How to Wash Fairtrade Bras and Camis Without Stretching

By Thunderpants - New Zealand made | Published: 2026-10-16

Category: Tips & Care

A step-by-step routine for washing fairtrade bras and camis so straps, bands and seams keep their shape. Includes a hand-wash method and drying checks.

Quick answer

Wash fairtrade bras and camis by hand in cool water with a gentle detergent, then press the water out and dry them flat. Skip the dryer and never hang a wet bra by its straps. That routine protects the elastic, seams and strap length better than a machine wash, even on a delicate cycle.

Why heat and weight stretch these garments

Stretch comes from two things: heat and hanging weight. Hot water and dryer heat relax the elastic fibres that give a bra band or cami strap its snap. Wet fabric is also heavier, so if you hang a bra by its straps, gravity pulls them long while the garment dries. Flat drying removes that load entirely.

Fairtrade cotton blends still contain elastane for stretch, so the same care rules apply. Treat the elastic as the delicate part, not the cotton.

What you need before you start

A clean basin or sink, cool water, a gentle liquid detergent, and a towel you do not mind using for laundry. Avoid bleach, fabric softener and enzyme-heavy stain removers, which can degrade elastic over time. If you only have a machine, use a mesh bag and the most delicate cycle your machine offers.

Sizing check before the first wash

Fit affects how a garment survives washing. A bra that is already tight on the loosest hook will strain its band and straps every wear, and washing will not fix that. Check the size chart for your style before you build a care routine around it.

For example, the Longline Crop Horses runs with more room for bigger busts than the Original Crop Top, and its double front layer can add compression on smaller busts. If your crop sits correctly, the band and straps are under less tension and hold shape longer. The Original Blueberry flat-fronted style uses the same soft fabric for its gusset, so the whole garment can be washed together without special treatment for the gusset. If you need extra room in the front, the Pouch Fronted Brief Green Zen is cut with that in mind, though it does not have a gusset.

Your step-by-step wash routine

1. Check the label and close any hooks: Read the care label first and fasten hooks or adjust straps so they cannot catch on other items. Common mistake: tossing an unfastened bra into the wash, where hooks snag lace or mesh bags. Checkpoint: hooks closed, straps secured, label checked.
2. Fill a basin with cool water and gentle detergent: Use cool water and a small amount of gentle liquid detergent. Swish to mix. Common mistake: using hot water or adding fabric softener, which coats fibres and weakens elastic. Checkpoint: water is cool to the touch and detergent is fully dissolved.
3. Submerge and soak for a few minutes: Place bras and camis in the water and let them soak for three to five minutes. Gently press the fabric with your hands; do not scrub or twist. Common mistake: leaving items to soak for hours, which can dull colours and stress seams. Checkpoint: garments are fully wet but not agitated.
4. Squeeze, do not wring: Lift each item and squeeze the water out with flat hands. Never wring or twist, especially on padded or double-layer crops. Common mistake: wringing a bra like a towel, which bends underwires and stretches bands. Checkpoint: no dripping water, shape still intact.
5. Roll in a towel to remove excess water: Lay the garment flat on a clean towel, roll the towel up, and press down. This pulls out more water without stretching. Common mistake: skipping this and hanging a wet bra, which adds weight that pulls straps long. Checkpoint: towel feels damp, garment feels merely moist.
6. Dry flat, reshaping as needed: Lay the bra or cami flat on a drying rack or clean towel, reshaping cups and straps to their original position. Keep out of direct sun and away from radiators. Common mistake: hanging by the straps or using a dryer, both of which stretch and heat-damage elastic. Checkpoint: garment is flat, straps are not bearing weight, and heat sources are avoided.

Product facts that affect washing

Longline Crop Horses: Longline Crop Horses has a double layer at the front, a flatter seam at the bottom, and more room for bigger busts than the Original Crop Top. The double layer holds more water, so squeeze gently rather than wringing, and dry flat to keep the front layer from distorting.
Original Blueberry: Original Blueberry is a flat fronted style with a soft gusset made from the same soft fabric as the outer garment. Because the gusset matches the outer fabric, you can wash the whole brief in one cool hand wash without separate treatment.