpleasant odor, and it can be used with any type of washing machine, including vertical, drum, and two-tank washing machines. At Linenna, we recommend cleaning your laundry tub once a month. Keeping your washing machine clean will make a difference in the cleanliness of your laundry.

About the lifespan of bra tops

Deterioration of bra top and when to throw it away

A bra top is an inner layer, but it is also a bra, so it often uses polyurethane thread with good elasticity for the fabric and accessory materials. If you wash it frequently, it will become less elastic and deteriorate. When you throw it away, it's time to replace it when the under elastic part of the bra top and straps stretch and the fit becomes weak. When you compare the fit of an old bra top with a new bra top, the elastic fit is different because of this.

How do I throw away my bra top?

The easiest way to dispose of underwear as combustible waste is to wrap it in paper or put it in a paper bag. In that case, make sure that there are no items containing personal information in the garbage bag. (*Be careful with labels on DMs and mail-order catalogs.) The next method is to dispose of them as recyclable garbage along with the same fabric products. If you put it between folded clothes or towels, you won't be able to tell that it's hidden undergarments (remember to wash them, as they are meant to be recycled). However, there is a non-zero possibility that your recyclables will be taken away or scavenged. If you live in an area where collection tends to be delayed or where there is a problem with garbage scavenging, it may be safer to dispose of it in another way. The safest method is to cut the underwear into small pieces and throw them away as combustible waste. If it's just a piece of cloth, you don't have to worry about it being scavenged. If your local government allows you to dispose of food waste as combustible waste, you may feel safer if you mix the food waste with cloth scraps. Underwear is an important item that protects a woman's bust and hips every day and maintains a beautiful silhouette. It's time to throw it away when it no longer fulfills its role of maintaining the silhouette or protecting the bust.

Basic knowledge of bra tops

What exactly is a bra top?

Many cupped innerwear such as bra tops have weak holding power, so using them instead of a bra may cause your breasts to sag. Also, it has less correction and stability than a bra, so flesh tends to flow down your back. In order to maintain a beautiful bust line, bras are the best choice for everyday innerwear.

Features and mechanism of bra top

The main reason for their popularity is that bra tops are generally made of wire-free material, so they don't feel tight on the chest or shoulders, making them easy to wear. The mainstream structure of bra tops and other innerwear with cups that support the breasts is to incorporate non-wire molded cups in the bust area, and support the underbust area with flat rubber to stabilize the breasts. Bra tops can of course be worn as innerwear without a bra, but there are also types that can be worn as tops and nursing bras, and more and more types have gradually become available. If you don't have one yet, it would be helpful to have one.

Advantages and disadvantages of bra tops

Innerwear with a cup, such as a bra top, does not require a bra, so it has the advantage of not having to wear layers. It doubles as a camisole and a bra, so it's useful when you don't want to wear too many layers. It also prevents underwear from becoming see-through and is easy to put on and take off. The most common disadvantages are that the shape of the breasts tends to lose shape, that the meat is stored in the wrong position, and that the shape tends to collapse when washed.

About nursing bras

Do I need a nursing bra? what kind do you have?

During the postpartum breastfeeding period, you don't necessarily have to wear a bra that opens in the front, as long as the bra allows the baby and mother to relax while breastfeeding. When purchasing, it is safe to aim for 3 to 5 pieces. There are many types available, including those that open in the front and can be put on and taken off with buttons or hooks, as well as cache-coeur and half-top styles that slide off. The best time to start wearing a maternity bra is when you find out you're pregnant. In addition, it is a good idea to stop using maternity bras at the same time as when your baby is weaning.

How to choose a nursing bra and its size

When choosing a nursing bra, it is important to avoid constricting the underside. For the area under the bust, we recommend using soft, wide rubber or stretchy material to prevent constriction. It is also important to choose materials that are gentle on the skin. During pregnancy, your skin tends to become more sensitive due to hormonal imbalances, so it's best to choose cotton or other soft materials with moisturizing properties. Also, care must be taken to ensure that changes in the bust are not hindered. Because the mammary glands develop, we recommend a cup with a wide width and one that is not held down by a wire. When choosing a hook-type bra, choose one that has 2 rows of 4-position hooks that can be adjusted without being too tight. After giving birth, it is convenient to have a breastfeeding function. In preparation for breastfeeding after giving birth, choose a bra with a nursing function that matches your breastfeeding style, such as one with a nursing strap or one that allows you to breastfeed by shifting the bra. The general guideline for nursing bra sizes is to choose one that is 1 to 2 cups larger than your pre-pregnancy size if it has wire, and about 5cm larger for underwire. Consider the size based on the time and period of purchase.

What is the difference between a regular bra and a nursing bra?

A typical bra is meant to shape your bust line and make you look more beautiful. A nursing bra, on the other hand, has a major role in protecting the delicate breasts during pregnancy. It is designed to fit the breasts during pregnancy, which increase in volume towards the armpits, and is comfortable to wear without interfering with the development of the mammary glands. It has been designed to make breastfeeding easier, and will be useful even after giving birth. By deepening your knowledge of the correct bra tops and nursing bras, you may have become more interested than before. Please find your favorite one, cherish it, and make it last as long as possible. 　　　　