How Often Do You Need To Replace Your Underwear

By Alex Assoune Dec 14, 2020

If you are thinking about changing your undergarments, now is probably a good time to do so. The closer to your skin you wear your clothes, the more often you need to replace them.

Many hygiene and style experts recommend that you buy new underwear every six to twelve months. Of course, how often you should change your undies varies according to many different factors.

Depending on the climate at your location, your lifestyle, what kind of undergarments you like to wear, how many pairs you own, their quality, and durability.

Here are a few recommendations on how often you need to replace your underwear.

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How to wash your underwear

You don't want to wear dirty or smelly clothes, especially undergarments. Try to avoid wearing clothes that are overused, faded, stained, or broken as well.

At the same time, changing, washing, and buying clothes too often cost money, pollute the environment, consume water, and energy that could be saved.

Fashion is one of the most polluting industries in the world. It's responsible for huge amounts of pollution, waste, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Even washing most clothes at home including your undergarments releases plastic microfibers into waterways that threaten wildlife and human health.

Washing your clothes less often and in cold water is one of the many effective ways to preserve the environment. Your laundry doesn't require high temperatures every time. The cold water setting on your washing machine saves lots of energy.

However for your hygiene and health, wash underwear, socks, undershirts, intimates, panties, bras, lingerie, bustiers, and stockings after every wear.

Of course, it depends on the materials, how much you sweat, and how active you are during the day.

Most casual clothes can last up to five times wearing them before they need to go in the washing machine. But that's not the case for undergarments.

Read up my article on how to do laundry properly to avoid the common mistakes most people make.

When do you need to buy new underwear?

Most people don't wear the same undergarments for too long. The rise of fast fashion over the last 20 years made us consider clothing as a disposable commodity.

Buying new clothes is now cheaper, faster, and easier than ever before. But it's not a good idea to renew your wardrobe every week. Under normal wear and tear, the average life expectancy of women's underwear is six months to a year.

Don't keep underwear, swimwear, and workout clothes that are older than one year. This is a good rule to keep in mind. Depending on how often you wear them, you should refresh your underwear assortment every six months.

It's a good idea to make space in your closet before buying new clothes. Go through your clothes whenever you can to declutter your wardrobe and get rid of the garments you don't wear or don't need anymore.

And avoid throwing your old undies in the trash. It's better for the planet if you discard them responsibly. Recycling is one easy way to add value to the pieces you don't wear anymore and protect the environment.

Read my list of 8 easy ways to recycle old clothes and shoes to reduce the environmental footprint of your wardrobe.

Where can you shop for new underwear?

The best underwear and lingerie for women are comfortable, affordable, and sustainable to make you feel good and do good for people, animals, and the planet.

If you are interested in cheap and ecological undies, choose comfy and cozy pieces ethically made with eco-friendly materials that protect the environment and workers in the fashion supply chain.

Luckily, many sustainable underwear brands are listening to conscious consumers and making consistent efforts to offer affordable and environmentally friendly options.

If you are looking for sustainable and ethical underwear, you can use sustainable fashion brand directories to discover new labels that create stylish pieces under high standards.

Visit Panaprium's ethical brand directory to make conscious choices and find underwear brands that promote environmental stewardship, quality, sustainability, and transparency.

You can also read my selection of the 20 best affordable and sustainable underwear brands that ethically make quality undergarments.

Was this article helpful to you? Please tell us what you liked or didn't like in the comments below.

About the Author: Alex Assoune

Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. He founded Panaprium to inspire others with conscious living, ethical, and sustainable fashion. Alex has worked in many countries to address social and environmental issues. He speaks three languages and holds two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from SIGMA and IFPEN schools.

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