How Often Should You Buy New Underwear?

3 min read

Table of Contents

  1. How Long Should You Keep a Pair of Underwear?
  2. Telltale Signs It’s Time to Let Go
  3. How to Take Care of Your Underwear

We get it. Your cherished undies are like a big smile, they raise both your spirits and your cheeks. Through thick and thin, your trusty comrades always had your back. But perhaps it’s time to let go and kill your darlings once and for all. 

Between guys who’ve had the same pair of underwear since high school and men who’ve mastered the old trick of right side out, then inside out — it’s a small wonder an English survey found 7 years as the average time before men finally parted with their underwear.

But that begs the question: how often should you buy new underwear?

Let’s find out.

How Long Should You Keep a Pair of Underwear?

Not as long as the average English man, if that survey is any indicator. But jokes aside, there’s no clear-cut answer here.

For starters, it depends on how many pairs you have in rotation. The more, the better. That’s because the more pairs you have, the fewer times you’ll wear the same pair and hence it’ll go through fewer washes as well.

Apart from that, it also depends on the material. For example, synthetic materials like Polyester, don’t last nearly as long as natural and breathable moisture wicking fabrics like Micro Modal.

Okay, okay. We know you want a number, so here’s one for you. Most experts recommend buying new underwear as often as every 6 to 12 months.

If you ask us, a better way would be to look for any signs of damage and then replace as needed. 

Telltale Signs It’s Time to Let Go

Let’s start with the obvious. If your boxer briefs have tears or holes, you’ve got to trash them. There’s no way around this one.

Here are a few more signs:

Stubborn Stains

If no amount of bleach and detergent will get rid of a stain, just get rid of the undies.

Too Loose

Over time, the elastic and sometimes even the fabric of your underwear will get stretched out. That’s when it gets too loose to support your jewels. But if you don’t want to give up on the extra breathing room, get some Micro Modal in your life and experience the most comfortable mens underwear.

Sheer Texture

If you feel like your underwear are somehow getting thinner and transparent, you’re not losing your mind. All the washing and wearing breaks down the fibers over time and gives them a sheer look. What follows this stage are tears and holes.

By replacing your underwear as soon as you see those warning signs, you can give your crown jewels the royal pampering they deserve. But wouldn’t it be great if your undies could last longer?

How to Take Care of Your Underwear

There’s a lot you can do to increase the lifetime of your underwear, but getting your washing right is the key. So here are a few tips to help you master it:

Wash With Hands

The best thing you can do for your undies is to give up on the washing machine and the bleach altogether. Both are extremely harsh on the fabric when compared to hand washing.

Use a Washing Machine Properly 

If hand washing sounds like a bore and you must use a machine, be sure to put your underwear in a separate load and use the delicate cycle option.

To take it one step further, you can put each of your pairs in a mesh bag of its own. This will prevent the garments from rubbing against each other and forming those unsightly fuzz balls.

Let the Air Do Its Magic

Lastly, don’t use a machine dryer or electric iron. Instead, lay your underwear out on a line or any surface, preferably somewhere under the sunlight. Then just go on about your day and let the air do its magic. Trust us, air drying makes undies last longer and feel better. 

By following those tips, your favorite underwear will snuggly cover your coconuts for a long time to come.

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