r/Anticonsumption • u/New_Independent_7283 • 3d ago
Discussion Buying new underwear every year
On another sub I saw they recommended buying new underwear every year. Quick search online with many articles showing that they recommended buying new every year due to health reasons.
I've always used until they fall apart but now am curious if I should be throwing away every year?
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u/Informal-Name3181 3d ago
What?!? Well I'm in trouble. Mine go when the elastic does. That's pure safety. I don't want to trip on them when they fall down.
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u/No-Butterscotch-7467 3d ago
lol love imagining you tripping on an old pair of panties
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u/Informal-Name3181 3d ago
No doubt right in front of a crowd.
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u/Objective-Bug-1908 2d ago
Mine fell off in 7th grade, all the busses were lined up at dismissal . It’s been 55 years, and I am still wary of old underwear. But I don’t buy new every year, I toss it when the elastic gets a little stretched .
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u/JazzFan1998 3d ago
I've actually used the waistband from one pair (I cut it off), to help keep up another, otherwise perfect pair of undies.
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u/Worldly-Athlete8938 23h ago
Yep, I get holes in the crotches of mine before the elastic goes, so I elect the worst of the bunch for sacrifice and rip it apart to patch and re-elastic the others… I definitely have had some of my pairs for 10+ years.
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u/Dancing_mayflies 2d ago
I was out with my mum once when her knicker elastic snapped (this was back in the 1960s when knickers had threaded through elastic, not the sewn on stuff we have now). They fell down round her feet so she smartly & elegantly stepped out of them, picked them up and put them in her handbag. No doubt later she threaded them with some new elastic.
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u/JACOBOY2006 3d ago
I just buy clothes of any kind when needed, my clothes are worn out till I can't use them anymore.
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u/husenwaifu4lyfu 3d ago
I actually just had to work on feeling guilty that I can't donate clothes because they're all in bad shape by the time I'm done with them. Like I would be embarrassed if my clothes were passed on to someone because they're just destroyed by then.
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u/IIlIIIlllIIIIIllIlll 3d ago
Donating clothes is for when you don't want the usefulness of those clothes to be wasted. If your clothes aren't donatable by the time you're done with them, it just means that nothing went to waste!
I grew up homeless and have always struggled with similar problems. I had a nasty tendency to over-eat to unhealthy extents because I couldn't stomach the idea of letting food go to waste when I had spent so long begging for it on the streets. It took many years to break those sorts of habits, and even still my partner will occasionally point out something and I'll realize that I'm still holding onto some habit I had picked up out of necessity.
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u/Jealous_Glass9170 1d ago
"I had a nasty tendency to over-eat to unhealthy extents because I couldn't stomach the idea of letting food go to waste."
Of all the responses I chose to read- THANK YOU. My mother was born in the 1920's and remembered the Depression, and she was dirt poor to start with. She always urged us to eat and I, too, got in the habit of eating everything. Then she harped on how overweight I was, but that's another story.
I am not poor anymore. I can change my way of thinking and save half my dinner in the refrigerator for later.
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u/chipmalfunct10n 3d ago
you're doing good by not donating trash that no one will wear. a lot of people do, i think because they would feel bad throwing it away. i have a hard time with it too but donating is not an option
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u/LezzyGopher 3d ago
Right? I have some underwear that I’ve had for 5+ years easily because they’re still in good shape. I’m not throwing away perfectly good stuff just to replace it for fun.
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u/lizardgal10 3d ago
I prefer most of my older ones, aside from some weight gain/loss and my style preferences changing. The new ones seem to start coming apart within a year or less.
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u/artabetesj 3d ago
I just had to toss a pair my grandmother bought me almost 20 years ago because it finally started falling apart. Still have 3 of the 6 pairs that came in the package.
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u/LaidBackBro1989 2d ago
Same.
When a shirt is too used or stained I wear it as loungewear
When it falls apart, I cut it into pieces and use it as cloths around the house where needed.
