Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents

Let’s face it; a good bra that provides comfort and makes you feel pretty becomes almost an obsession and needs to be well taken care of. 

Using a detergent specifically designed for your delicates will give them a much longer life. Since tomorrow is Earth Day I thought I would share with you two of our favorite brands and their impact on our earth.

Eucalan

"Eucalan is a No Rinse Delicate Wash that is non-toxic, biodegradable, and free of bleach, phosphates, synthetic fragrance and dye.  Eucalan is pH neutral and is packaged in an easy to recycle, dye free hdpe plastic bottle.  Eucalan is scented with essential oils of eucalyptus, lavender, and grapefruit, and is also available in natural (unscented).  The lanolin acts as a natural conditioner, keeping fibres supple and reducing static." Click here for the ingredient list.

Forever New

www.forevernew.ca

Forever New promises to "Launder with Kindness". Both the powder and liquid detergents for lingerie and swim are made with plant based, biodegradable cleansers. They are never formulated with parabens, phthalates, SLES & dyes, and are never tested on animals. One bottle of the liquid does 126 hand washes and 375 hand washes with the powder. Because of it's organic nature Forever New rinses completely clean, meaning it doesn't cling to the fibers of your delicates, giving them a longer life. Click here for the ingredient list.

To learn more about how to care for your delicates, see Caring for Your Bra, How Long Should My Bra Last?, Swimwear care,  and Caring for Your Delicates.

Happy Earth Day!

Ann and Tammy
real women. real bras. real beauty. ©2013, The Girls Bra Shop Inc.

A Few of My Favorite Things: Travel Edition

With the nickname Gypsy Feet, there is no question that I love to travel. Three to four times a year you'll find me hopping on a plane to the next adventure. Tropical, third world, europe. I love it all.

With a bag always packed, I'm ready to go. Here are a few of my favorite things. Some can be conveniently purchased at The Girls. (Giggle.)

A. Mambo, my faithful travel companion. This little guy has been literally around the world and back.
B. Sunscreen picked up in Japan and menthol salve from Watkins.
C. Downy wrinkle free spray, travel size pit stick and a travel size flat iron.
D. This travel bag from LLBean can be hung up. You can also take the center piece out and hang it up in the shower. Love this feature in hotel and hostel showers.
E. Eucalan Lint Remover Sheets. "Simply peel off the back and then pat it on your garment to remove unwanted lint or hair." 20 sheets per packet. Sold conveniently at The Girls.
F. Eucalan Wipes. Blot or rub the wipe on the affected spot as soon as possible for stain treating. Also sold at The Girls.
G. An emergency kit of body tape for those fashion emergencies. Sold at The Girls.
H. Travel size of the Eucalan detergent. This is great for minimizing what you need to pack for long trips as you can quickly sneak a panty soak in the sink anytime. If you are concerned about liquid allowances, Forever New is a great alternative in the powder form. Both are sold at The Girls.

Ann & Tammy
real women. real bras. real beauty. ©2013, The Girls Bra Shop Inc.

Caring for your delicates ....

Let’s face it; a good bra that provides comfort and makes you feel pretty becomes almost an obsession.  Some women settle on one style and purchase several to ensure they always have a replacement. Other women rely on a special type of bra for their daily workout.  And still others have multiple styles and are always looking for new trends. Regardless of which category you fall into, your bra is important to you, and we at The Girl’s Bra Shop offer products that will increase the longevity of your lingerie and help ensure a great fit.

Organic and biodegradable, Forever New gently cleans, brightens, and promotes longer life in lingerie, hosiery, and swimsuits.  Preserving the fibre-flex and elasticity in your garment allows all fine garments to look new longer.

Organic, non-toxic, and biodegradable, Eucalan is a NO RINSE lanolin product that reduces the work of hand washing and keeps your delicates looking new and beautiful longer.

Great for women on the go.  

Remember, rule number one is “always hand wash your delicates” to ensure they provide you with the best fit over a longer period time.  For great tips on proper care and washing techniques, revisit How Long Should My Bra Last. 

