Want to Throw Your Bra Pads in the Trash Because They Won’t Stay in Place? (We’ve Got Solutions)
Anyone else have the hardest time keeping bra pads in check?
It’s becoming more and more clear to me – especially now that my daughter is going through the same thing – that those thin, flimsy pads nesting inside of sports bras and swim tops just love to rebel. Either they slip themselves out and spin around the washing machine with your other delicates, or they just completely go AWOL, and you’ll never see the pad again. (Are they conspiring with socks?)
Or even if they do stick around, they get bunched up inside the bra, or they somehow magically double up on each other. I don’t know about you, but the openings to access the pads are way too small, and it takes an annoying amount of effort to get them back in the correct place.
Ugh! It drives me nuts! I got fed up, so I asked around and searched the web for the easiest ways to keep bra pads in place.
1. Sew bra pads in place.
Anyone can try this easy trick, regardless of your sewing skill set. Thread a needle and make a few quick stitches on the top, bottom, and sides of the inside of the bra, making sure the needle goes through the pad but NOT the front of the bra. If it’s a triangle top (think bikini), you can make the stitches on each corner of the pad.
You can color match the thread to the fabric, though keep in mind this actually isn’t visible when wearing the bra (it’ll only be seen by you when you’re putting the top on).
2. Safety pin the pads in place before washing.
If sewing isn’t your thing, use a few safety pins to secure the pad in place from the inside of the bra before throwing in the wash. It’s an easy and temporary method, though in rare cases, the metal from the pin could snag on other clothes.
3. Wash bras in a delicates bag.
Most people will tell you that you should already be washing bras, socks, underwear, and swimwear in a mesh bag on a delicates cycle. This is less harsh on the fabric and extends the look and lifespan of those pieces. Plus, this forces the bra pads to stay contained within the bag if they do slip out of the bra. Even better, you can find these bags at the Dollar Tree for just a buck!
4. Handwash your padded pieces.
There’s also a group of people who’ll tell you that you shouldn’t even be putting these garments inside the washing machine and that you should wash them by hand instead. Hand washing also preserves the integrity of the fabric, and since you have full control when cleaning each bra or bathing suit top, you can ensure that the support pads won’t shift from their intended position inside.
Although, I’ll be honest and say that I would never go to the trouble of doing this. 😬
5. Invest in a better bra.
It’s not you, it’s the bra! Losing your bra pad could be the fault of the design in the first place. Check out tops that have the bra built-in rather than a loose padded piece, or shop brands that are known for support that stays in place.
Check out these top-selling sports bras:
- Champion Curvy Sports Bra – starting at $19.96
- Victoria’s Secret Angel Max Sports Bra – $34.50
(NOTE, be sure to read the reviews as these bras seem to run really small) - Athleta A-C Hyperfocused Bra in Powervita – starting at $39.99
“I think buying better quality may make a difference. Victoria’s Secret bras stay put. No one needs migrating boob duvet covers.” – Hip2Save team member Jamie
Bonus: Ditch the padding altogether.
Say buh-bye 👋 to those pads in general, and just throw them away! Without them, you won’t have to worry about the bunching, shifting, or searching when one goes missing. This may not be a preferred method for everyone, but if you don’t care for the extra padding anyway, there’s no need to keep it around.
Have you ever experienced this bra pad frustration?
How do you keep them in place inside your sports bras or swimwear tops? Let us know in the comments!
So I’m at work, strutting down the aisle with my new dress I just bought. Thinking everybody was looking at my dress, but oh, No…they were looking at the pad that was dangling by a thread (literally) under my arm. 😬 I’m like how did it even come out?! My dress was sleeveless so when I took off my shawl, I guess my bra said it needed to breathe too. Lol
Lol! Oh no! Thanks for sharing that with us, Jennifer! Those darn bra pads!
🤣 too funny. That hasn’t happened to me yet but It Might be a matter of time.
Glad you can laugh about it! Why don’t people just politely say something!!!
Oh gf! How embarrassing!!!
Thanks for the giggle though. Most of us can appreciate how those dog gone pads go ROUGE!
Thanks for the laugh today, Jennifer, sooo funny!
Instead of throwing it away,I sew them on the inside of the backless/low back dresses.😊
Great idea DK!
Side question…how does one go about finding best sellers on Amazon? Is there a way to search for these items?
Just wanted to say that I’ve been following Hip2Save since 2011 and I enjoy these little real life posts 🙂 Thanks!
Aww, You are SO very welcome! Thanks SO much for the sweet feedback! 💕 Super happy you have been loving these posts!
Lol yes! All of my sports bras and a couple of my T-shirt bras have these stupid removable pads. Why do they even make them like this? They’re so annoying and I wondered if anyone else is as annoyed as me!
