These mesh laundry bags have saved my bras from ruin and they're only $8 for a 5-pack on Amazon

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• Even if you wash and dry bras on delicate cycles, they can still get damaged by laundry machines.
• I've used Bagail's mesh laundry bags for five years, and they've absolutely saved some of my bras.
• They're also great for separating socks in the dryer and for travel.

When I first started living on my own, I washed my laundry so I'd get the most bang for my buck (in quarters): big armloads of clothing tossed into the coin-operated washer with no regard for fabrics, color, or anything. 

Then I began reviewing laundry machines as part of my job, and I started to pay more attention to how I was washing my clothes. I realized that the washer's spin cycles and the tumble of the dryer were doing terrible things to some of my garments. 

Almost five years ago, I invested in a set of Bagail's mesh laundry bags. Now I won't wash bras, masks, or anything else with strings or loops without them. They keep everything from ending up in a tangled knot at the end of the laundry cycle.

The zippered bags come in a variety of sizes, up to 24-by-24 inches wide.

I can fit about four bras in the largest bag and about five masks in the smaller ones. I often do just a load of bagged items on the delicate cycles in my washer and dryer.

Bagail mesh bags are especially great for socks, underwear, and clothing with straps and fasteners, like bras.

Because of the way socks and underwear seem to get lost in the pockets of my sheets, I sometimes use the bags when I'm washing these items together. Then I'm not left with a clump of still-damp laundry after the dryer turns off.

Over the holidays, I used my parents' top-load washer without one of the bags. Sure enough, one of the metal hooks on a bra ripped off. It was confirmation that the mesh bags have definitely saved some of my clothes from destruction over the years.

The bottom line

After about five years, some of the bags are showing a little wear and tear, but they're still usable. At $9 for a set of 5, that's an exceptional value.

I used to use them when traveling, too, to separate my clean and dirty clothes. I like how versatile they are, and I recommend them to anyone who ends up with their laundry tied in knots.

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