I was wondering how often you guys wash your binders because binders get worn very often and also how you wash and maintain them.

I wear it maybe 3-4 times, then I just wash it in the washer and let it air dry

Quote from: Elijah on January 08, 2010, 11:28:58 PM
I wear it maybe 3-4 times, then I just wash it in the washer and let it air dry

this, or hand wash it.

often to "refresh" them between washes I'd rinse them with hot water from the shower for 5 minutes or so and let them air dry after that. 

I wash as normal - but in a dhoby bag. Wear 'em on average twice before washing but I have a few to cycle. I try not to hang them, I find they lose their shape quicker and store them folded in a draw instead of hanging for same reason.

Quote from: Elijah on January 08, 2010, 11:28:58 PM
I wear it maybe 3-4 times, then I just wash it in the washer and let it air dry

it doesn't get worn out from the washing machine?

Quote from: mL on January 09, 2010, 12:16:47 AM
it doesn't get worn out from the washing machine?

nah not really

Classically, I been lazy about my binders.
I throw them in with the wash and treat them like the rest of my laundry (this includes machine drying).
Hand drying would be easier on the elastic, but whatever.

I think it also depends on the type of binder you are using. Some will handle abuse better than others.

I use the Underworks Double Front Compression binders. I cycle beween 3 of them (I don't have a lot of clothes, so 3 is just the right amount to fit in with the normal load of washing cycle).

The get washed after a single "all day" wear (going to study or work), or two "quick" wears (just ducking out to run some errands for an hour).

I wash my binders in the machine with the rest of my clothes. I don't use bags or anything special - just the normal cold water and detergent. I hang them by the bottom (don't want to stretch the shoulder straps) in the shade for an hour or two.

I store my binders loosely folded in the same drawer as the rest of my clothes.

I've had these binders for about 5 months, and I have had no problem with them stretching (beyond the initial "breaking in") or falling apart. They're still almost impossible to get on fresh from the wash! 

I refuse to machine dry any of my clothes. It takes a lot of electricity, it's hard on the clothes, there's the problem with lint, and the end result just doesn't feel or smell as good as something that's been dried out in the sun and fresh air.

A little biased, because I try to hand-wash as much of my laundry as I can - and don't even own a machine dryer, but here goes.

I have an all-spandex binder, from underworks. This gets washed whenever it starts to get gross. This could be one full day, or as long as two weeks. I wash it by hand or in the washer, cold water, a bit of grated soap. If it's getting stained or discoloured, I make a paste out of water and washing soda + baking soda, and let it sit for a few hours before rinsing it out with vinegar and washing it. If it's still stained, I hang it out in the sun to dry (when available) by the bottom - never by the straps. Otherwise, it goes on the racks inside to dry. I wouldn't put it on a hanger even if I bothered to hang more than a few of my clothes.

Velcro-side binders, or with a front zipper (like from t-kingdom) I have a couple of. They get washed every 2 or 3 wears (more often if it's hot out and I'm sweating, or they start to stink or anything) with the rest of the clothes like usual, and hung out to dry with the rest of the laundry, wherever it ends up. I don't put these on hangers either, but I don't imagine they'd mind.

I handwash mine probably about once a week in a detergent for baby clothes. I know I probably don't need to be so gentle with them but I prefer to stay on the safe side, anyway I like the smell of the baby stuff.

Drying is where it gets a bit strange though. I fold a large towel in half and lay it on a carpeted floor, then put the binder flat on the towel and put another large folded towel on top of the binder. A binder sandwich. Then I step on it all over, not jumping about on it as this would stretch the binder, but gently pressing out the water into the towels. This takes about 5 minutes but the binders are left nearly dry. Good if you're in a hurry to wear the binder.

just normal washing with everything else and then dry on a radiator, seems to be fine, usually feels tighter after that which confuses me slightly as i expected it would be more floppy haha

I very rarely wash mine actually, but now that I have 3 to circulate I may wash them a bit more frequently, probably wash one at the end of every week. I just throw them in the wash with my other clothes and then pull them out before the go in the dryer and just let it air dry.

I wash them in the laundry/dryer a couple times a week. But mine is handmade, and miles more durable than those that have been bought, so.

Quote from: Carson on January 09, 2010, 11:15:05 AM
I very rarely wash mine actually

I'm glad to read that because everyone else is making me feel a right smelly git     I haven't washed mine at all yet, waiting to get a few more.  But then I always wear something else (sports vests usually) underneath it anyway and that gets washed. 

The washing machine doesn't seem to be as bad for them as the dryer.

True for all clothing.

Quote from: Alessandro on January 09, 2010, 12:17:11 PM
I'm glad to read that because everyone else is making me feel a right smelly git   

This haha. I actually should wash mine today...but I'll probably forgo it in the interest of wanting to get dressed and be able to go outside.

I just handwashed it with soap and water. Ew there's dead skin...

I wear each binder for 3-4 days, rotating through 4 of them and then machine washing them every 2 weeks in cold water and machine drying them on low to medium heat.  However, it depends upon where you live.  I wouldn't wash them in any of the European washers I've ever used because you can't get a truly cold wash. The coldest you could get (at least on the machines of 15 years ago) was 40°C (about 104°F).    Ruined so many clothes when I lived overseas.

I, uh, don't wash them as much as I probably should. I wash them when they start to smell or get dirty. I wash them on the delicate setting, cold water and air dry.

i wait until the yellow sweat marks start to turn up around the armpit and under-boob areas... then I machine wash it, air dry.