Have a wardrobe of bras—at least five to seven.
“Women overwear bras—that’s the single biggest reason they wear out.”

Switch them up.
“You shouldn’t wear one bra two days in a row. A day of wear and then a day of rest is best. After two wears, wash it.”

Woolite is for wool.
“Use a sensitive soap, without bleach or materials that damage elastic. We sell Forever New ($6 for eight ounces). Or you can use baby-clothes soaps like Ivory Snow or Dreft.”

Hand wash? Hah.
“Keep a net bag in your closet. When you take off a bra, fasten it [so it doesn’t get hooked on others] and throw it in there.” The bag goes into the washing machine on the cold, gentle cycle (mesh laundry bag, $5.99 at Duane Reade, 250 Broadway, nr. Park Pl.; 212-571-4511).

Do not cook your bra.
As John Cameron Mitchell says in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, “You don’t put a bra in the dryer. It warps.” Use cool water and hang dry, says Nethero. “You will double the life of your bra.”

Related:

• Archive: “Guides”
• Articles by Nandini D'Souza
• Table of Contents: Dec 10, 2007 issue of New York | Subscribe!