How many of you have heard someone say, "make sure that you have on clean underwear before you leave home because you never know what might happen"? Funny? I know, but I wanted to take that phrase a bit further now that I am older and underwear and lingerie have become an investment for me. I pick and choose my undergarments with the same attention that I do for the clothes that I wear on top of them. How appealing they are is definitely one of the determining factors, but the quality of the undergarment is at the top of the list when I go bra and underwear shopping.You can't take your underwear to the cleaners like you do your clothes to preserve their quality, but you can take steps at home to prevent yourself from having to replace bras that may have cost you $50.00 and up every other month because the quality has become poor.

There are so many designs and styles available to us now that make putting them in the washing machine on any cycle impossible. You must never wash your bras, panties or lingerie in the washing machine. It will not only shorten the life of the fabric, but it will ruin the shape and structure garment. If there are any embellishments or designs on it, rest assured it will not look the same after being tossed around vigorously in a washing machine.You will soon start to see strings, cotton balls and if you were under wire in your bra support, it will eventually poke a hole in the fabric. You may think that your panties are safe, but they are not. If you hand wash your bras and lingerie and throw the panties in the washing machine you will start to notice over time the color will fade faster. I don't know about you, but the top absolutely has to match the bottom.

All of your undergarments should be hand washed with a delicate detergent, rinsed thoroughly and lay flat to dry. Some may say that you can buy a lingerie bag to put your garments in before putting in the washing machine, but I have tried it and it does not work. I know that it may seem like an inconvenience to have to hand wash your undergarments, but it will save you a ton of money in the end.

One last tip. If you plan on having a "wild and crazy night", try to wear some of your less expensive pieces, so they don't get torn or damaged. Just keeping it real!