When Marie Kondo hit the scene in the 2010s, I was all over it. Despite being the messy desk kid in elementary school, I love being organized now. But the one thing I always struggled with was how to store bras.

I mean, how do you store an underwire bra vs no underwire ? Should you hang them? Fold them? Lay them out nicely? I had finally figured out how to organize underwear , but I couldn’t hack bra storage. I was getting to the point where I just wanted to trash all of my bras and start going braless so I didn’t have to worry about it.

Lucky for you (and for my bras), I finally learned how to store bras properly so they last and my closet stays organized. Below you’ll find all of my bra storage tips and tricks!

Storing bras properly can help make them last as long as possible. If you’re anything like me, you probably spend a lot of time wondering, “ how long do bras last ?,” because yours seem to fall apart after a few months. Storage has a lot to do with that.

Whether it’s stretched-out straps, wrinkled-up cups, or nose-offending smells, bras can quickly deteriorate if stored incorrectly. So let’s get into the best way to store bras by style!

Underwire bras can quickly go from va-va-voom to crumpled mess if shoved into a drawer.

If you’re struggling with drawer space, no worries! Simply start from the back of the drawer with one bra laid out flat. The next one will go in front and slightly on top, like you're tucking them into one another. Keep tucking until you run out of space or bras! This way your cups will stay supported and organized.

You can also hang your underwire bras if you prefer. Use wood or fabric-lined hangers, so the straps don't slip off.

A few things to keep in mind when storing underwire bras in drawers or hanging:

• You want to make sure you’re keeping the structure and not bending the underwire by laying them flat or hanging them.
• Always make sure to clasp the back. This will prevent snagging, which can damage other pieces of clothing and the bra clasp itself.
• If your underwire cups are not molded, you can fold them in half and stack them, but just make sure to not bend the underwire.
• If you want to save closet space, you can grab connecting hangers that link vertically.

In the age-old bralette vs bra discussion, bralettes win a point for easier storage. They too should be laid out flat, but you can stack them on top of each other. Just make sure any clasps are closed to prevent snagging.

If you have bralettes made of more delicate materials like lace or silk, separate them from the rest to prevent damage. For bralettes like the triangle bralette made of more durable materials like hemp or cotton, you can fold them in half and stack them. 

As a person with a lot (and I mean, A LOT) of sports bras, it can be tempting to just throw them into a drawer. After all, they’re durable and usually just rely on compression for support. There’s no underwire or molded cups to worry about in most sports bras.

However, it’s still best to fold them nicely to keep the fibers in good condition. If you don’t have a ton of drawer space, you can roll them, which also makes it easier to see which ones are in there.

If you experience a lot of boob sweat , just make sure you’re washing your sports bra with each use to avoid a stinky lingerie drawer. Mildew and all sorts of nasty bacteria love dark, damp places, so only put sports bras back when they’re completely dry! 

Even if you know how to store bras perfectly, if you’re storing them in a not-so-great spot, they can still get damaged. Below you’ll find the best spots to keep your bras so they last!

The humble drawer: a classic spot to keep your bras for a reason. Drawers are the best spot to store bras because you can lay them flat and they won’t get jostled around every time you’re looking for a dress in your closet that your sister most likely has already stolen.

If you find it difficult to keep your bra drawer orderly, use a drawer organizer to keep everything neat. They make it really easy to find the bra you’re looking for without damaging every stack you worked hard for.

The humble drawer: a classic spot to keep your bras for a reason. Drawers are the best spot to store bras because you can lay them flat and they won’t get jostled around every time you’re looking for a dress in your closet that your sister most likely has already stolen.

If you find it difficult to keep your bra drawer orderly, use a drawer organizer to keep everything neat. They make it really easy to find the bra you’re looking for without damaging every stack you worked hard for.

If you’re looking for a way to pack your bras without damaging them for an upcoming trip, first of all, I’m jealous! Secondly, there are a few things you can do to keep your bosom-related travel essentials stored nicely.

