Warning never to put bras in washing machine or tumble dryer | UK | News

UK households are being warned over putting bras in washing machines due to a safety concern which can even break your appliance.

It’s part of a daily routine for millions of Brits up and down the country: shoving yet another pile of endless washing into the drum, throwing some powder in and coming back to find some way to dry it later.

But many don’t realise that women’s underwear – especially bras – should not go in with the rest of the washing, both for safety reasons and due to potential damage done to the garments, too.

One member of the Money Saving Expert forum warned of the dangers of putting bras into washing machines – the underwire can come loose, work its way into the machine and cause havoc.

He said: “Me and my late father in law used to repair washers and the number of these things we used to remove every month you wouldn’t believe.

“They normally get stuck on the heating element, sometimes they break and end up in the waste trap or the pump. We had a few that had actually rubbed through the plastic outer drum and they basically wrote the machine off.

“There is virtually no way you will get that out by removing the door seal unless it’s right at the front of the machine and pointing in the right direction. Only way to go is get a washing machine engineer in, he’ll have to remove the case from the machine then take the back or front of the external drum off to remove it that way.”

Washing machine manufacturer Whirlpool urges customers to only ever wash bras by hand.

They said: “Because bras are delicate items, you need to take special care while washing them. The best way to wash a bra is to wash it by hand using gentle detergent. If you don’t have the time to hand wash your bras, you can machine wash them in a mesh lingerie bag on the delicate cycle with cold water.”

Beko, which also makes washing machines, says you can put bras into washing machines in some circumstances and again recommended a mesh bag – but say never put them into washer-dryers or tumble dryers.

They said: “Your bra is an important part of your clothing, and making sure it is clean is important. As with any item of clothing, checking the care label symbols is a must – this will let you know how it is best to clean your individual bra.

While bras can go in your washing machine, avoid putting them in your dryer or a dry cycle. Heat, even low settings, can warp your underwire. Instead, opt for gently pressing the excess water out of it and letting it air dry on a clean towel for the best results.

Head of Product Marketing at Beko Plc UK & Ireland, Sun Salah says: “Yes, you can wash your bra in a washing machine, but you’ll want to keep a few things in mind. The clasps can be damaging to your drum, so make sure they’re attached together to avoid them flying and catching anywhere they shouldn’t. Putting your bra, alongside your other delicates, into a mesh bag can also help keep your underwear together.”

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