The method you use to wash and care for your clothes can have a huge impact on how long they last, and when it comes to delicate lingerie, the right washing process is even more important to ensure your underwear stays in good condition. It can even affect how comfortable it is.

Allison Beale, the marketing and brand director of the lingerie label Journelle gave Bustle her tips on how to care for your most delicate undergarments.

1 Do not wash your bras after every wear

According to Beale, overwashing can actually ruin them. "It sounds a little unsanitary, but bras don't need to be washed after each wear. Constant washing can actually break down the materials that provide support and can damage the bra's structure."

While Beale suggests washing every six to seven wears, Kelly Dunmore, the lingerie expert for Rigby & Peller, told the Mail Online last year that the frequency should be slightly higher: "The crease in your bust and the area under your arms are hot, sweaty environments. Cleaning after every two wears, possibly three, is ideal".

Another way to prolong the life of your bras is to alternate wearing them to give the elastic time to reshape.

2 Handwash your lingerie

Handwashing lingerie is as easy as filling a bowl of lukewarm water with special lingerie washing powder, soaking your underwear, wringing it out and laying it flat to dry. If that sounds like too much effort, try washing yours in dust bags or pillowcases on the hand-wash setting of your machine.

3 Don't use the tumbledryer

The heat breaks down the elasticity of the garment, meaning lack of support in your bra and ill-fitting knickers.

4 Stack your bras properly

Beale calls it "spooning", which means placing each cup inside the other in order for them to keep their shape better.

5 Hang your lingerie

In what world could you live with bras and knickers taking up precious hanging space in your wardrobe? But it may be worth doing to keep any particularly expensive items pristine.

From: Cosmopolitan US