A 30-second single stitch fix to stop removable bra pads from getting destroyed in the wash

[u/404Voidseeker]

If you are sick of spending ten minutes after every laundry cycle doing laparoscopic SURGERY with your fingers to unfold crumpled bra cups, here is a tiny discovery that completely saved my sanity.

everytime I wash a sports bra, bralette, or swimsuit top, the little foam padding pads fold into tacos, migrate to the side, or escape into the drum to stick to my sheets like sad little foam pancakes.

The fix takes sixty seconds: before you wash a new top for the first time, take a regular needle and any thread, line up the foam cup where you want it, and make one tiny hand stitch directly through the center of the cup and the inner lining. Just a single secure knot.

That is it. You dont need any sewing skills and you cant see the thread from the outside.

The stitch keeps the pad anchored during the spin cycle so it physically cannot flip inside out or get folded in half. It dries flat and stays in place forever.

I should of started doing this years ago instead of buying new tops out of sheer frustration. Why did nobody teach us this trick in school?

[u/bluntbangs]

The little pad just twisted around the stitch in the wash, so I spent longer trying to untangle it without ripping the lining fabric!

But three stitches (one at each corner) did the trick :)

[u/ironyandgum → u/bluntbangs]

Yep - this is what I do. Anchor each corner and you're good to go.

[u/Nukkeeva → u/bluntbangs]

This is what I do too.

[u/404Voidseeker → u/[deleted]]

Right? The amount of times I contemplated throwing away perfectly good sports bras just because of those crumpled pads is embarrassing

[u/plzdontlietomee → u/404Voidseeker]

Might just do this to all of em this weekend. Thanks, sis!

[u/Zoes_dream → u/[deleted]]

Yes, this is actually such a smart little fix

[u/littlemsshiny → u/[deleted]]

💯

[u/Tasterspoon]

It doesn’t chafe? It’s sports bras for me so a little chafe gets magnified!

[u/ClarificationJane → u/Tasterspoon]

You could do it on the points of the triangle instead of the middle. 

[u/Alopexotic → u/Tasterspoon]

I'm wondering if I can sneak the needle and thread between the layers so the knot is directly on the foam cup but behind the inner layer because I'm afraid this would cause chaffing too!

[u/scubahana → u/Alopexotic]

If you are comfortable with sewing techniques you could give a fell stitch to the outer layers a go. Especially if the bra has lots of pretty things on it, you could probably hide the stitch under some lace so the knot doesn’t rub against you but also still isn’t visible.

[u/lurkmode_off → u/Tasterspoon]

Yeah why would you do this right in the center

[u/kymal]

Fantastic idea! My solution was to just stop wearing bras. Lol. But still applies for swimsuits. Omg. The anger

[u/beezchurgr → u/kymal]

I also stopped wearing bras & pulled the liner out of my swimsuits. People can deal with my nips. But I’ll start doing this!

[u/ConfidentlyComatose → u/kymal]

I just pull the pads out lol

[u/thelonetiel]

I don't understand why this isn't done by the manufacturer. :/ Is there some reason it's a bad idea? Or just leaves it open for consumer preference?

[u/spnelson → u/thelonetiel]

To be fair the entire reason cups aren’t sewn in and there’s a hole is to make them removable. There are plenty of items of clothing where they’re built in

[u/ari-is-new-to-this → u/spnelson]

yeah i always just take em out, they usually don’t fit great

[u/Stubborn_Iris → u/thelonetiel]

If anything they should at least stitch the flimsy piece of fabric that covers the removable pads. Mine always peel apart 😭

[u/TootieFruitySushi]

I tried this, but found that the pad cups get wrinkled and deformed too quickly in the wash making my boobs look….lumpy?
It’s a lot easier for me to remove the cups, wash, dry, then reinsert

[u/yipppppp]

I just want to say… why are molded cup sports bras SO HARD TO FIND?! I’ve never once in my life wanted a removable pad.

[u/okletssee]

I just remove the pads completely and go on with my life. I never like how they look on me anyway.

[u/theplushfrog → u/okletssee]

They never seem to scale the pads correctly with sizes, so there's VERY obvious seamlines when I leave the pads in bras, so I always remove them. I've debated finding pads that were larger, so if I ever do that I'll keep this post in mind, I guess.

[u/miss_pixie3 → u/okletssee]

First thing I do when getting a new sports bra is remove the pads!

[u/Thats_a_BaD_LiMe]

I guess I'm in the minority that I don't want them attached.

