A woman has sparked huge debate online after revealing the surprising rule she has for washing bras. People are seriously divided but thankfully an expert has weighed in
A woman has taken to the internet about her bra hygiene habits and sparked a debate after being called “clatty” for not washing her bras after every wear.
Lynne Cavanagh, 46, revealed she usually avoids washing them unless they’re visibly dirty or stained – and now she’s left shocked by others’ strong opinions on how bras should be cared for.
The TikTok user, who goes by @LynneLxx and has 15,000 followers, shared her thoughts in a viral post, asking her followers how often they wash their bras. “Serious question because I basically just got called clatty,” Lynne began. She added: “I thought everybody done this. How often do you wash your bras?”
Lynne, went on to explain her typical bra routine, admitting that she doesn’t wash certain bras regularly. “I’ll be honest, there’s one bra I haven’t washed for months. I don’t wear it every day, I wear it on occasion. I have them on, it’s not like they’re getting dirty or sweaty. I wash them if they’re dirty or stained or stinking,” she explained.
According to Lynne, she’s always been told not to over-wash bras, as the repeated washing can cause them to go grey or lose their shape. “I was always told don’t over wash your bras because they go grey. I’ve got all different colours of bras and loads of underwear so there’s some bras I’ve never washed because I’ve only got them on every now and again,” the woman said, according to the The Sun.
However, Lynne’s casual approach to bra care seemed to cause some controversy among her followers. Several people were quick to criticise her for not washing them more frequently. One commenter said: “Never heard that before, I thought everyone washed it after every wear.” Another added: “Clean bra every day and washed straight away.” A third person was more adamant: “Everyday after it’s been worn.”
In a personal hygiene survey conducted by Mashable and SurveyMonkey, an average of 35% of UK women admitted to wearing a bra at least five times before washing it. You are probably wondering what the right answer is. Speaking to Glamour, Pour Moi’s Lingerie Technologist, Lois Siciliano advised washing your bra after every two or three wears. However, this can come down to what you are doing when you are wearing your bra, if you are exercising you will need to wash things more regularly.
While some were horrified, other followers agreed with Lynne, sharing their own experiences of washing bras less often. One user revealed: “I ruined mine by washing every single time I wore it, so now I do it maybe every couple of weeks.” Another follower admitted: “My favourite bra gets washed maybe like every two weeks because I’m always wearing it.” And one user joked: “I have separation anxiety when ‘auld comfy’ gets washed.”
Other commenters pointed out that they take a more practical approach depending on the occasion. “Good ones definitely not. I do work ones every day, but in the summer or holidays hardly wear them,” shared one follower. As the bra debate continues – it seems that one size doesn’t fit all.