How to Properly Care for and Wash Your Sports Bras

A quality sports bra is an investment in your comfort and breast health, but even the best sports bra won't last if you don't care for it properly. The technical fabrics and elastic materials that provide support and moisture-wicking properties are surprisingly delicate, and improper washing can dramatically shorten your sports bra's lifespan. With the right care routine, you can keep your sports bras performing at their best for months—or even years—longer.

Why Sports Bra Care Matters

Sports bras work hard. They stretch, compress, and contain your breast tissue during vigorous movement while simultaneously managing sweat and body heat. The elastane (spandex) fibres that provide stretch and recovery, the moisture-wicking treatments on the fabric, and the structural components like underwire and moulded cups all have specific care requirements.

When you wash a sports bra incorrectly, you damage these components. Heat breaks down elastane fibres, causing the band to lose its firmness. Harsh detergents strip away the moisture-wicking treatment. Tumble drying can warp moulded cups and damage underwire. The result is a sports bra that looks fine but no longer provides adequate support—and you might not even realise the degradation until you notice increased bounce during your workouts.

How Often Should You Wash Your Sports Bra?

The simple answer is: after every workout. Unlike regular bras, which can often be worn multiple times between washes, sports bras absorb significant amounts of sweat during exercise. This sweat contains salts, oils, and bacteria that can break down fabric fibres and elastic over time, not to mention causing unpleasant odours.

If you're working out daily, this means you'll need multiple sports bras in rotation. Having at least three to four sports bras allows you to always have a clean one ready while others are being washed and dried. This rotation also reduces wear and tear on each individual bra, extending their collective lifespan.

The Best Way to Wash Your Sports Bras

Hand Washing: The Gold Standard

Hand washing is the gentlest and most effective method for cleaning sports bras. It allows you to control the water temperature, the amount of agitation, and ensures delicate components aren't damaged. Here's the proper technique:

1. Fill a basin with cool to lukewarm water. Never use hot water, as heat damages elastane fibres and can shrink certain fabrics.
2. Add a small amount of gentle detergent. Use a mild, fragrance-free detergent designed for delicates or activewear. Avoid fabric softeners entirely.
3. Submerge the bra and gently agitate. Swish the bra through the water, focusing on the underband and cup areas where sweat accumulates most.
4. Let it soak for 15-30 minutes. This allows the detergent to break down oils and bacteria without excessive mechanical agitation.
5. Rinse thoroughly in cool water. Make sure all detergent is removed, as residue can irritate skin and degrade fabric over time.
6. Gently squeeze out excess water. Never wring or twist the bra, as this can damage the shape and elastic.

Machine Washing: The Practical Alternative

Let's be realistic—hand washing every sports bra after every workout isn't always practical. If you're going to machine wash (and most of us do), follow these guidelines to minimise damage:

• Always use a mesh laundry bag. This protects the bra from getting tangled with other items, prevents straps from stretching, and reduces friction damage.
• Fasten all hooks and closures. This prevents hooks from snagging on fabric and helps the bra maintain its shape.
• Use the delicate or hand-wash cycle. This reduces agitation and spin speed, both of which can damage elastic and structural components.
• Select cold water. Even if your machine's "delicate" cycle defaults to warm water, manually select the cold option.
• Use a sports-specific or gentle detergent. Activewear detergents are formulated to remove sweat and odour without harsh chemicals that damage technical fabrics.
• Wash with similar items only. Avoid washing sports bras with jeans, towels, or items with zippers or Velcro that can cause abrasion.

Drying Your Sports Bras

How you dry your sports bras is just as important as how you wash them—and this is where many people make critical mistakes.

The Cardinal Rule: Never Use a Tumble Dryer

This cannot be emphasised enough. The heat from a tumble dryer is extremely damaging to sports bras. It breaks down elastane fibres, warps moulded cups, can damage underwire, and degrades moisture-wicking treatments. Even a "low heat" or "delicate" dryer setting is too hot for these technical garments.

Proper Air Drying

The best way to dry a sports bra is to lay it flat or hang it by the centre gore (the part between the cups) rather than by the straps. Hanging by the straps while wet can stretch them out, as the weight of the water-logged fabric pulls down on the elastic.

If using a drying rack, lay the bra flat with the cups facing up to help them maintain their shape. If you're short on space, you can hang the bra over a towel rack or the back of a chair, folded at the band so each cup hangs down on either side.

Keep sports bras out of direct sunlight when drying, as UV rays can degrade both the fabric and elastic over time. A well-ventilated indoor area is ideal.

What to Avoid: Common Care Mistakes

Beyond the major points covered above, here are additional mistakes that can prematurely age your sports bras:

• Using fabric softener: Softeners coat fibres and clog the technical weave of moisture-wicking fabrics, preventing them from doing their job. They also break down elastane.
• Using bleach: Bleach is far too harsh for sports bra fabrics and will damage fibres, compromise elasticity, and may discolour the garment.
• Leaving sweaty bras in your gym bag: Bacteria thrive in damp, warm environments. Letting a sweaty sports bra sit for hours (or days) before washing encourages bacterial growth that causes odour and degrades fabric.
• Ironing: Never iron a sports bra. The heat will damage elastic and potentially melt synthetic fibres.
• Storing wet: Always ensure your sports bra is completely dry before storing it. Dampness leads to mildew and can damage elastic over time.

Storing Your Sports Bras

Proper storage helps your sports bras maintain their shape between wears. For moulded cup bras, stack them nested inside each other (like you'd stack bowls) to help cups keep their shape. Alternatively, store them laid flat in a drawer with cups facing up.

Avoid folding one cup inside the other, as this can create permanent creases or misshapen cups over time. If drawer space is limited, you can hang sports bras on a hanger with multiple loops, but ensure they're hung by the band or centre gore, not the straps.

Building Sustainable Habits

Caring for your sports bras properly might seem like extra effort, but it quickly becomes second nature. Keep a mesh laundry bag in your gym bag so your bra goes straight in after your workout. Set up a dedicated drying space—even a simple over-door hanger in your laundry area works well. Invest in quality activewear detergent and keep it accessible.

The payoff is significant: sports bras that maintain their support, comfort, and appearance for much longer than those subjected to rough handling. Given the cost of quality sports bras, proper care is one of the best ways to get value from your investment while ensuring your breasts stay protected during every workout.