New bra dryer?
I have posted about contraptions for drying bras such as BraBaby and Bra Smart but recently I’ve bumped into a site that claims they are developing a new bra dryer device - http://bradryer.com. On the site they don’t really have any additional info about device except a line “Don’t ruin your bras in a tumble dryer any more". Somewhere else I heard (or read) that it’s going to be other bra dryers killer. I wish they had more info on the project. Meanwhile I sent an email to the address on the site (provided in quite an unexpected place) and if they reply to me, I will post here.
Cheers,
- Analeis
Bra(g) — The bra bag
I did not post in my bra care topic for a while, and today I’d like to highlight Bra(g) — the bra bag, quite a genius invention that helps protect padded bras during travel. It is such a perfect solution for bras wrinkled in a suitcase — this bra protective case keeps them in shape and they last so much longer.
Not only this is a genius concept - these cute bags come in an assortment of great fabrics, so you pack your bras in style. These are just three of about a dozen:
The idea of a bra bag is simple and very useful, props to the inventors! I can see where they came from with the concept — as items such as cell phones, iPods or laptops had protective cases for years.
Bra(g)s are sold on-line here as well as in a number of lingerie boutiques for about $50 each — not bad, considering that it helps keep your expensive bras in shape longer, especially luxury bras we pay two — three hundred dollars for. So if you like expensive lingerie and you travel — Bra(g) is a must have.
Care tips from the lingerie companies
A couple luxury lingerie companies were kind enough to give me their tips for their lingerie care.
Julianne (aka Adamo Fashions)
With our lingerie it is best to hand wash the item in cool water. Do not dry clean, bleach, tumble dry or iron the lingerie.
When hand washing your lingerie, use a gentle soap or washing powder. Once it’s washed, rinse thoroughly, and do not soak the item. By avoiding machine washing the underwear will keep it’s shape and colour longer. Let the underwear dry flat away from direct sunlight.
Ravage
In order to keep your bra awesome, please hand wash it in cold water or use the delicate program of your washing machine (still with cold or max 30c° water). Please dry flat it and above all don’t use the drying cabinet.
Guia La Bruna
All of our garments are mostly made in silk, so you should dry clean it. Or hand wash very carefully, but dry clean would be the best.
Frankly Darling
It is always best to hand wash in lukewarm water to keep the colour and the same with the briefs.
A.F. Vandervorst
We recommend hand wash in luke water. You can use the spinning cycle of the wool program of your washing machine, max 800, but be sure to put the bra in a nylon bag. No tumble dry, just hang on a peg and let it dry.
Fleur T
We advise that the silk garments should be hand washed in cool water.
Courtworth
Hand wash in luke warm water with mild, liquid handwash suitable for silks. Dry flat on a towel. Do not iron.
Bas Bleu
All of the lingerie can be washed at 40 degrees on a delicate cycle without any problems. I would avoid tumble drying it to improve longevity.
So, no washing machines unless yours is a front load machine and has a special cycle, and under no circumstances tumble dry of your luxury lingerie items. Hand wash or dry clean is your best choice if you want your lingerie to last and keep in great shape.
-Analeis
Woolite® Bra Wash Bag
Pretty neat and inexpensive bag for washing bras.
You can get one here: The Container Store
Bra box
The bra box organizers are the perfect way to keep bras clean and neat. Made of rigid plastic these boxes measure 3”H x 6”W x 12”D and are available in packages of 2.
They are also good for travel, to keep bras in shape while they’re in your luggage.
Bra care tips
It doesn’t matter if you love your bra or not, or if your bras are cheap or expensive. Here are some tips to care for them so they’re in a good shape - which means you’re comfortable and happy.
Switch up bras every day
Avoid wearing your bra for two consecutive days. Your body exudes heat and heat makes the Lycra in the bra stretch when it is warm. Wearing your bra for more than one day in a row will cause it to deteriorate faster. Lycra needs at least 24 hours to cool off — so alternating bras each day will go a long way towards good bra care.
Store your bras properly
It is best if you have a dedicated lingerie drawer. If you place lingerie with other clothing items, or toss them into a chest in an unorganized manner, it will cause early wear and tear on your bras. Hooks snaps, and some other clothing items or objects can snare fabric. So it is best if you make room specifically for your fine lingerie. Furthermore, you might want to organize your lingerie collection by type (e.g. all bras in one drawer, all panties in another drawer, etc.) Or you can put matching sets of lingerie together.
Washing bras
First of all, avoid washing your bras in a washing machine, especially top load washing machines. If you can help it, hand wash your lingerie in cold water or have it dry cleaned. For washing you should use a delicate soda-based fabric wash, such as Forever New, Eucalan, or Stergene. It is not recommended to use Woolite. It is also okay to use mild shampoo or hand soap.
Secondly, get a wash bag for washing your intimate apparel. Wash bags cost only about $5 and they allow you to keep your lingerie protected from rubbing sensitive fabrics of your bras against other apparel items while washing. So wash bags keep your lingerie a little bit more protected while washing.
Drying bras
Drying bras in a tumble dryer can damage your bras in many ways: heat and tumbling in a drum damages bra fabric, underwire and cups padding. Besides that, it can result in damaging other clothing and the dryer itself if wires get ripped out of the bra fabric. If you don’t want your bras to get loose their shape early, consider one of the following natural ways to dry your bras:
- Hang dry (aka air dry, line dry)
- Dry by placing them on a towel
- Use a hair dryer to dry your bra if you want it to dry pretty quick
- Use one of the new bra drying devices, such as BraBaby or BraSmart (See below in this blog)
Bra care devices: Bra Smart (aka SmartBoard):
The Smart Way to Keep Your Bras Looking Like New!
Bra Smart is an innovative new product that will help extend the life of your bras. Bra Smart is designed to keep women’s bras in their original shape while they dry; solving the problem of the tendency of the bra cups to lose shape and be damaged. Washed wet bras are placed with the bra cups over the molded bra cups to retain the shape of the bra, preventing wrinkling and deformity of the bra cup. Bra Smart is comprised of just 4 parts designed to fit easily together;
- a base
- 2 Bra Cup Shape Molds
- a hanger
The Bra Cup Shape Molds come in B, C, and D cups. Bra Smart can be used with swim suits, camisoles, and other molded cup tops.
America is the greatest country in the world. Where else can such an invention such asbrasmart.jpg the Brasmart be marketed? I cracked up watching this commercial — especially where the cup moves outward for different sizes. (By the way, I’m not sure how accurate it is…when you order, you have to specify which cup size you need. So why bother having it pop out more?)
Seriously, more junk for the American home. If you wait six months, you might see it at either a yard sale or at Bed, Bath and Beyond.
I’m still feeling terrible but less so; no earache, toothache but a general malaise, no voice, easily exhausted and probably crabby if I was around anyone. I’m going into work tomorrow and also going to see if I can see the doctor. I think it’s sinuses. (Source)
Bra care devices: BraBABY™
BraBABY™ is the revolutionary new washing system that protects your finest intimate apparel from the wear and tear of the washing machine. (aka contraption for washing bras, cage for washing bras in the washing machine)
BraBaby is a wire frame contraption that keeps expensive bras, especially underwire or padded ones, in shape and protects them in the wash. Goodness only knows what damage a giant wire cage will to do all the other clothes you put in there with the precious bras in their little cocoon. Or what your washing machine will make of it. But still, if it saves me having to handwash them, I’m willing to give it a go. (Source)