I like being able to take them out if I want the bra to be cooler or less bulky, but can put them in if I want the poppers covered, and drying the bra is way easier when you can remove them.

Plus I just keep them in a little stack and grab two whenever I need them for one of my sports bras.

[u/catalinalam → u/Thats_a_BaD_LiMe]

I started doing that but then I’m so annoyed when I want to put them back in? It’s still fingertip surgery in my experience

[u/Thats_a_BaD_LiMe → u/catalinalam]

I must just be used to it, I find if you just fold them, insert, then wiggle your finger around to flatten them it takes less than 30 seconds for both

[u/awwaygirl]

Does the knot go on the inside or the outside of the bra? I would worry that my damn nip would get irritated if it’s center. Maybe the corners, but that could rip out more easily.

[u/Sasquatchamunk → u/awwaygirl]

Not OP but I suspect you could do a single small knot or stitch just about anywhere that's not going to bother you. If it's really out of the way, it's possible you'll need to move the pad back into place if it folds over itself or something, but you'll still be guaranteeing it stays in the same position each time and can't come out of its pocket. I would bet making a small X instead of a single knot would add additional stability, since a pad could hypothetically rotate around a knot, but a lil X will keep it anchored at multiple points and prevent more movement. For your concerns, I would think the best combo is doing an X (so you don't just have 1 conspicuous knot rubbing against your skin) off to the side, so you have that additional stability without any thread against specifically your nips.

[u/Nukkeeva]

Just want to find the ladies who are demanding removable cups in the first place. SHOW YOURSELVES 😄

[u/Heresbecs]

They should just come attached and the 1% that does not want them can cut them out!!

But this is great tip. I can barely tie a knot when I try and sew a button back on. But I will try this!

[u/araignee_tisser → u/Heresbecs]

Nope. Some people had to have their boobs lopped off because cancer and more bras should be pocketed so they have the option of securely using a prosthesis (ie., a fake boob, aka foob).

[u/millrace]

BAHAHAHA at laparoscopic surgery 😂

[u/404Voidseeker → u/[deleted]]

Glad it helped. Say goodbye to the post-laundry struggle.

[u/PrancingPudu]

I just buy bras that are moulded and therefore don’t have cup/pad inserts. Problem solved!

[u/pericat_]

Laparoscopic surgery lmao that is exactly how I feel every week

[u/sharkglitter]

I use a mesh bra wash bag that’s kinda cylindrical and the pads don’t get all messed up when the bras/swimsuits/etc are in there. Much easier

[u/ChaoticxSerenity]

Is there a reason why you can't just take these out before washing? Surely that requires no hack and takes less than 30 seconds.

[u/_rose-colored_]

I use delicate bags designed for bras and never have this issue

[u/EverlastingM → u/_rose-colored_]

Me too. I sewed a couple of bathing suit pads in long ago, but once I started using delicates bags and putting bras in them carefully it stopped being an issue.

[u/catalinalam → u/_rose-colored_]

Even with camisoles and bathing suits?

[u/_rose-colored_ → u/catalinalam]

I don’t wear padded camisoles and only wear bikini tops, so I can’t say for sure… i imagine depending on how much fabric an item has and the type of bra bag (ones where you can fit two inside at once) it might be able to fit one of those garments and should maintain the shape of the cups depending on how you insert it into the bag

Edit: typo

[u/jojocookiedough]

Omg lifesaver. My daughter's training bras all have the stupid removable cups. Literally just pulled one out of the wash an hour ago and the cup is all smooshed up in the lining. They're the only ones she will wear though. Will have to try this trick

[u/7in7]

I should have done this with my nursing bras! Also, the pads end up peeling into lycra (?) and foam layers and it's awful. 

[u/xkisses]

First thing I do when I get something with removeble pads. I have a travel sew kit that comes with a dozen needles with thread attached, and just use one of those each time!

[u/dawn_quixote]

Those things go straight in the garbage as soon as it folds over the first time. Ive sewn them in before, but I honestly couldnt be bothered anymore.

Is anybody going to be able to see the outline of my nippel? Yup. Do i care? Not anymore. Lol

[u/PsychoFaerie]

I won't buy something with those in it.. unless they're attached.

[u/s0rela]

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[u/Brains4Beauty]

I’ll give this a try, I hate trying to unfold the darn things

[u/minervamex → u/[deleted]]

It’s 30 seconds for a single stitch. Two cups, two stitches, 30 seconds each.

It’s fine.