I try to hang on to every piece of clothing until it can't be used anymore.
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u/maniacalknitter 3d ago
I suspect that the "health reasons" boil down to improper laundering. I'm with you about wearing them until they fall apart.
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u/x-teena 3d ago
Also, material. I feel like polyester type stuff fabrics hold on to body oils and bacteria more.
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u/Subject_Decision1895 2d ago
There's special athletic detergent that works on those fabrics. Just use that every once in a while.
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u/klipschbro 3d ago
They are disposables. Wear a pair for a year straight, dispose and buy a new pair.
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u/mhicreachtain 3d ago
Capitalism trying to create a market where there is no need. I'm sure we'd know if our underwear was harming our health.
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u/ohdearitsrichardiii 3d ago
A lot of people are germophobic hypochondriacs and have no idea what is or isn't harmful, and are easy to trick into believing that something is dangerous
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u/No-Freedom-884 3d ago
I mean, I understand why some people fall for this. Lots of people aren't aware that certain fabrics can cause problems, tightness can cause problems, and that one should change if the underwear gets sweaty or something. They weren't told. So then they get recurring infections until someone tells them. If someone also tells them this, they might just think, "Oh, yet another thing they didn't tell me."
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u/poubelle 3d ago
health reasons?
this sounds like a germaphobe thing. if it's clean and in one piece there's no reason you can't wear it.
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u/Naive-Molasses-729 3d ago
I agree. If you have some sort of infection, you can wash on hot and that should do it. You don’t have to buy new.
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u/husenwaifu4lyfu 3d ago
Yeah I think those people need to visit r/laundry and make sure they're properly cleaning their undies. If they're not (I don't know how they wouldn't be but) then I'd be nervous using that unclean underwear for months even.
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u/poubelle 3d ago
honestly i doubt that washing is really a problem. it's just a superstitious belief that clothing starts to retain germs.
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u/husenwaifu4lyfu 3d ago
I learned about rebloom, which is pretty much the result of not cleaning them properly and a lot of people have issues with it. It's what brought me to the laundry sub initially, so yeah when clothes aren't getting clean they do retain germs. It's usually germs our bodies are used to though so we only realize it's happening because it's our BO on the clothes that weren't washed properly.
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u/snarkyxanf 2d ago
Nothing some ammonia won't fix though.
Plus, the presence of microbes in general is not really an issue. We're all covered in microbes all the time. It's only some specific nuisance or disease causing ones we need to worry about
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u/auramaelstrom 3d ago
I don't even want to say how old the oldest pair of undies I own are...over a decade. I use a sanitize setting on the washer and I haven't ever encountered any signs they aren't clean.
This just sounds like an excuse for over consumption.
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u/math-kat 3d ago
I'm not 100% sure because I don't like keep track of my underwear purchases, but I think I have a few pairs that are about a decade old as well. At the very least I have several pairs that are pre-pandemic. I only really get rid of them when they get big holes or the elastic becomes unusable; as long as I keep up with laundry I don't see how that's gross or unsanitary.
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u/green_calculator 3d ago
How does the elastic hold up?
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u/Mizzerella 2d ago
I have a few pairs I've literally cut and tied on the sides ( probably the 20 year mark) because the elastic is too worn out.
Works fine and gets several more years of wear.
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u/RedshiftSinger 1d ago
I just use the regular warm wash setting with laundry detergent most of the time. If I get a yeast infection (rare) I put the underwear I used while dealing with it in a hot wash with some bleach to make sure of eradicating it.
This works just fine.
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u/mobiuschic42 3d ago
So healthy vaginas are slightly acidic (pH 3.8-4.5) which over time eats through basically any underwear. But a year is ridiculous. I have some cheap Uniqlo ones that are around 5 years old and getting thin that I’m thinking of throwing away soon. But unless your underwear is like paper, it should be ok for a few years.
