- There is no steadfast rule about how long you’re supposed to keep your bra
- But one expert says you should throw them out every six to eight months
- As for your underwear, they shouldn’t be kept for any longer than a year at a time
- Look for wires poking out and loose straps as a measure of when to throw them
Most women have a never ending rotation of bras and underwear that they very rarely part with.
But instead of waiting for holes to appear at the seams, or your favourite lacey white number to become discoloured, experts recommend parting with your bra between six and eight months.
As for your underwear you should be replacing them every year, or when they become too uncomfortable against your skin.
Experts recommend parting with your bra at the eight month mark
But before you reach those timely milestones, your undergarments might be ready to let go, and Josephine Manisbalco from Nocturnal Lingerie spoke to FEMAIL about how to identify the signs.
‘A lot of women don’t really comprehend when it’s time to change them. They come to me and say their breasts have stretched so much but can’t figure out why,’ she explained.
She admits that if you’re putting your bra on the last hook it’s time to get another one.
She admits that if you’re putting your bra on the last hook it’s time to get another one
‘It’s very important for women with larger breasts in particular. So we fit up to a K cup, and a lot of people don’t know this but you get the most support out of a bra from the back – not from the cup.
‘The back carries all the weight so that’s why you need to be mindful about what hook you’re on.
‘The looser the back the less your breast will be supported and the more your breast tissue will begin to sag,’ she said.
The walls of our bra are elasticised and these are important to monitor as well.
‘Once that starts to ripple and give you know your bra isn’t going to carry the weight of your breast,’ she said.
In terms of the bra strap itself, once the adjustment is at its tightest it’s no longer working.
To take proper care of your lingerie, Josephine recommends the ‘three bra’ rule – where a woman should have one in the wash, one in her drawer and one on her at all times
To take proper care of your lingerie, Josephine recommends the ‘three bra’ rule – where a woman should have one in the wash, one in her drawer and one on her at all times.
This should mean you’ll get six to eight months out of your underwear.
‘If you only have two, that’s fine, but they’ll likely last no more than six months.’