How Long Do Bras Last Before They Kick the Bucket? We Asked an Expert

Like a gallon of milk, bras expire after awhile. Most give up the ghost around the two-year mark; your everyday go-tos might meet the end of the bra life cycle in just six months! Devastating but true, particularly after you find one you love like whoa. So how do you know when it’s finally time to put a beloved brassiere out to pasture? Our senior buyer, Heather Garcia, has some ideas for how to tell if a bra fits and whether or not it’s time for an upgrade.

Toss that bra if: Your body has been through the wringer.

She’s talking weight loss or gain of more than five pounds, the physical rollercoaster that is pregnancy/childbirth/nursing and, of course, breast surgery. Regardless, brush up on how to measure bra size at least twice a year to make sure you’re getting the right fit. That’s also the perfect time to take a ruthless look at the state of your lingerie drawer.

Toss that bra if: The band is too loose.

A brand-new bra should fit snugly on the very first set of hooks. The longer you own it, the tighter you’ll be fastening it. When you’re at the last, innermost set of hooks and wishing you could go just a liiiiittle tighter, the jig is up. If you’d affectionately call your bra “broken-in,” or “exceedingly comfortable,” it’s probably (forgive the pun) busted.

Toss that bra if: Straps won’t stay put.

Constantly digging around to hike up rogue straps? Then they’re stretched out beyond repair (or the bra’s band was too big to begin with). Shopping tip: Look for convertible bras with straps that don’t have those little O-rings you can’t adjust beyond.

Toss that bra if: It’s visibly falling apart.

Frayed, pilled and stretched-out fabric is an in-your-face sign it’s seen better days and has gotta go. Ditto underwires that are starting to bend, pop out or jab you. (Not cool, underwires, not cool!)

Of course, no one wants to see a world of landfills overflowing with gently-used lingerie. Give old bras a shot at reincarnation—good karma!—by donating them to the Salvation Army or the charity of your choice, or check out The Bra Recyclers (brarecycling.com).

And psst, just between us, you can squeeze some extra life out of your favorites by:

• rotating them with a bunch of other bras
• choosing sturdy materials like lace
• laundering with love (try lingerie wash and a lingerie bag for the washing machine, or wash by hand—really quite quick and painless), and always hanging to dry