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Washer & Dryer Instructions for Bras With Clear Plastic Straps

Gigi Starr

Bras with plastic straps are popular among consumers today, but the cleaning process might seem a bit tricky. You don't want to melt the strap in the dryer, but you do want to get it clean. Luckily, these straps are sturdy and long-lasting if treated with proper care. The core to this is hand-cleaning, combined with careful laundering of the bra itself. In order to do this, it's best to have a lingerie bag and a place to dry the bra once it's done taking a spin in the machine. You'll also need some shampoo or body wash.

Detach Plastic Straps

If you can, detach the clear elastic pieces from the body of the bra. This will keep them from getting tangled up in the bra unnecessarily during the wash cycle. It also will stop the slide adjuster from moving, which can cause hard-to-adjust slack in the strap.

Use Lingerie Bags

To extend the life of your plastic-strap bras, purchase a mesh lingerie bag and launder your foundations safely. The laundry bag will greatly reduce the amount of accidental hooking that happens during the wash cycle, as well as keeping underwear together and free of garments that can twist and warp bra components. Don't include the plastic straps in the bag; you'll be hand-washing them.

Launder the Bra

Wash your bras in warm or cold water inside of the bag. Hot water isn't good for the synthetic fabrics of most bras, nor their plastic straps, so avoid it. After the wash is done, hang the garment up to air-dry. Avoid tumble-drying the bra, since this will lead to warping of the underwire and wear of the straps.

Cleaning the Straps

Often, the plastic bra straps can become cloudy and greasy with long wear. To cleanse away these body oils, use some shampoo or body wash to wipe off the grime. If desired, scrub the straps with a washcloth or soft toothbrush. Give the straps a fast rinse with cold water and towel dry.