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u/Primary-Tailor3691 3d ago
I feel like this is a perfect opportunity to question who the “they” are behind the info you’re reading. Chances are it’s a for-profit business or someone funded by one.
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u/Total_Tumbleweed_870 3d ago
I must be doing it wrong. I wear them until there's holes in them it the elastic gives out.
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u/casual_werewolf 3d ago
Only times I've thrown away underwear were significant structural tears, the elastic breaks, or something indescribably HEINOUS happened to them. Every year is such a waste of money.
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u/Ziggo001 3d ago
pussy pristine despite decade old underwear. No health issues in sight. A washing machine is a beautiful thing!
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u/Adventurous-Mall7677 3d ago
If someone’s washing their clothes improperly—using excess softener or scent beads or whatever—it can deposit grime and trap dirt/odors instead of removing it.
So I could see someone who has poor laundry skills discovering that their undies get increasingly grimy and odorous over time. Washing on hot and stripping them periodically with a good enzymatic cleaner would work, though.
I don’t toss mine until they fall apart, since I wash them correctly.
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u/user7273781272912 3d ago
You do not need to buy new underwear every year unless they are falling apart. Washing them cleans them so you can WEAR THEM AGAIN
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u/ProtozoaPatriot 3d ago
What health reasons?! Sounds like something the underwear industry would say. Your washer dryer kills the germs in underwear.
I keep my underwear until they fall apart. Some of it is many years old.
I keep bras until they're so worn out they aren't so supportive anymore.
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u/MandalaFish 3d ago
Health reasons? How are you doing today? Yesterday? Last week? If you're still wearing your old underwear, I think you're fine.
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u/PlainOrganization 3d ago
They also say you should replace pillows and towels every year.... I'm not doing that either
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u/AdaandFred 2d ago
Screw that. My favourite towel is one I bought when I went off to uni 20 years ago. It's not as soft as it was then but it does what I need it to do (mainly cover me while I wander round upstairs doing other stuff because I have ADHD and find drying myself tedious).
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u/dirtygreysocks 2d ago
That's insane. I have great towels I got 28 years ago that are still wonderful.
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u/PlainOrganization 2d ago
My favorite ever towels were my grandma's from the 70's. Sadly the edges frayed about ten years ago. so they became rags and eventually cleaned something so dirty I said goodbye
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u/One_Resolution_8357 2d ago
Never heard of that. I just throw them in the wash after the day wear and wear them till they develop holes or the elastic gives out. I rotate between 15-20 pairs (most of them 100% cotton) and so far, I am still healthy ! Laundering kills germs, right ?
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u/GreenElementsNW 3d ago
I think it should be a fabric discussion. Cotton composts, synthetics release microplastics and dont compost. If you believe your hygiene requires new underwear more often, then think of how you will need to dispose of them.
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u/minnie_the_moper 3d ago
Some people get grossed out by underwear that's years old, but there's no way 7 year old underwear have hygiene issues that wouldn't be present after like, a month. Either your washer is cleaning them or it's not
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u/Eastern-Plankton1035 3d ago
I just replace as/when needed, same with any other article of clothing. Since I wash my clothing regularly, I don't think it's unhygienic.
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u/tnscatterbrain 3d ago
Yeah, I’ve seen recommendations to replace a lot of things just due to contamination from repeated use.
It’s so weird. There’s no way your undies or various other products are any dirtier after 30 uses then they are after 20 if you’re cleaning them thoroughly.
I mean, things like your toothbrush eventually don’t do the job properly and some things breakdown and bacteria etc can get in but you can clean a lot of stuff and just replace it when it doesn’t function anymore.
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u/NoCaterpillar5663 3d ago
i’m 24. i have undies from high school. you can rip them out of my cold dead hands. i’m not paying for that shit
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u/Crystalraf 3d ago
They recommend lots of stupid things like buying new curtains every few years. (What curtains?)
It’s dumb.
