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Ladies..need suggestions on cleaning intimates
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Posted by rosesark (My Page) on Sat, Feb 6, 10 at 21:53
| I need to know if anyone has any ideas on what i can do for getting a fresher smell cleaning my mastectomy bras. The ones i wear under t-shirts and closer fitting shirts are the smoothe form cups that are seamless and have like a foam layer. I usually hand wash these, and have washed them in front loader on delicate because they can't be smashed. No matter what i use they still smell musty. It reminds me of the smell of being in the ocean and you hung your swimsuit up to dry, you know the musty kind of mildewy smell. I don't know if it is because of the material, the foam or what, but i hate to wear them because of it. They will smell better taking them out of wash, but after drying, it's back to the smell. This is an embarrassing question for me, but any ideas will be appreciated. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Ladies..need suggestions on cleaning intimates
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| It would help to know what you are washing them in (detergent, boosters, softeners, etc.) and if you are air drying them. If you are air drying them, where are you air drying them? If you have washed them in the washing machine, when was the last time the machine was sanitized. Any of these can factor into a musty smell. Here is what I do with my personals. I do not have mastectomy bras but I have had those foam filled push up ones. Mine are washed in my washing machine on a delicate cycle. I use a gentle laundry detergent and only add oxi clean for serious stains. They are washed in warm. The are hung up to air dry in a warm, dry room. Hanging in a humid room like the bathroom can cause a musty smell. Washing in a machine that has not been sanitized can cause a musty smell. Some fabric softners can cause a musty smell over time. HTH |
RE: Ladies..need suggestions on cleaning intimates
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| Thanks, i will try this. I had a top loader, but hand washed the bra's and hung them to dry in my bedroom. I used a little liguid tide, but no fabric softener. I am getting a new front loader with hand wash cycle. I will try some delicate laundry detergent, and see what i get. They did have that foam smell when i got them, but thought it woiuld get better after washed. Since i have to wear a form i have to have a pocket for it in the bra, otherwise i could sew one in the bra's that i used to wear that i did not have a problem with. I will keep trying. |
RE: Ladies..need suggestions on cleaning intimates
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| You could go to a mastectomy specialty shop and ask their advice. There is a small storefront near my home, my overseas friend took me there once when she was stocking up on bras. The woman there was really knowledgeable. I've seen a plastic ball device for washing foam-filled bras. They allow the water to thoroughly wash the item, but keep the cups formed to prevent stretching, etc. I dry small items on a plastic fold-up rack, which I fold and store next to the washer. Target and similar stores stock small drying racks. |
RE: Ladies..need suggestions on cleaning intimates
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| Thanks for that advise. We just have a medical supply store here. I looked up the bra company, but only says hand wash. I have a mesh bag, and i say a bra shaped mesh bag the other day, along with a plastic one like you would was ball caps in which i wouldnt want to put in my machine. I will look for the ball as it sounds like a good idea. My other foam one which is a different brand doesn't have this problem as bad, but they do have a different material, or the lining is different. I love these bra's but they are a pain. |
RE: Ladies..need suggestions on cleaning intimates
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| Sometimes "hand wash" instructions really mean "use mild detergent." Machine detergents can be very alkaline, I'd be concerned about using them on something that contains latex foam. Could the foam be deteriorating and causing that smell you've described? If you continue to machine wash them, be sure to use something like Woolite or Ecover delicate wash. |
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