Padded Bra Care: How to Wash a Padded Bra and Keep Padding Smooth

Quick answer

Wash padded bras by hand in cool water with a drop of gentle detergent, press—never wring—the cups, rinse until the water runs clear, then air-dry the bra flat or folded over a hanger. Heat, twisting, and the washing machine are what crush foam padding and leave creases you cannot iron out.

Step-by-step padded bra care routine

1. Step 1: Fasten the hooks and check the label: Close the back hooks so they cannot snag lace, and remove any removable pads. Read the care label before the bra gets wet—once it is soaked, you have lost the chance to check. Checkpoint: if the label says final sale or no exchange, slow down and treat this wash as the one that has to go right.
2. Step 2: Fill a basin with cool water and a drop of gentle detergent: Use cool or lukewarm water and about a teaspoon of lingerie wash or mild soap. Swirl it in rather than pouring detergent directly onto the fabric. Common mistake: hot water and a heavy squeeze of detergent. Both break down foam and elastic faster than anything else in this routine.
3. Step 3: Submerge and gently press the cups: Let the bra soak for five to ten minutes, then press the cups between your palms in the water. Do not scrub, twist, or rub the foam against itself. Checkpoint: the water should do the cleaning. If you are working hard, you are pressing too hard.
4. Step 4: Rinse in cool water until it runs clear: Refill the basin or hold the bra under a cool tap, pressing the cups again as you go. Repeat until no suds remain. Common mistake: stopping while the water still feels slippery. Leftover detergent attracts dirt and stiffens lace.
5. Step 5: Press out water in a clean towel: Lay the bra flat on a towel, fold the towel over it, and press down with your palms. Never wring or twist the cups to speed this up. Checkpoint: the cups should look smooth and rounded at this stage. If they are already creased, you twisted them.
6. Step 6: Air-dry flat or folded over a hanger: Dry the bra flat on a towel, or fold it over the bar of a hanger so the cups hang free and keep their curve. Keep it out of direct sun and away from radiators. Common mistake: hanging a wet padded bra by one strap. The weight of the wet foam stretches the band and distorts the cup.
7. Step 7: Store cups uncrushed: Once fully dry, stack bras so cups sit inside cups, or stand them in a drawer with the cups facing up. Never fold a padded cup in half to save space. Checkpoint: if a cup is bent in storage, it will dry into that bend. Store it the shape you want to wear it.

Padded styles and what their care notes tell you

• Alice Padded Bra - Sale: Designed specifically for smaller busts (A–C cups), this bra combines a signature low-cut silhouette with light foam padding for a smooth, rounded shape without the gap; it is final sale and cannot be returned or exchanged. Because it cannot be returned or exchanged, getting the wash routine right the first time protects a purchase you cannot swap out if the padding creases.
• Natacha Demi bra: It uses double-layered, lightweight mesh instead of lace, with no foam padding, and sits flush for everyday wear. If you want a smoother everyday option that skips the foam entirely, this is the lower-maintenance choice—there is no padding to crease in the first place.
• Alice Demi Bra: It has a soft underwire and delicate lace with a little stretch, cups cut from a single panel of lace with no middle seam, and no padding. Unpadded lace cups tolerate a slightly gentler version of the same routine, so you can wash your padded and unpadded bras together without changing products.