Can you wash bras in washing machine?
Washing machine breakdowns caused by bra underwires are surprisingly common. The wire works free from the fabric casing during washing, slips through a drum hole, and can cause a scraping noise, block the pump, pierce a hose, or snag and tear other laundry. The simplest prevention is a zipped mesh laundry bag – it costs very little and protects both the bra and the machine.
Check the Care Label First
Before washing any bra in a machine, check the care label. If it states hand wash only, that is the manufacturer’s instruction and machine washing risks damaging the garment. If it specifies a wash cycle and temperature, use those settings. A 30 or 40 degree delicate or synthetics cycle is appropriate for most machine-washable underwired bras.
What Can Go Wrong When Washing Bras in a Machine
Even bras that are technically machine washable carry risk when washed loose in a drum. The stitching that holds the underwire in its fabric channel degrades with repeated washing and wear. Once it fails, the wire can pull free during a wash.
Metallic scraping noise
The underwire passes through a drum hole into the space between the inner drum and the outer tub. As the drum rotates, the wire scrapes against the outer tub. The noise is rhythmic and metallic, and can be reproduced by turning the drum by hand. See our guide on metallic scraping noise from the drum for how to locate and retrieve the wire.
Pierced sump hose – water leak
A wire that has broken in two or had its protective tip worn away can develop a sharp end. Lying in the base of the tub, a sharp wire can pierce the sump hose connecting the tub to the pump, causing a water leak underneath the machine. This is less common than other underwire faults but does happen.
Snagged and torn laundry
An underwire lying in the tub base can catch other laundry as it is forced through the drum holes during spin. Items of clothing can be snagged and torn, particularly delicate fabrics. The damage can be significant and is usually irreparable.
Blocked pump filter or pump
A wire that makes it as far as the pump filter can physically jam the pump or provide a point for fluff and lint to accumulate until the filter is fully blocked. A blocked or jammed pump causes the machine to fail to drain and display a drain error. Check the pump filter if the machine is not draining – see our guide on washing machine pump filters.
Tangled straps
Bra straps can become tangled around other laundry during the wash. In severe cases a strap can get caught between the drum and the door seal and be ripped from the bra. Tangled straps can also cause an unbalanced load that refuses to spin.
How to Protect Bras and the Machine
-
Use a zipped mesh laundry bag. A purpose-made bra washing bag – a rigid or semi-rigid mesh container with a zip – keeps the bra contained throughout the wash. The underwire cannot escape into the drum even if the stitching fails during the cycle. Straps cannot become tangled. The bag also prevents the bra’s underwires from distorting against the drum. These are widely available and inexpensive. -
Check the underwire channel stitching before every wash. Run a finger along the base channel of each bra before putting it in the machine. If the stitching has broken or the wire is already starting to poke through, do not machine wash it. Either repair the stitching first or retire the bra. -
Use a cool wash and a delicate programme. Higher temperatures accelerate the breakdown of the delicate fabric and stitching in underwired bras. A 30 or 40 degree delicate cycle extends the life of both the garment and the integrity of the underwire channel. -
Do not wash bras labelled hand wash only in the machine. The care label is there for a reason. Hand wash only bras are made with materials or construction that cannot withstand machine washing – and underwire failure is more likely when the garment is stressed beyond its design limits.
If the drum is making a metallic scraping noise when it turns, or if the pump is not draining correctly, a bra underwire may already be inside the machine. Check the pump filter first, then inspect through the drum holes with a torch. If the wire cannot be retrieved through a drum hole, disassembly is required. See our guides on metallic scraping noise and removing objects stuck in the drum.
Related Guides
Metallic Scraping Noise From the DrumHow a bra underwire causes a scraping noise and how to locate and retrieve it.
Remove Something Stuck in the DrumHow to retrieve objects from the tub space when they cannot be reached through the drum holes.
Washing Machine Pump FilterWhere to find the pump filter and how to check and clean it – the first place to look for a trapped wire.
Washing Machine LeakingDiagnosing water leaks – including from a pierced sump hose caused by a sharp underwire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you wash underwired bras in a washing machine?
Many underwired bras can be machine washed if the care label permits it – check before washing. Even machine-washable bras carry risk when washed loose in the drum. The underwire stitching can fail during washing, allowing the wire to escape into the machine and cause damage ranging from a scraping noise to a blocked pump or snagged laundry. Using a zipped mesh bra washing bag eliminates this risk while still allowing machine washing.