• Bras should be the last thing you pack, so they can sit on top of everything.
• Stack them on top of one another to help keep their shape.
• Put socks or travel underwear rolled up in the cups of the bottom bra, so they don’t fold or wrinkle in the air or on the road.
• If you do have a separate mesh pocket inside your bag, it’s best to keep your bras in there. That way your clasp won’t snag on your vacay outfits!
• As soon as you reach your destination, take your bras out of your bag and lay them out nicely. 

Now that you know where and how to store bras depending on their style, it’s time to discuss how to organize bras for easy access and a non-chaotic wardrobe. 

Every activity has an ideal bra type to go along with it, which is why I like to organize my bras accordingly. Some bras are good for running errands, while others are more suited for date night looks.

It makes it much easier and quicker to find what you’re looking for if you organize your bras by type within their style. Your bras should still very much be separated by style (i.e. underwire, bralette, and sports bras). Within those styles though, you can organize by type.

UNDERWIRE BRAS
If you have a lot of underwire bras, sort them into categories like everyday t-shirt bras, sexy bras, and push-up bras. This way you can easily grab whatever you’re looking for without having to rifle through rows of nicely tucked bras.

BRALETTES
You can split bralettes into categories like loungewear, more supportive, and show-off bralettes. Sports bras can be categorized by which activity they’re best for like super compression running bras and breathable hiking bras . 

I looooove a closet organized by color. Being able to see the full spectrum of clothes I have lights up my little organizing heart. The lingerie drawer is no exception.

Not only does organizing by color look good, but it's also a lot easier to find what you’re looking for. For instance, if I’m wearing a white t-shirt, you can be sure I’m going to rock a nude color bra, and having the bras all separated by color makes it easy to find the color I need.

If you have a lot of bras with lace, silk, cotton, or hemp fabric , it can be useful to organize them together. Especially with more delicate materials like lace or silk, it’s important to keep them away from anything that could damage them (hint: below you’ll find a great way to do that!). 

For a few more tricks of the trade, the bra storage trade that is, keep reading! You’ll soon have the most organized bra collection in the world!

I know, I know—the last thing I want to do is fold clothes, not to mention bras! But it really does make a difference. Stuffing bras, especially underwire bras with molded cups, into your drawer will leave them wrinkled and damaged. Bras are an investment, so take care of them!

Hanging your bras by one strap from a hanger or a doorknob is the closet equivalent of stuffing them into a drawer. Just take a few extra minutes to hang them nicely. This way your one strap won’t get worn out while the non-hanging strap stays pristine. 

To protect your bras, lay them out flat within a silk bag. This will keep them away from anything they could be damaged by (or damage themselves).

I’m no Rockefeller, so I’m not stuffing my sports bras in silk bags. I do suggest you keep your nicer bras, like delicate lace, in a silk bag, however! I still keep everything organized by type, color, and material. Each stack gets its own bag—yes, my bras do have accessories! 

To avoid disrupting the stacks, keep your favorite everyday bras near the front of your drawer so you can grab and go easily. At least for me, there’s very little reason to have my push-up bra so easily accessible. My racerback bralette on the other hand…she’s gonna need to be front and center. 

You know those little packets of clear bead-looking things that come in shoe boxes? The ones with “DO NOT EAT” written all over? Those are silica gel packets and they’re actually a pretty great way to keep your unmentionables drawer fresh!

I live in the tropics, so it’s always hot and humid here. That makes mildew (and funky smells in general) a big issue. Silica gel packets suck up all of the moisture, so things don’t get as stanky. You can hoard the ones you find in shoe boxes or grab a bulk order online! Just put them in the back of your drawer or closet and voila! No more moisture! 

3, 2, 1…go—rapid speed round of bra storage essentials:

1. Underwire bras should be laid flat or hung by two straps
2. Bralettes and sports bras can be folded or laid flat.
3. Organize them by style, then type, then color, then material for the easiest way to see, grab, and go!

Whew—I don’t know about you, but I’m about to go reorganize my bra drawer again! There’s nothing like a good organization day, especially when it involves your clothes, right?

But which do you prefer: organizing your clothes? Or organizing your papers?