Style Shoes & Accessories Lingerie & Hosiery How to Repair a Broken Underwire Bra Breathe new life into worn-out bras with this DIY fix for broken underwires. By Rachel Sylvester Rachel Sylvester Instagram Website Rachel Sylvester is a senior lifestyle editor at REAL SIMPLE, and has been writing and editing lifestyle content for more than a decade. Before joining REAL SIMPLE, Rachel began her editorial career at The Knot, where she served as an editorial intern, editorial assistant, associate editor, and finally, real weddings editor for the brand. Her writing has been published in Marie Claire, Women's Health, Food & Wine, Southern Living, and Travel & Leisure. She has also appeared as a guest on Good Morning America, The TODAY Show, NBC News, QVC, Pix 11 News, Fox 29 News, Yahoo! Finance, Cheddar, and Good Morning Arizona. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 25, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email In This Article View All In This Article How to Fix a Broken Underwire Bra How to Prevent Underwire From Breaking Through Photo: Emma Darvick It's not easy to find a perfectly snug, supportive bra—especially when said bra is the only undergarment that really gets you among a drawer littered with ill-fitting options. But with regular use comes regular wear, and it's only a matter of time before your everyday bra begins to bear the mark of a doomed undergarment—the broken underwire. Fabric breakdown is inevitable, but that doesn't make dealing with the pain of a broken underwire bra any easier. "Fabric has a lifespan depending on your wearing and washing cycle," says Laetitia Lecigne, creative director at Jockey. Fortunately, a quick, at-home fix exists to eliminate the discomfort of an underwire poking out and digging into sensitive skin. If the underwire is snapped and simply beyond repair, it's time to upgrade your undergarments. But if you're not yet ready to part with your tried-and-true bra, follow this step-by-step guide to repairing broken underwires for extended wear. What You'll Need Materials 1 needle 1 upholstery thread 1 one-inch piece of duct tape Clear nail polish Instructions How to Fix a Broken Underwire Bra Pull Out Some of the Wire Begin by pulling out the protruding underwire slightly, so that 2-3 inches of the wire is visible beyond the broken seam. Duct-Tape the End Cover the end of the wire by wrapping a one-inch piece of duct tape around the metal tip. This will prevent the wire from tearing through the fabric once more after repair. Replace Wire Gently thread the wire back through the hole in the fabric until the wire is back in its original position. Stitch the Gap Thread the needle using a 6-8 inch length of upholstery thread ($7 for 2 spools, amazon.com), which is the heavy-duty alternative to traditional string. Stitch the gap in the fabric closed. Form a knot to tie off the thread once the seam is sewn shut. Seal With Nail Polish Prevent the stitch from coming undone by lightly painting on a layer of clear nail polish over the seam. Allow the polish to dry before wear. How to Prevent Underwire From Breaking Through It's understandable that the underwire might break through the fabric of an old, worn-out bra. But if your bra is relatively new, there are two reasons why this might have happened. The first is that your bra is the wrong size. The improper fit caused the fabric to be tugged improperly, ending in a rip. The second possible reason is that you haven't been washing your bra with enough care. Next time, skip the washing machine and try hand-washing your bra using the following steps: Dab Stains Blot any stains with soap and warm water, and gently rub. We recommend The Laundress Delicate Wash ($17; amazon.com). Soak Submerge the bra for a few minutes in warm water and gently press the soap into the fabric. Rinse Run it under the faucet stream to get all the suds out. Gently squeeze the bra against a towel to remove excess water. Lay it flat on a towel to dry. The 20 Best Places to Buy Bras of 2023