Has anyone else thought about bra shopping this way

mumtojessandluke

ok. I just read the thread Tara had about thrift shopping.. made me think.

But has anyone else ever had the thought about buying bras that someone else properly has tried on that bra to get the correct size before buying one.
Especially relevant for nursing bra's where you can get colostrum oozing out when pregnant, and a little milk left on the bra when lactating. And, yep after realizing I've still got 6mths or so to go I just popped down and brought a few more.

ok. Weird, yucky thought done for the day. Better stop procrastinating and get some work done. It isn't getting done by itself today, worst luck (roll eyes).

15 years ago

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9 replies

Latest reply was from mumtojessandluke

Tara

(website)

Veteran

Eww!

Haha yes I see my thread left a lasting impression on a few...but yes. There's no way of knowing who has tried on anything when you put it on in the shops.

There's a saying that you need to consume/be exposed to a certain amount of dirt before you die. I'm ok with that, as long as a) it doesn't make me sick and b) I don't have my attention drawn to it.

I guess there's no point in being paranoid

But yes. It doesn't really bear thinking about. Ew.

15 years ago

Louise

Veteran

Eww never thought of that!! I do wash them before I wear them properly but I totally see where you're coming from. Not enough to put me totally of shopping though unfortunately!! x

15 years ago

kimana517

(website)

Active Member

I suppose a thrifted nursing bra would have had more exposure to such things, but who's to say a new mom at a department store isn't leaking into the nursing bra she's trying on? Just saying. Same thing with pants and dresses and everything else. Just because you buy it new doesn't mean no one has worn it.

Also, there is nothing a little hot water and detergent or vinegar can't sanitize. A friend of mine had an inexplicable aversion to secondhand pants until she started living with and assisting a family who had 3 kids in cloth diapers. She saw how nasty those things were when they went into the wash and how totally clean they were afterward, so she realized that if she just washes the secondhand pants, they'll be clean as ever! =o)

Although I'm not saying I'll be buying thrifted undies or swimsuits anytime soon. Trying on swimsuits kinda grosses me out anywhere, because just because I keep my undies on underneath doesn't mean the previous person did. Bleh.

15 years ago

Lisa

Veteran

I wash everything before wearing. I figure you never know where the item has been, even when it's brand new.

15 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I'm going to be blunt here: Terrible idea.

Besides being gross, the bra will be worn and stretched out and probably not cared for properly. Washing a bra in hot water is a sin.

There are some things worth skimping on, but why people skimp on bras perplexes me.

15 years ago

Active Member

I don't think the OP was referring to thrifting bras. I think she was highlighting that new ones could be just as ikky!!

15 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Ah, I see. My bad. I think that could be true of anything though. Like Lisa, I always wash before wearing.

15 years ago

Steph

Veteran

Buying a bra someone else has tried on doesn't bother me, because boobs touching something doesn't seem that different to me than a thigh or a stomach. However, I have never purchased a nursing bra. Buying a bra that someone lactating has tried on *while lactating* seems much like wearing underwear someone else has tried on. So I guess the answer would just be that I would always wash a nursing bra before wearing? (I know it's going to gross a lot of people out, but I don't generally wash new bras before wearing them for the first time.)

15 years ago

mumtojessandluke

Active Member

Yep. It is a good idea to wash before wearing that is for sure, but it doesn't help when you have to try things like nursing bras on before buying. And, I didn't always think this way. I wore the bra I brought new, and didn't wash it the other day and tried to be in denial about the whole thing as my other bras were well, deteriorated. I've learnt my lesson, not only from the ick factor but also because the elastic section under the arm pits weren't as soft as I'm used to.. and they dug in. OUCH.
I think they should have women wear nursing pads when trying things like this on... I'm just a wee bit scared of getting mastitis.

15 years ago

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