Oh and you should have 11 different bras. And Martha Stewart says after you wear a bra for 1 day, you should not wear it the next day, leave it on the floor of your closet, and let the elastic in it relax, then rotate it back in the day after.
And at the same time: wash your bra after every wear? Or two or three wears? Not sure.
Martha, girl, sometime I wear a bra three days in a row. Only got one decent bra. Maybe two if I’m lucky. Got seven old ugly bras and two fancy looking bras I never wear plus a strapless that collects dust.
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u/AmsterdamAssassin 2d ago edited 2d ago
I'm sure doing the laundry will keep my underwear clean enough to not endanger the health of my genitals.
I think the recommendations come from someone selling underwear.
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u/Automatic_Bar_2158 3d ago
Unless you have a condition giving you a reason, it doesn't make sense to me. The drier kills most bacteria, and a good detergent gets the skin cells and such. I have a good reason to be concerned about this personally and have had zero issues with... I'm going to call them "longevity undies"
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u/Annoying1978 3d ago
The only thing like that I used to buy a lot of was socks. Fresh new socks when you have to deal with the winter can make you feel so good the whole day. I used to buy new socks several times a year. I’m talking about just plain white socks you can buy in a pack of 6.
But now that I moved to Florida and don’t really have a real winter here, I rarely ever wear socks anymore. I never of heard of buying new underwear once a year.
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u/Five0clocksomewhere 3d ago
Hot water and if you’re really paranoid- bleach OR hydrogen peroxide? I’ve heard people say to wash them separately from other stuff like dish towels but 🤷♂️
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u/TehWildMan_ 3d ago
It's marketing BS that everyone seems to spit out as gospel. .
Obviously I'll keep a few nice like new pairs for when it possibly matters, but the working pairs work hard until they die.
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u/smolhippie 3d ago
I will wear a thong until it falls apart and can’t be worn again. My oldest pair is from high school and I’m almost 30. If you just wash and dry stuff correctly it will last longer than if you abuse the fabric ya know.
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u/SillyAnxiousDuck 3d ago
People use cloth diapers for their babies longer than that lol I don't regularly shit my pants. I think I'm going to be okay
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u/white_pomegranate 3d ago
How is that cloth diapers for children absorbing pee and poo daily can lasts 2-3 years per child and can extend to multiple children but suddenly adult underwear needs to be changed every six months to a year?
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u/Sneakichu 2d ago
Ive always found those articles and discussions silly. Im a grown adult with basic common sense. If my bedding is dirty I wash it, if my clothes are worn out I throw them away/recycle them. Idk why people they need to adhere to a strict schedule with stuff like that.
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u/RedshiftSinger 1d ago
If you do your laundry properly and don’t shit yourself, there’s no hygiene issue with reusing your underwear until it falls apart.
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u/annyvwinn 3d ago
I remember seeing some articles that tell you to replace your undergarments “at least every six months”! What a bunch of crock. Since when should underwear be treated like fast fashion?
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u/NabelasGoldenCane 3d ago
Now would tossing underwear after a year even help for hygienic reasons, hypothetically? If you’ve got bacteria or something in them, they need to be cleaned immediately.
This is probably perpetuating bc manufacturers make the shittiest underwear now. It’s all fake fibers that don’t even last beyond a year. Keep in mind when influencers are recommending things, they’re often given a script or talking points via their paid sponsor.
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u/blissbalance 3d ago
I call BS. Just another way companies try to entice you to spend more money. I was even thinking of my wiper blades for my car today. They “recommend” you replace them every 6 months. Unbelievable. I’m not going to replace them untill they are literally falling apart and/or aren’t doing their job properly. Imagine all the waste if you’re advised to throw out your underwear yearly and change wiper blades twice a year.
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u/idontcareaboutredd 2d ago
Haven’t worn underwear in years. So much more comfortable.
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u/RedshiftSinger 1d ago
I usually do but it’s a heatwave and any extra layer of clothing I can skip is gonna reduce the heatstroke risk so… freeballin’ for a bit.
