5 ways to find a good-quality bra — and keep it that way

Women have been wearing bras since the roaring '20s, so you would think by now we would have figured out how to find, wear, adjust, and wash them properly. But alas, problems finding and keeping a good bra continue to be a thing even in the 21st century.

Once you find a good bra, however, it obviously won't last forever. Since it's such a needle in a haystack, it's important to make it last as long as you can. 

We've rounded up some ways to find a good bra — and make it last as long as possible. 

SEE ALSO: 7 ways you are ruining your bras without even realizing it

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Find the right bra size for you.

Unfortunately, most women are wearing a band size too big and a cup size too small, according to Laura Tempesta, founder of the bra education and sports bra review website, Bravolution.  

One solution is to go to a boutique where staff can help you find the size that’s best for your body, according to Dora Lau, founder of Curvy Couture. And if you’re at the store, it’s a good idea to try it on to test it out and make sure it’s right for you.

You want to make sure the band is snug. You can check by looking at the underband in the back. If it looks like a frown and is riding up, Tempesta said, then it is too big.

You’ll also want to see how far out you can pull the underband when it is clasped at the loosest setting. If it’s more than one inch, the underband is too big. Go down one underband size Tempesta added.

"The center front gore (triangle of fabric in the center front of the bra) should sit right against your sternum. If it doesn't, the cups are too small or the fit of this particular bra isn't a good match to your body," Tempesta told INSIDER.

Make sure the straps stay up.

One reason they may be falling is that your straps should NOT be adjusted to the same length on both sides, Tempesta told INSIDER. The reason is that most women have one shoulder that is higher than the other. If you were to adjust them to the same length on both sides, it would mean that one strap will always be falling off of your shoulder.

Once you’ve figured out the proper adjustments for your shoulders, pull on them. If you can pull them up more than an inch, the straps are too stretchy and this is not a good-quality bra.

If you are still experiencing problems with your straps falling down even after adjusting as directed above, you should look for a bra with straps that sit closer to the neck. It’s likely that you have sloping shoulders, according to Tempesta.

Wash them correctly.

It's possible that the way you are washing and drying your bra is actually causing them more damage than you realize.

"Lingerie uses more delicate fibers and elastics that cannot tolerate the level of heat in hot water, the dryer or an iron. Using harsh detergents to launder a bra, such as bleach, will damage the bra beyond repair," Lau told INSIDER.

She also said that washing a bra too often can result in damaged fabric and fibers or too infrequently can result in permanent stains from oils from skin, creams, lotions, and perfume that cannot be removed. There is a proper way of cleaning your bras so as not to ruin them.

The best solution is to hand-wash and air-dry your bras to extend its life. If that's not an option, machine wash on cold on a gentle cycle. Make sure to hook the bra and use a lingerie bag to ensure the hooks won't snag on anything else, Lau said.

She recommended washing every two to five wears, depending on how much you sweat and whether you have sensitive skin.

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