dumb question but how long does a bra last

[evecrook]

Just wondering. I have  a very comfortable bra that I wear all the time. If I get bigger I'll have to get a new one. I'm always afraid one of the straps will break.

[DriftingCrow]

It depends on the quality,how you wash it, and how often you wear it. Can be a few months to a few years.

If you wear it all the time, hand wash, and its decent quality you might get a year out oc it before the straps start loosing their hold and the fabric starts looking bad.

If you really like it, get a couple of them and rotate wearing them.

[kariann330]

If you toss them in the washer and dryer the elastic will wear out in about 3 months. If you hand wash them and hang them in the shower, i find the bar that the curtain rides on is the best, the elastic and other materials will last 6 to 9 months. If its a sports bra, because of the sweat and extra oils they absorb you should replace them every 3 months because of the more rigorous washing needed to get them clean.

Also remember to ensure a proper fit and adequate support you should get professionally fitted every year....and FYI the girls at Victoria's Secret do NOT qualify as professionals as they do not properly measure you.

[Sabrina]

For me they last a long time because I cycle through several so the rate of wear is negligible. What works well for bra longevity for me is close the hooks in the back, put them in a lingerie mesh bag, then throw them in the washer on the "hand washable" setting. Afterwards just hang them up to dry on a regular coat hanger. Have enough so while some are drying, others can be worn. Also depends, if they are worn for more than one day at a time.

[kathyk]

Mine are probably going to last at least 18 months.  I have seven Fruit of the Loom style 9292 bras 'cause they're relatively inexpensive underwires with strech cups.  They are all different colors, and took several months to find all of them in one of the two sizes I wear.  White, black, red, white with red stripes, beigh, white with blue polka-dots, grey with red polka-dots. 

And unless I'm doing a lot of work outside I wear them a couple days each.

[kariann330]

  And unless I'm doing a lot of work outside I wear them a couple days each.

Only downside to that, is contrary to popular belief a bra supports your breasts from the band, not the straps. The elastic and other stretchy materials used in the band require at least 24 hours to return to there pre stretched size. If there isn't that 24+ hour "resting time" your bra is gonna stretch out faster and will need to be replaced sooner which is why professionals recommend changing your bra daily.

[kathyk]

Only downside to that, is contrary to popular belief a bra supports your breasts from the band, not the straps. The elastic and other stretchy materials used in the band require at least 24 hours to return to there pre stretched size. If there isn't that 24+ hour "resting time" your bra is gonna stretch out faster and will need to be replaced sooner which is why professionals recommend changing your bra daily.

  That's someting I hadn't heard before but it make sense, especially with my old floppies.  For comfort I wear a slightly larger band than absolutely necessary (40D or 42C), and the stretch cups fit well in both sizes when I put one on.  But the bras do get looser as the day goes by, and I haven't really paid that much attention on day 2.  Now I'll track it. 

[kariann330]

  That's someting I hadn't heard before but it make sense, especially with my old floppies.  For comfort I wear a slightly larger band than absolutely necessary (40D or 42C), and the stretch cups fit well in both sizes when I put one on.  But the bras do get looser as the day goes by, and I haven't really paid that much attention on day 2.  Now I'll track it.

When i first read it online i personally figured the "expert" was someone who either owns a store, or works for a manufacture so i figured i would do a little experiment. Buy a brand new bra and do a finger test (how many fingers comfortably fit under the band) and at first it was the suggested two fingers. I then wore that same bra for the average time that women say they wear a bra, 4 days. At the end of those 4 days i was able to comfortably fit not 3 but a whopping 4....yes 4 fingers between my ribcage and the band. I also noticed that i was having to tighten the straps on days 3 and 4.
I then decided to use 3 new bras and change them daily and try again. Sure enough every bra fit the same around my ribcage and the straps never needed tightening other then the very first time wearing them, which is more then normal.

So in the end is the bra industry suggesting we buy new bras every six months, and change them daily so they can make more money from us? Not in my personal opinion especially after seeing first hand how much the size of a bra can change in just a couple of days. Also i learned with my first bra, RIP...that the washer even on the delicate cycle is still too rough on the elastic and will stretch it out in no time, and will destroy the other fabrics...the band had a hole in it and the keyhole (the fabric between the cups) ripped clean leaving my bra in two pieces.

So remember, change your over the shoulder bolder holder every day and only hand wash them in a sink or bathtub.

[Alainaluvsu]

I've never had to throw one away and I've been wearing em for a little over 18 months.