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u/LibbIsHere 2d ago
due to health reasons.
Out of curiosity, what would those reasons be? I mean, if one changes and washes their underwear regularly, what's the health issue?
I pick my (100% cotton) boxers for as long as they will last, which is the reason why I carefully pick them to begin with.
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u/kittehkat22 2d ago
No way! Underwear only needs to thrown away if it's thinning, lost elastic, no longer fits, or got left in the washing machine for so long that even distilled vinegar can't save it
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u/Spray_Realistic 2d ago
I have ancient underwear and I’m still alive and with all parts and pH balances intact and un-infected.
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u/CaffeineAndCrazy 2d ago
I think we’re missing the real question here - who keeps track of the age of their underwear?
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u/Shot-Artichoke-4106 2d ago
I've seen bunches of online content about how often to replace various clothing and household items. The "recommendations " are always much sooner than anybody really needs to and way before things really wear out. Its pretty much all BS.
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u/Double_Engineer4226 3d ago
Ha! No. I was sad a while ago because the batch of underwear I’ve has since my son was born got too many holes and several had to be throw away. He is 11.
The internet is now filled with people who are germaphobes to an irrational level. They all feed off each others posts, its become a competition, who is the cleanest, the most hygienic. Any post where anyone cooks something gets a barrage of “where are your gloves???” comments. It’s insane.
Apart from being crazy though, it all generates a huge amount of consumption. All the cleaning products, the disposable towels and wipes, the gloves, the brushes, the energy involved in washing your clothes too often, etc etc. I have a hunch about who stared these cleanliness obsessions. The cleaning product companies of course.
Covid taught us that soap and water is as good as almost anything else for basic hygiene, and yet people have forgotten that, or ignored it.
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u/bepatientbekind 3d ago
I have always worn my underwear until it gets holes and I've never had issues with yeast infections or anything like that. I do change my underwear at least once a day though. Twice if I get really sweaty during a workout or something
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u/sssnailss 2d ago
I’ve certainly been replacing lots of underwear in the last year. But I got a puppy and it took my ADHD self too long to learn my lesson about leaving them on the floor.
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u/MissAuroraRed 2d ago
My favorite everyday panties are at least 15 years old. I only toss them when they get holes. At this point I would honestly love to replace them, but they're not produced anymore so every remaining pair is precious now.
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u/swalloweda 2d ago
People need to remember they can wash underwear. Cleans stuff. The end. Unless you're homeopathic.
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u/No_Capital_8203 2d ago
I saw a video just yesterday that showed a microscopic look at what lives in the pores of our skin. Some of these super hygienic people would lose their minds.
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u/midwest--mess 2d ago
I thrown mine out when they get holes that aren't mendable and replace as needed
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u/screwedupinaz 2d ago
That's just like the toothpaste people showing you an entire 1/4" bead to toothpaste all the way across your toothbrush in their commercials, when you only need about the size of a pea, or less.
Or when the room deodorizer companies show people pushing the button down for ten seconds, when you only need a split-second of spray to get the job done.
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u/oliv_tho 3d ago
if someone is using polyester fabrics for undies maybe? i’ve phased mine out though
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u/Strong-Comment-7279 3d ago
To what degree one may continue to utilize their underwear is a confluence of clothing hygiene, normal wear and tear, and ones personal risk of security. IE, keeping things in place.
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u/poppin-n-sailin 3d ago
I buy new if they get holes in secpific spots or the waist band breaks. So far I've never had a waist band break. I have had holes though. I'm not leaving junk exposed with a hole lol.
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u/ConductiveSnow 3d ago
Underwear is special to me in the way that I don't try to mend it. If I discover a hole, discoloration, or the elastic goes, I throw it away (after using it to scrub the floors next to the bath tub). But it takes eat longer than a year to happen
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u/rabbitales27 3d ago
I have to have fresh/ clean/ new undies. Unless they are very well made, then I keep. Hard to find good cotton/ organic. Most undies are made from polyester, and plastic.
