You purchased a backless sticky bra—one of those chicken cutlet bras billed as reusable and washable—only to have it slide off mid-dinner? Sticky bras on belly buttons are not cute. Your new adhesive bra is trashed before nightfall, and you swear against backless sticky bras forever. Sticky bras are popular because they work with strapless and backless ensembles. They’re every woman’s hidden weapon and wardrobe must.
If you’ve had any of these frustrating experiences with your sticky bra, you’ll know that not all sticky bras are the same. Sticky bras are often inexpensive, made of poor materials, and not designed to last. If your sticky bra has lost its stickiness, you may be wondering how to fix it. The adhesive is hard to repair, like a sticker.
Adhesive bras need frequent cleaning. Oil and grime prevent the adhesive from bonding to the skin. Hand soap and warm water clean an adhesive bra. Then, clean your bra with extra care. If your bra doesn’t stick, try these:
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How to clean sticky bras, here are the general steps to clean them
Use Warm Water and Mild Soap
Soak the sticky bra in warm water with a few drops of mild soap. Baby shampoo, dish soap, or laundry detergent can be used, but make sure that it doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals or dyes which can damage the adhesive of the bra.
Hand Wash
Once you’ve soaked the bra, gently rub the adhesive side in the soapy water to remove sweat and other residues. Never scrub or use a brush as it could damage the adhesive.
Rinse Well
Rinse off the soap with warm water. Make sure all soap residue is removed, as it can affect the stickiness of the bra.
Air Dry
After washing, shake off excess water and leave the bra to air dry. The adhesive should be facing up. Don’t use a towel or a cloth to dry it as it can stick and leave residue.
Protective glue wrap
Once completely dry, reapply the plastic protectors that came with the bra. If you don’t have them anymore, you can use plastic wrap to cover the adhesive side. This prevents dust and lint from sticking to the bra when it’s not in use.
How to clean a sticky bra Detailed instructions
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1. Using Soap and Water to Wash Your Bra by Hand
Soapy water (either hand soap or a bra cleanser) that’s warm to the touch. – Washing the bra with normal hand soap may remove the oils from the adhesive. However, you may use a cleaner designed specifically for bras if you have one.
- Check with the bra’s manufacturer to see if they have a special detergent for washing bras. You may use it each time you wash your bra if that’s the case.
Apply the soapy water on the glue using your fingertips. – Wet your hands with soapy water and massage the region where the bra was stuck to get rid of the adhesive. Sticky residue may be removed by using circular motions to scrape the adhesive region of the bra.
- You may clean the glue with soapy water and more finger pressure if there is dirt entrenched in it.
Dip the entire bra into the soapy water to clean the body. – Submerge the whole bra in soapy water for more thorough washing. Submerge the bra completely and give it a good whisking. Touch the cloth with your fingers and rub it around the outside of the cups.
- Let the bra soak for a few minutes if there is oil and dirt that won’t come out with regular washing.
- The adhesive part may be rubbed on the bra’s cups while they are immersed in water.
Rinse the soapy water off of the bra using plain warm water. – Then, place the bra cups under warm running water to remove the soapy water and any debris that has been lost by pressing the cups so that the adhesive portion is sticking out. Make sure all the soap and grime are gone when you rinse.
- A couple of seconds for each cup is all it should take.
- Be careful to give the bra’s outside a good rinsing if you wash it in soapy water.
Repeat the washing process if needed.- The cups may be washed once more if they still seem or feel filthy. You may clean the adhesive parts of the bra as many times as you want in the washing machine. Cleaning the bra thoroughly is required to restore its original stickiness
2. Drying and Storing Your Bra
Dry the bra in an upright position with the adhesive side up. – The adhesive bra cups should be facing up once you’ve washed the bra and laid it flat. The next step is to hang the bra to dry overnight, or for whatever long it takes to dry entirely.
- If you still have the box your bra came in, you may stick it on the package, sticky side up.
To dry the bra, just hang it up. – You may also dry your bra by hanging it on a hook or a towel rack. If you cleaned the whole bra, this is a great suggestion, and it could even help the bra dry quicker.
- You may speed up the drying process by putting the bra in front of a fan if time is of the essence.
Keep your bra in its original box. Return your bra to its case if you still have it and keep it there until you need it again. This will keep the adhesive in your bra clean and ready for use the next time you need it, without any lint or dirt getting in the way.
- Lint may be avoided by covering the adhesive on certain adhesive bras with the included plastic.
- You may store your bra in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag if you don’t have a dedicated case for it. First, you need to make sure it’s dry.
3. How to Extend the Life of Sticky Bras
Remove the glue from your bra before washing it. If you want your adhesive bra to last as long as possible and maintain its stickiness, you must wash it often. Having dirt and body oil in the glue prevents it from sticking effectively. If you want your adhesive bra to still stick the next time you put it on, you should wash it after each usage.
- You may need to wash your adhesive bra many times to get it clean if you haven’t done so in a while.
The bra must be hand-washed and air-dried. You shouldn’t put your adhesive bra in the washing machine or dryer since doing so might destroy the adhesive. Bras should always be washed by hand.
- To speed up the drying process, hang your bra outdoors in the sun. Keep in mind that prolonged exposure to heat might weaken the adhesive, so be careful.
Use a special bra adhesive cleaner if possible. – For their adhesive bras, several companies provide specialized bra adhesive cleaners. If your bra comes with a specific cleaner, you should check with the manufacturer. Doing so might extend the time you get out of your bra.
- Don’t worry if you can’t locate a bra cleaner; regular hand soap will do the trick!
Don’t rub the adhesive with a cloth or sponge. Any kind of fabric or sponge rubbed on the adhesive surface might ruin it. When cleaning the sticky surface, just use your fingers. This is the most effective method for removing adhesive buildup and extending the life of your bra.
- Soak the bra for a few minutes, and then scrub it firmly with your fingers to remove oil and grime.
Remember, frequent washing may weaken the adhesive over time. So it’s a good idea to clean the bra only when it’s necessary, such as when the adhesive has picked up visible dirt or is no longer sticking properly due to sweat and oil.
Also, this advice is general and may not apply to every type of sticky bra. Always follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions if provided.
FAQs: How to clean a sticky bra
How do you clean sticky bras?
Wash Your Sticky Bra. Using a little bit of liquid fabric detergent and some warm water, create a warm soapy rinse for your adhesive bra. Do NOT use hand soap or bar soap, as these kinds of soaps sometimes contain ingredients that will strip your bra of stickiness even further.
How do you make sticky bras last?
Wash After Every Use! Wash your stick-on bra after wearing it so it maintains its stickiness. Hand wash it with mild soap and water and let it air dry. Tip: Keep The Adhesive! Once dry, put the clear plastic sheets that come with the bra on top to protect the adhesive.
How many uses can you get out of a sticky bra?
On average, you can wear our lace adhesive bras 15-20 times, but we know girls that have used them up to 30! For maximum longevity, make sure you follow our how-to-wash care instructions.
How do you make a sticky bra not smell?
You can try spritzing smelly spots with vodka or diluted vinegar, and then letting the bra air-dry. If that doesn’t do the trick, cleaning expert Jolie Kerr (of Ask A Clean Person fame) recommends Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soap for nixing stubborn smells.
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