My mother/grandmother/aunts all did this very same thing. I asked my mother why she did it. Her answer was, you just never know when one would be needed. The main reason was a broken bra strap. Her exact words.. you never knew when the boulder holder would break, and it was not good to be near a wringer machine when it was broke. As she said, the bras were not as heavy duty back then as they are now. So I also asked my DH's mom..who is 10 years older..she said the same thing. lol