Find us on Facebook: The Girls Bra Shop

Swimwear Care

"This year I bought two great swim suits at The Girl’s Bra Shop – one is a tankini, and the other is a one-piece.  Both hug me tightly where most flattering, have enough give for ease of movement, and allow me to bend over without having to yank it back down every time I stand up.  The tankini top even stays down when swimming.  Needless to say, I want these bathing suits to last me forever.   So what should I do?" 

First, we at The Girl’s Bra Shop recommend using Forever New Swim Wear Wash.  This most recent addition to our laundry products line for lingerie was developed specifically for swim wear.  Its unique formula neutralizes chlorine by turning it into a natural salt then washing it away, preserving colour and elasticity. 

Although common sense tells us that our favorite swim wear won’t last forever, here are a few more tips that will increase its longevity.   

• Soak your new swimsuit for 30 minutes in a vinegar and cold water mixture (one tablespoon white vinegar per quart of water) to prevent dye from bleeding.
• Alternate between two swimsuits.
• Always hand wash your swimsuit in cold water.
• If you do not have access to a gentle detergent like the Forever New Swim Wear Wash, soak your swimsuit at least 30 minutes after every use to remove dirt, sunscreen, chlorine, and body oils.
• Dry your swimsuit indoors away from direct sunlight.  NEVER use a dryer.
• Always ensure a smooth surface before you sit, lie, or lean.
• Avoid wearing your favorite bathing suit in a hot tub.  The extreme heat and chemicals will fade and stretch the material.
• NEVER iron your swim suit.

Have a great summer!

Ann and Tammy
real women. real bras. real beauty. ©2012, The Girls Bra Shop Inc.

How Long Should My Bra Last?

Lately, I have been asked a lot “How long should my bra last?”. Unfortunately bras do not come with a lifetime warranty but, with a little care you can extend the life of your delicate undergarments. With so many women asking this question I thought I would do a little investigating and find the answer. We tell clients that with proper wear and care you can get a year out of a bra. You can imagine my surprise when I found most blogs, bra companies, and retailers claim that a good bra will last 3 to 6 months! Truthfully, with proper care, mine have lasted just over a year.

There are a few things you can do to help lengthen the life of your bra. When you come in for a fitting at The Girls Bra Shop Inc.™ our fitters take the time to go through all of this but sometimes we need a refresher.

• Never wear the same bra 2 days in a row. A bra is made of thousands elastine fibres. By wearing the same bra every day, it would break down the elasticity quicker, shortening the life of the bra. By giving it a day off you allow the bra to restore its shape and maintain the support required.
• Build a bra wardrobe. In order to rotate your bras, you are going to need to build a bra wardrobe. While some women have a slight addiction to lingerie, others are more pragmatic about their bra wardrobe, but there are some essential bras every woman should consider adding to her collection, everyday bras, wireless, sport, to name a few. I will admit I have a few favourites in my collection so to make sure I don’t wear them out too fast I’ve invested in that style by getting one in each colour. To learn more about bra wardrobes, see Your Bra Wardrobe.
  

• Hand Wash Your Bras. We all know to wash our bras by hand in a gentle detergent but I bet there are many of you out there that still sneak them into the washer and dryer. Here’s what happens when you go against this important rule. Even using a lingerie bag, a bra’s underwire could potentially get entwined in other garments and ruin the composition of the wire. The dryer’s heat can be damaging to the delicate elastine fibres causing them to break down much quicker than a handwashing.
• Use a gentle detergent. Let’s not forget the detergents used in washing machines are too harsh. Products like Forever New™ are formulated specially to preserve the elasticity of micro fibre and Lycra™ fabrics while gentle enough for delicate fabrics, promoting a long life to your undergarments.

• Wash your bra after every 3 to 4 wears. This is a general rule of thumb. Obviously an exception to this would be your sports bras after your zumba class or run. If you are an avid runner like me, you may want to get a couple so you get them washed and dried for your next run day.
• Hand washing is so very easy. Fill a sink with water and a gentle detergent like Forever New. Soak your bras. Rinse them. Pat them with a towel and then hang them to dry. No rubbing and scrubbing, this can break down the fibre as well. And unless you are a mechanic and spilling oil on your bra, it's unnecessary.

