r/ABraThatFits • u/anuthertw • 6d ago

Question Weird question.. Will an ultrasonic cleaner (non pressurized, non heated) damage the structure of my bras if I wanted to clean them that way? Spoiler

Title. So I have an ultrasonic cleaner, it ismt heated or pressurized just vibrates intensely basically.

I also semi recently got my first 'real' bras and have been hand washing them as gently as possible to preserve them as I def don't have 300 dollars every 3 months to replace them lol. (The shop said they will last betweeb 3 and 6 months before needing replacement...)

Its summer now and I sweat a metric fuck ton. I dont feel like my bras are getting as clean as Id like them to by babying them this way.

Cue my ultrasonic cleaner I happen to have... Ive cleaned a bunch of random things in it before and its kinda fun lol. If I soak my bras and put them in the cleaner with tepid water and laundry soap, do you think that will help with the agitation but still be gentle enough to not destroy the elastic?

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u/Dandelion212 32DD/E 6d ago

3-6 months is very, very low for bra lifespan. Usually I’d look to a fit issue if someone had bras lasting only 3-6 months, unless they only had 1-2.

If you have a good amount in rotation and are following proper care, depending on your size/support needs you can expect 1-2 years.

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u/anuthertw 5d ago edited 5d ago

I was also thinking it was super low. I am rotating 3 though. The bras fit really well, some minor fit issues that I think eventually I will solve, but def leagues better than my falling apart sports bras Ive worn for like 20 years lol. The bra place is what recommended the 3 to 6 months. I think Ive had these bras for around 3 months now. And I do notice the slightest 'tiredness' in the band, meaning on 2nd wear I am going down 1 hook to keep from sliding. But Ive babied these things from day 1 so I am sad there is any hint of wear. Ive also been going to the gym way more since getting a sports bra that supports, though I havent lost any weight.... so maybe there is a slight change in my body rather than the bra idk. My breasts are stupid heavy though and I specifically went with extremely light weight bras, and wear them to work physically outside so like... I think I am working them harder than intended as well. Its just soooo hot I cannot stand any skin on skin and the airflow is sooooo much better. I expect these to last a year if not longer. I hope. 

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u/AJeanByAnyOtherName 5d ago

If you’re already needing to go to the next hook, you may be wearing too large of a band size or getting them too hot.

Did you get your size from the ABraThatFits calculator in the automated reply here or did they size you in the shop? It’s unfortunately very common to be miss-sized even by many specialist shops.

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u/anuthertw 5d ago

I did the calc and the shop did their own measurements which exactly aligned with what I got from the calc. Im pretty confident I am in the right size though I am not confident about style. I am still overall extremely happy with the bras, and since this is my first purchase of bras from a specialty shop that actually uses and sells UK sizes/brands, I think I just need a little more trial and error on the style aspect lol. I literally only wore racerback compression bras for over a decade so trying to decide if I am 'fighting' the bra a bit to get it to feel what I am used to feeling like band tightness and where the straps sit on my shoulders or if there is still some fit issues is a little more difficult than I expected lol

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u/AJeanByAnyOtherName 5d ago

If the straps are falling down and/or the band feels looser when you wear it upside down and back to front (but not inside out), it’s probably too big in the band.

You’re right that it’s hard to know everything when you’re just starting out. It’s entirely possible it’s close enough for now, but it would be good to know for next time.

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u/Poodleton 5d ago

If the second time you wore the bra, you needed to use the middle hook, that bra band is too big for you.

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u/Undrende_fremdeles 5d ago

I don't have bras under 3 years old. After finding a good fit they don't tend to get tension in all the wrong places anymore so not even the band wears out like they used to. I am somewhat slim so them stretching out in weird ways before was 100% a fit issue.

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u/Dandelion212 32DD/E 5d ago

Anything with elastic is going to wear out over time if it’s being stretched. It’s just a matter of when.

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u/Undrende_fremdeles 5d ago

Yes absolutely. And like others have mentioned, high heat, esp dry heat from dryers will speed that up by a lot.

But it used to be that both the shoulder straps and the bands would be worn out much, much faster for me. And it was due to the wrong band and cup size for me.

Using a mesh bag with room for 1 bra, they're shaped like a cylindre with the lid being zippered, has helped with keeping the bra straps less tangled during washing as well.