What does a bra washing bag do?
A bra washing bag is a zipped mesh container that keeps the bra fully enclosed throughout the wash cycle. The underwire cannot pass through the mesh and escape into the drum. Straps cannot become tangled with other laundry. The structure of the bag also helps maintain the bra’s shape during washing. They are inexpensive and widely available online and in supermarkets.
How do I know if a bra wire is stuck inside my washing machine?
The most common sign is a rhythmic metallic scraping or rasping noise when the drum turns – including when turned by hand with the machine unplugged. The noise repeats with every revolution of the drum. If the pump is not draining correctly, a wire may have reached the pump filter. Check the filter first, then inspect through the drum holes with a torch for a wire visible in the tub space.
8 Comments
Grouped into 6 comment threads.
1 reply Betterware do a bra-wash bag for £3.99 but I haven't tried it. I seem to be all over your site today - it's just so useful!
0 replies Thanks for sharing your experience Lisa. Yes it's best not to wash them in the washing machine unless inside a protective net designed for bras.
Thanks for sharing your experience Lisa. Yes it’s best not to wash them in the washing machine unless inside a protective net designed for bras.
0 replies I've only ever twice washed underwired bras in a washing machine. My NEW bra caught on the door of my machine and was screeching. By the time I got to it, it blew the glass out of the door in hundreds of pieces.. My bra was torn to shreds. It WAS in a lingerie washing her too. I bought a new machine, then heard a scrape with another bra ( stupidly I'd believed someone who's convinced me it was freak accident). This time I managed to get to the machine and stop it, but the wire had etched a line in the glass and I haven't felt safe washing bra in machines since.
I’ve only ever twice washed underwired bras in a washing machine. My NEW bra caught on the door of my machine and was screeching. By the time I got to it, it blew the glass out of the door in hundreds of pieces.. My bra was torn to shreds. It WAS in a lingerie washing her too. I bought a new machine, then heard a scrape with another bra ( stupidly I’d believed someone who’s convinced me it was freak accident). This time I managed to get to the machine and stop it, but the wire had etched a line in the glass and I haven’t felt safe washing bra in machines since.
0 replies I have used those padded meshbags in the past which are designed for washing and protecting bras, but felt that they didn't offer adequate protection- so now I insert the bra into the meshbag and then insert the meshbag and bra into a section from a pair of old tights, so that the whole thing is secure.
I have used those padded meshbags in the past which are designed for washing and protecting bras, but felt that they didn’t offer adequate protection- so now I insert the bra into the meshbag and then insert the meshbag and bra into a section from a pair of old tights, so that the whole thing is secure.
0 replies Laura: There's no misconception, the article is about bra wires coming out during wash and breaking the washing machine. It doesn't matter if the damage happens during washing or they slip out through general wear and tear or other reasons. The link you provided nearly got deleted as it looks like a porn site at first glance :-)
Laura: There’s no misconception, the article is about bra wires coming out during wash and breaking the washing machine. It doesn’t matter if the damage happens during washing or they slip out through general wear and tear or other reasons.
The link you provided nearly got deleted as it looks like a porn site at first glance :-)
0 replies This is the most common misconception, bras break for many different reasons not just because they are washed in the maching. However if you do find yourself with the pesky underwire poking through, worry no more, check out those amazing little devices called The Bra Angel, underwire bra repair kit for just £2.50 you get two in a pack, it is a tiny little cap that very cleverly fits over the underwire and holds it back in place, simple! They ship worldwide, it's like a rawl plug for a bra!
This is the most common misconception, bras break for many different reasons not just because they are washed in the maching. However if you do find yourself with the pesky underwire poking through, worry no more, check out those amazing little devices called The Bra Angel, underwire bra repair kit for just £2.50 you get two in a pack, it is a tiny little cap that very cleverly fits over the underwire and holds it back in place, simple! They ship worldwide, it’s like a rawl plug for a bra!
Betterware do a bra-wash bag for £3.99 but I haven’t tried it.
I seem to be all over your site today – it’s just so useful!
Likely replying to Jacky
Thanks Jacky: It looks very similar although it will be a lot thinner. However, it’s cheap enough to warrant giving it a try. If it does a decent job but doesn’t last you might then be more confident trying the professional version.