• Take extra care of your T-Shirt bras. If there is a bra that you certainly MUST follow these rules with it's the foam lined, or padded, T-Shirt bras. Not only do you have the elasticity of micro fibre and the Lycra to worry about but you want to take care of that foam lining that gives you the smooth invisible look you love so much. Machines can cause the foam to break down creating wrinkles that will be visible under your clothing. We also recommend storing your T-Shirt bras in their natural shape, do not crush or fold them, as this too will damage the foam lining and create wrinkles and less support.

Of course, we all treat our bras differently, but following the above will definitely add life to your bra. To learn more about bra care, see Caring for Your Bra.

When is it time to replace it?
When you have reached the last set of hooks, you no longer get the lift and support needed are signs it is time to update your lingerie drawer. To learn more about when you should come in for a fitting or check up, see Do Your Ears Hang Low...

And remember, it is good breast health to keep your girls well supported in a proper fitting bra.

Ann and Tammy
real women. real bras. real beauty. ©2011, The Girls Bra Shop Inc.

Back To School Special

It's that time of year again. The air is crisp. The leaves are starting to turn and fall colours fill the clothing stores. Being a country girl, it was a big deal going Back To School shopping. Mom would pile us in the car and we would head to the city. I would have all my money saved from my summer jobs, a list of school supplies, and a copy of Seventeen magazine with all the cool styles and trends circled.

This was always a big day for me. As we headed into Kmart, my eyes would pop out of my head at all the new things just waiting for me. But there was always one thing I just had to have to start  the new school year with and that was the Back To School Kit. A big display in the center aisle, towering high with the FOR HIM kits and the FOR HER kits. There would be body lotion, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, razor, shaving cream, lip balm and gum. All for $3-$4. I always thought these were a great idea. From school to university I made sure to pick up one of these kits.

Well, Tammy and I thought what a great idea for the store too. Girls heading back to university are on a budget and they have so many things to get to make that new apartment or dorm room look great, not to mention the new wardrobe for strutting across campus. We all know the new clothes will look so much better with the right stuff underneath. So we decided to make it fun and easy by offering our own Back To School kits. We have put together some of our favorite things that we think will make you stand out on campus. And, at a price that won't kill your wallet. 

The great thing is, this special works for everyone's fall wardrobe: students, Teachers and anyone else who wants to add a little panache to their armoire. These kits are available in store only, while supplies last.

Back To School Special:

$48.99 Bra OR Panty Pak

Pak includes: 1 Change Bra OR 3 pairs of CK or Elita Panties, Celeste Socks, Forever New Soap 150g, and Laundry Bag.

That's over a $25 savings!

Caring for Your Bra

Your bra cares for you; you should care for your bra. Properly looking after your bra will prolong the life of the bra (adding up to 2 years of wear). We’ve laid out a few guidelines on washing, drying, storing, and even wearing your bra.

Washing Guidelines
We recommend that you always hand wash your bras after every 2-3 wears. Do not put your bra in your washing machine, no matter the style. Your bra is not made to withstand it. Putting your bra in a machine can:

• twist the underwire of your bra causing them to come out
• pull and stretch the bra back
• crinkle the foam in T-Shirt bras causing it to lose its smoothing shape
• void manufacturer guarantees as they test their bras for hand wash only

I can hear the groans of all of those busy women out there. No fear ladies, all that is required is simply soaking your bras for 10-15 minutes. That’s right, no scrubbing required or attention required.

Soak your bras in cold water. Use a sensitive soap that does not bleach or degrade lace and elastic. We use Forever New. Do not use standard laundry detergents; they are too harsh for the materials used in the manufacturing of your bra.

Drying Guidelines
Once you have hand washed your bras, be careful not to wring them out. Instead pat them dry with a towel and then hang them to drip dry. Your bra should dry overnight.

Never put your bra in the dryer. Even the cool setting on your dryer can ruin the elastic in your bra. It will also shrink the foam in your T-shirt bras and create wrinkles that will show under your clothing.

Storing Guidelines
T-Shirt bras need special attention. You should either hang your T-Shirt bra or lay it out, taking care not to dent the cup shape. Do not fold one cup into another.

Wearing Guidelines
How you wear your bras can prolong their life as well. As we mentioned in our Bra Wardrobe post, try to give your bra at least one day of rest between wears. Body heat tends to relax the fabric. Giving your bra a break will maintain the original shape and extend the life of the bra.