Did you spring clean your lingerie drawer this season? Some of us love this annual ritual, others simply buy fresh underwear as and when we find we need to.
If you’ve ever stopped to wonder how often you should be replacing your underwear, you may have come across advice that says to replace your panties every six or twelve months. But the truth is that it varies from person to person, depending primarily on three things: the quality of the underwear you buy, how many pairs you own, and how well you care for them.
So long as you’re cleaning your underwear properly between wears – and we’re sure you are – there’s no hygiene-related reason to throw them out after an arbitrary length of time. So, when should you swap your old panties for new ones?
Left: Shadowline® Nylon Hipster Panty With Lace
Right: Shadowline® Lace Trim Hipster Panty
How to tell when your underwear is worn out
The biggest giveaway that panties are past their sell-by date is stretched-out elastic. Is the waistband sagging? The leg openings fitting more loosely than they used to? The overall fit looking a little baggy? These are all signs that the elastic trims or the spandex in the fabric itself has started to irreversibly break down (which all elastic fibers will do eventually.)
And if your underwear is stained, discolored, torn, or just generally looking worse for wear? That’s a good time to replace it too. Even if your only plan for the day is to laze around, you’ll feel so much better putting nice, pristine-condition underwear on in the mornings!
Left: Shadowline® Flawless Fit Full Brief Panty
Right: Dixie Belle® Cotton Full Brief Panty with Lace Waistband
How to make your underwear last longer
Wish you didn’t have to restock your panty drawer quite so often? Here are some tips to extend your underwear’s lifespan:
Air dry in the shade – elastic fibers break down quicker under extreme heat, such as inside a tumble dryer or hanging outside in the blazing sun. If your busy schedule means tumble drying is the only option however, be sure to use the lowest heat setting.
Avoid bleach – repeated contact with bleach will degrade a fabric’s fibers, which is why we don’t recommend using it on any Shadowline Lingerie panties. It can also turn white fabrics yellow!
Wash separately from towels – the friction from being tossed against other fabrics in your washing machine can wear down delicate lingerie fabrics, and towels in particular tend to have quite a rough surface.
Use a wash bag – even better, protect your drawers from all other fabrics by securing them inside a protective mesh bag before washing. This also protects them against snagging on zips and buttons.
Buy better quality – cheap underwear may save you money in the short term, but it will need replacing more often and hence end up costing you more overall. Invest in durable fabrics and quality construction and you’ll reap the fit, comfort and financial benefits over the long run!
Have more pairs – if you’re rotating between the same four or five pairs of underwear, each one is going to see a lot more use over the course of the year than if you’re someone who has twenty or thirty panties. So when you find a panty style you love, give yourself permission to make a bulk purchase and enjoy fabulous, well-fitting underwear for a long time to come.
Left: Dixie Belle® Scallop Trim Full Panty
Right: Shadowline® Cotton Full Brief Panty
Feel like it’s time to replenish your panty drawer with new everyday basics, or perhaps treat yourself to something special? Check out our full range of women’s panties for more must-have styles, all made using ultra-durable nylon or cotton fabrics!