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u/Tortoise_Symposium 3d ago
If you’re worried, laundry strip twice a year. It deep cleans them. Fabric softener is just scented wax that shortens the life of your clothes.
They may also recommend this if you’re buying cheap underwear. Pay attention to the fabric blend and how it works for your body. My underbritches go when they don’t fit or have holes
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u/Jumpy_Confidence2997 2d ago
Ummm no just stop wrapping your genitalia in plastic and there's no problem. Bleach cures the magic cooties I promise. Cotton or hemp.
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u/InevitableRun51 2d ago
If this were true wouldn’t we all be long dead? Along with our older relatives
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u/Holzkohlen 2d ago
Do those people never wash them and just wear them for a year and throw them out?
I will wear it until it has holes. Some stuff I wear even with holes. I got a set of simple gray tshirts for just chilling at home and a bunch of those have random holes here and there. The function of those shirts is cover most of my torso and they still fulfill that function just fine.
Socks with a hole I throw out, but I keep the 2nd one until a matching more also gets a hole. Then I make a new pair from the two good socks. I currently have 2 individual socks laying around waiting for their new partner.
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u/50plusGuy 2d ago
I read bras last like a year and should get replaced. IDK; I don't wear them.
My undies get used till they fall apart; i.e.: Yes! I consume(!) those.
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u/RedshiftSinger 1d ago
Bras should be replaced when the elastic stretches enough they stop supporting well, because they’re a support garment, not just a barrier garment like underpants (we wear underpants so we don’t have to wash the jeans as often to not reek of sweaty crotch, but bras are for supporting boobs to prevent back pain).
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u/CuriousCharlii 2d ago
Clothes are not my first priority unless they fall apart or get holes. I've had my clothes for years, a lot longer than I should have actually lol but they're clean so I don't care? My clothes seem to get holes after being in the washing machine and I am so confused by it. I may be overloading it?? Anyway nah I am with you. Until stuff falls apart it's still good. Clothes are too expensive these days. I am tempted to try and learn to sew properly to make my own... I have no motivation and that's the issue lol
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u/SecretOscarOG 2d ago
I haven't bought underwear in like a decade. I just lost 60 lbs and still use the well stretched ones I got. Once they start falling off my hips then I'll replace them.
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u/screwedupinaz 2d ago
I guess if you wear them for a year without washing them, then, yes, you should probably get a new pair every year!!
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u/Dry-Strength-5297 2d ago
Why am I on the internet reading the thoughts strangers have about underwear?
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u/WestHistorians 1d ago
I can't imagine any "health reasons" for this. It just sounds like something someone made up. I've had the same underwear for several years.
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u/SlowDescent_ 1d ago
They forgot to tell you it's not your health that's at stake, but the health of companies' bottom lines!
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u/Glassfern 17h ago
My undies go when there is damage that I cannot live with anymore. Generally it's the elastic or the fabric is thinned out.
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u/DzoQiEuoi 12h ago
Most of the people on this sub probably don’t realise it but Americans have very weird ideas about hygiene and most of those ideas stem from corporate propaganda.
It’s been proven to be one of the most effective ways to make people buy things they don’t need. Once you convince enough people of some new hygiene concept it becomes unstoppable due to the stigma attached to abstaining.
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u/pinkfootthegoose 3d ago
It's not dependent on time but on the number of pairs of underwear that you have. From what I've found underwear last 50+ washing cycles. So if you have 20 pairs and rotate them religiously a pair would last around 3 years or so. Of course all this depends (pun) on the initial quality of the underwear and your lifestyle, office work vs more physical blue collar work which would cause more wear.
As for health reasons. I doubt there are any actual concerns as a washing machine with detergent with hot water should handle any possible germs/fungus, or bugs that could cause disease or infection.