Same here. Especially since I’m breastfeeding now. Need quick access. I just wear tank tops with built in bras (not these removable pads). Or I wear bralettes on occasion
I very much dislike wearing bras. Doesn’t matter what kind. I try to go with whatever t shirt that can hide my nipples. I dont mind if they look a littld lower. I just dont want strangers or family outside of my husband seeing nipples thru the shirt. I cannot stand to wear them. After our baby it got more annoying and now one breast only produces milk so I’ve given up mostly. Haha
Same here. C cup here and I try to find tanks or camis with the extra layer on the bust area. I wear those instead of bras. Much more comfortable. I can’t think of the last time I wore one.
Same here.. I wear fitted cami’s or a bandue. I hate wearing a bra
If you’re like me, double stack the padding!
Prev much?
Lol
Nothing worse than runaway bra pads!! This is genius and always it’s the sports bras.. I have a couple of the Champion bras you mentioned and they are top notch, and affordable. Thanks again
You’re very welcome! 🙌
I absolutely hate when these pads fall out! I try to avoid buying suits and bras with removable pads because I need the padding so I can’t just remove it. My solution is to use double sided hemming tape. It works well and is an easy fix.
My nursing bras have these. I’m sleep deprived, holding a baby, lucky to even have clean laundry, and I’m supposed to shove these things back in the bra one handed? Really? Lol
Victorias secret sport bras are my every day bras and never have had any issues with them, but have with other brands.
I’ve always used the delicates bags but that doesn’t help with the bunching up for folding of the pads. You don’t lose them using the bag but it definitely doesn’t keep them in place…. wish it did :-/
And this is why I don’t buy bras with removable pads…sports bras is a no go. Like why do I need to look soo womanly as I get sweaty. Doesn’t make sense. Flat pancake boobs are your friends!
I need the pads to give nipple coverage …definitely not for adding size. I’m sure Im not alone. Without them too much shows =).
Same Annie! After nursing it seems that nips are always perky and I need the pads to hide them. Lol
I’m right there with you! I need them for the nip cover not size!!! Why can’t they just sew them in or make the fabric thicker in that area?? So annoying!!!
Anybody have a tried and true brand of sports bra for larger chested women?? (I’m a 40C) I don’t want to spend a fortune and I do NOT want underwire—nursing one baby was all it took to turn me off to that stuff lol Any suggestions would be helpful! TIA!!
I love the bras and swim suits that have these little removable pads. It means that I can slide silicone breast enhancers into that pouch and the pad helps keep them in place and smooths out the transtion between me and the enhancer. I just take the pads out when I wash the bras and slip them back in. I don’t find it too difficult as long as the pads haven’t gotten creased or mishapen but that could be due to years of practice. A couple stitches in the middle of the bra (where there is usually already a gather) keeps both pads and enhancers where they’re supposed go br when I’m wearing them. I keep extra pads in an old lidless baby wipe container so they’re not floating all around my lingerie drawer.
I only wear unlined bras to avoid the unnecessary bulk that padding adds to the chest area (which is not flattering on someone w/ an already ample chest) and the fact that pads slip out and show up where you don’t need them to be lol
Great tips, thank you!!
You’re welcome, Mary!
YES! I cannot stand sports bras with removable pads! I would love more links to reasonable sports bras without pads/built in ones because I am on the hunt for new sports bras.
I always take the pads out before washing, then put them back in after they’re dry. They still do tend toovr around while wearing and I’m constantly adjusting.
So…. sewing them in is out, safety pins sound a bit dangerous to me. Any other Ideas out there??
I NEED those pads for security and comfort but I hate that they can move around or bunch up in the wash!!! Im always adjusting them and when you put the bra on they bunch up and then you have to struggle to move them into place!!! Soooo annoying!! Why dont companies just make them attached?????
Omg im so happy im not the only one,I really hate these pads too!!!
3 kids later and hate them even more,they disappear like socks and never seem to find the second one…must been a man who came up with that…
Omg im so happy im not the only one,I really hate these pads too!!!
3 kids later and hate them even more,they disappear like socks and never seem to find the second one…must been a man who came up with that…
I bought several padded/structured sports bras years ago and loved them. They didn’t have removable pads. During the pandemic – I purchased 4 of the same brand and style from the same store online. And didn’t notice the description said they had removable pads. I didn’t even know that was a thing lol. The instructions said remove to wash and I did in a mesh bag on gentle cycle and hung them to dry. 6 months later I am still struggling to get them back in securely and comfortably. I am not even sure that I am putting them in correctly! Can’t find any instructions. Ugh. (Thanks for letting me vent) 🙂
PS you tube videos are not helping because the cup shapes all seem to vary
Anyone try sewing glue?
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Just ordered the sports bra. Like so many other posters, I hate the removable pads and plan to stitch them in if the bra fits well. Thanks for a great article! Joni
https://hip2save.com/tips/clever-easy-tips-tricks-keep-bra-pads-place/
You’re welcome, Joni! Glad this post was helpful for you! Hoping your new sports bra works out well for you! 💗