Before washing a bra in a washing machine, the first thing you should do is check the label on the bra itself. If it says hand wash only, then there’s your answer. If it shows that can be washed on a specific wash cycle, then you should use that wash cycle. You would think that this is the full answer, but washing bras in a washing machine can cause problems.
In fact, washing machine breakdowns caused by bras are surprisingly common. Many bras should be hand washed only, but most people still put them in the washing machine, either because they never check the label, or for convenience.
The straps can get tangled around other laundry, and even get ripped off of the bra if it gets caught between the drum and the door seal. A more common issue is that the metal underwires from bras commonly come out during washing and get in between the outer tub and the inner drum. This can result in an expensive washing machine breakdown. Underwires are usually sown into the bra, but they very often work loose due to the stresses of repeated washing or wear and tear.
The main problems associated with washing bras are if straps or the metal underwire comes off and listed as follows –
Metallic scraping noise
The metal underwire from a bra slips out during the wash and gets stuck underneath the inner drum. This causes a light metallic scraping noise when the drum turns. This happens when the drum is turning and can be recreated when turning the drum by hand. (See bottom of article for help removing a bra wire from a washing machine).
Leaking water
The underwire can become broken in two or the ends worn off, and become very sharp. They can then pierce the sump hose, causing a leak. Note that this is relatively rare.
Damage to laundry
The underwire can lay in the bottom of the outer tub under the revolving drum, where laundry can snag on it and get torn or otherwise damaged. This happens when the laundry is forced through the holes in the drum during spin.
Underwire blocking the pump
The underwire can easily find its way into the pump filter or inside the pump itself. In some pumps it can physically stop the pump from running. Alternatively, fluff and lint snag on it, and after a while the build up of fabric is large enough to block the pump.
Even Mrs Whitegoodshelp refuses to wash her bras by hand. Over the years I’ve had at least a couple of incidences when a bra wire has jammed the pump on our washing machine. She’s also had several incidents where a bra has got severely tangled up, too. So when I recently discovered a special net designed to protect bras in the washing machine, I decided to buy one and try it out.
Buy a bra protector
Amazon has a great collection of bra net protectors designed to protect bras in the washing machine and a variety was net washing bags to protect other laundry – Bra net protector bags on Amazon
If you want to wash your bras in the washing machine, it makes sense to put them inside these specially designed protectors. Ironically, they are only designed to protect the bra, but they also protect the washing machine.
Is there a bra wire stuck inside your washing machine?
If you think you have a bra wire stuck inside your washing machine, I’ve written a diy repair help article here for you – Something (bra wire?) is stuck in washing machine
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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!
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.
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!
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 :-)
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’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.
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.