To make men's underwear last longer, wash it inside out in cold or lukewarm water (30°C / 86°F) on a gentle cycle, use a mild detergent without bleach or fabric softener, and let it air dry instead of using a hot tumble dryer. Cotton can handle a little more heat, while mesh, modal and ice silk pairs stay soft and stretchy longest when you treat them gently.
Why washing habits matter so much
Most underwear doesn't wear out from being worn. It wears out in the laundry. Heat, friction and harsh chemicals are what slowly break down the stretch fibres (spandex, elastane) that give your pairs their shape and grip.
- Heat weakens elastic, so waistbands go wavy and leg openings loosen.
- Friction from jeans, zips and towels causes pilling and snags, especially on fine mesh.
- Fabric softener coats fibres and reduces how well they breathe and wick moisture.
- Bleach fades colours and eats into synthetic fibres.
Get these four things right and your favourite pairs will look and feel newer for much longer. If yours are already past saving, our guide on how often to replace your underwear explains the signs to look for.
Step-by-step: how to machine wash underwear
- Check the care label first. It always wins over general advice.
- Sort by colour and fabric. Wash darks, brights and whites separately, and keep delicate mesh and silky pairs away from heavy denim and towels.
- Turn pairs inside out. This protects the outer surface and the printed or woven waistband.
- Use a mesh laundry bag for thongs, jockstraps and anything with straps, so they don't tangle or stretch around other items.
- Choose a gentle or delicate cycle at 30°C (86°F). Go up to 40°C (104°F) for sturdy cotton if you need a deeper clean.
- Use a small amount of mild liquid detergent. Too much detergent leaves residue that makes fabric stiff.
- Skip the softener and bleach.
- Take them out promptly and hang or lay flat to dry.
How to care for each fabric
Different fabrics need slightly different treatment. Here is a quick comparison (for a deeper look at how they feel to wear, see mesh vs cotton vs modal).
| Fabric | Water temperature | Cycle | Drying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton / cotton-spandex | 30-40°C (86-104°F) | Normal or gentle | Air dry, or tumble on low |
| Modal / ice silk | Cold to 30°C (86°F) | Delicate | Air dry, dries fast |
| Mesh (polyamide-spandex) | Cold to 30°C (86°F) | Delicate, in a laundry bag | Air dry only |
| Thongs and jockstraps | Cold to 30°C (86°F) | Delicate in a bag, or hand wash | Air dry flat |
Cotton
Cotton is the most forgiving fabric. Our cotton briefs are 95% cotton and 5% spandex, so they handle regular washing well. Still, keep the heat moderate: the spandex is what keeps the fit close, and high heat is what wears it out first.
Modal and ice silk
Silky fabrics like the soft modal in our Ice Silk Trunks dry fast and keep their shape, so there is no reason to use a dryer at all. Wash cool on a delicate cycle and hang them up. They'll often be dry within a few hours.
Mesh
Open mesh is airy and light, but its structure can catch on hooks, zips and velcro. Always use a laundry bag, wash cool, and never wring mesh pairs out. Gently press out the water instead.
Thongs, jockstraps and strappy styles
Straps and narrow waistbands are the parts most likely to stretch out. A few extra habits help a lot:
- Wash them in a zipped mesh bag so straps can't wrap around other clothes.
- Hand wash when you have time: a sink of cool water, a drop of mild detergent, a gentle swish for a few minutes, then rinse.
- Don't hang them by the straps while wet. Lay them flat or drape them over a rack so the weight of the water doesn't pull the elastic.
Drying: the biggest lifespan killer
If you change only one habit, make it this one. A hot dryer is the fastest way to ruin elastic waistbands and stretch fabrics.
- Air dry on a rack or clothesline, out of strong direct sun for bright and dark colours.
- If you must tumble dry, use the lowest heat setting and only for cotton.
- Never iron stretch underwear or waistbands.
- Don't dry on a radiator. Direct heat affects elastic just like a hot dryer.
Storage and rotation tips
- Fold or roll, don't cram. Overstuffed drawers crush pouches and crease waistbands.
- Rotate your pairs. Giving elastic a rest between wears helps it keep its shape. Having more pairs means each one gets washed less often.
- Keep delicate styles separate from pairs with metal hardware or rough textures.
- Make sure everything is fully dry before putting it away to keep your drawer fresh.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature should I wash men's underwear at?
30°C (86°F) works for almost everything and is gentle on elastic. Cotton pairs can go up to 40°C (104°F) when you want a deeper clean. Always follow the care label if it says otherwise.
Can I put underwear in the tumble dryer?
It's best to avoid it. Air drying keeps waistbands and stretch fabrics in shape much longer. If you do use a dryer, choose the lowest heat and keep mesh, modal and strappy styles out of it.
Should I use fabric softener on underwear?
No. Softener leaves a coating on the fibres that reduces breathability and moisture wicking, which are exactly the features you want from good underwear.
Should I wash new underwear before wearing it?
Yes, it's a good idea to wash new pairs once before the first wear. Wash them with similar colours the first time in case of any excess dye.
How do I keep white underwear white?
Wash whites only with other whites, avoid chlorine bleach (it can yellow synthetic fibres), and dry them fully before storing.
Give your favourite pairs a longer life
Cool water, a gentle cycle, no softener and air drying: that's all it takes to keep your underwear soft, supportive and looking sharp for longer. Ready to refresh your drawer? Browse our best sellers, explore the cotton underwear collection, or try something lighter from our silky underwear and mesh underwear ranges.
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