Many of us keep wearing the same bras for years on end, not realising that they have an expiration date, too. Some of us may be so attached to a bra that used to fit well or one that we paid lots of money for, that we’ll ignore the obvious signs of an ageing bra.
These are the signs that will help you identify a bra that no longer has your back.
The underwire has pierced through the cup
The last thing any woman wants is to appear as though one of her breasts is bigger than the other. This is exactly why you shouldn’t be walking around wearing a bra with only one wired cup. A bra with a broken wire can be easily fixed with a needle and thread, or if it’s beyond repair then just get rid of it.
Your bra has deodorant or other stains
Bras with stains should not be kept around for much longer. If you’re not wearing tank tops as often for the fear of your bra stains showing through the sides, then you know what to do. Wash your bra at the end of each day with mild soap to avoid build-up and permanent stains.
The bra no longer has a shape
A bra that is still in good condition will have cups the shape of a smiley face. This shape is perfect for keeping each breast in place and prevents them from falling down under the bra. If yours has lost its shape, it won’t provide you with proper support. Hand-washing your bra’s as opposed to throwing them in a washing machine can help preserve their shape for longer.
Stretched out bras
The bra may have been a perfect fit when you first bought it and you might not have had to do much to get a great cleavage, but now, you need to clip the bra to the very last attachment and pull the straps as close to the cup as possible in order to get a decent hold. While you cannot repair the elasticity of the bra, you can prolong it by hand-washing and not wearing your bra more than three times in a week.
Your bra size has changed
You might have gone through a change in your weight, meaning breast size changed, but you’re still wearing the same size bra. If your bust size has changed then you need to go find out your new size and treat yourself to a bra shopping spree. Your skin should not be hanging over your bra straps, nor should your breasts be hanging freely inside the bra.
If you’re still not sure whether your bra has expired or not then you should at least work on replacing your bras once every year. The suggested number of bras that you should keep on rotation is 7-8 minimum (at least one for each day of the week).