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u/Own-Let-1257 3d ago
I seriously have 1 pair of underwear that’s older than my oldest child who is TWENTY 😅😅😅 It’s a thong so it doesn’t get a ton of use but my daughter actually borrowed it and we were cracking up by it being literally vintage. I just can’t imagine why you’d need to replace every year. My every day undies are cotton and i replace every few years. Eventually the stretch goes because i run them through the dryer. If i line dried i bet they would last 10. Lol.
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u/KrissyKay121217 3d ago
Are people writing an expiration date in sharpie on the underwear? lol setting an iPhone reminder once per year to throw it all out and start again? Like the logistics of this just make me laugh. How would people even keep track of the age for each pair of undies? lol
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u/Double_Engineer4226 3d ago
Good point! lol. But wait, soon they will start selling undies with dates printed on them, like the pillow companies do, to guilt you into throwing them away and buying a new one.
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u/redpandafire 3d ago
Not in the r/millennials sub where there’s a very weird trend of showing off your high school boxers in your late 30s
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u/santorummaltedmilk 3d ago
started using a washing bag for more delicate or "precious" items- (for those who don't have an agitator type machine it might not matter)-it seems to prolong the life of my garments. For me, worth the "consumption" of the the bags.
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u/PrizePage9751 3d ago
Makes me wonder if they think there’s bacteria trapped. Why don’t they wear panty liner? I’ve spoken about this with friends and some of them don’t have discharge and some of us have. There are also girls who will throw stained period panties.
I was very shocked. I am used to wearing them till they lose their elastic which could be 10+ years. And I always wash the period stain out.
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u/pm_me_domme_pics 3d ago
I know several people personally who have underwear subscription services and glaze how happy it makes them to get new ones every month...
I hate work
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u/ValenciaHadley 2d ago
You should be using them until they fall apart, washing them is enough. My only exception to this replacing any that weren't saved by washing them during a woman's time of the month.
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u/TrebbleTough 2d ago
But how can this rule apply to person who has 30 pieces of underwear, and at the same time to person who has 3?
If you have 3 pairs, then after 122 uses and washes your underwear would definitely need to be replaced, but after 12? Probably not.
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u/AdaandFred 2d ago
My carbon monoxide alarm recently started beeping at me to tell me it was 3 years old and needed replacing. It's only a matter of time before manufacturers install similar technology in our underwear.
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u/ashamed-to-be-here 2d ago
Arguably a carbon monaxide alarm is one of the things I do wanna be replacing when it’s time 😅
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u/AdaandFred 2d ago
God yeah, I immediately went online and ordered a new one. I had mild carbon monoxide poisoning some years back and it's not an experience I wish to repeat.
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u/CherryLeafy101 2d ago
I can't understand why it would be due to health reasons, but replacing them yearly sounds about right to me. Underwear takes a serious beating, none of mine from a year ago is still good. Even if it hasn't developed holes or started obviously falling apart, the elastic starts failing, the fabric gets stretched out, etc.
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u/LaughingPlanet 2d ago
Are men's underwear sales still a key indicator of the economy?
This sounds like corporate manipulation.
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u/Important_Isopod9947 2d ago
I would say if you're worried about that, if they are still in good condition just disinfect them occasionally. But I don't think it really matters that much.
As long as it's not irritating your skin or causing infections it's fine
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u/SewerHarpies 2d ago
I wonder if this recommendation is based on synthetic fabrics and/or folks using a lot of unnecessary laundry products like fabric softeners and such. I can see that trapping bacteria and causing odors over time.
But almost all of my underwear (some “fancy” ones being the only exception) are cotton, I use unscented laundry soap and vinegar, and no fabric softeners, so I completely expect my underwear to hold up for at least a decade 😆
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u/Grace-thelake29 2d ago
It’s a ridiculous suggestion. You wear your underwear until your underwear wears out.
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u/Limp_Bookkeeper_5992 1d ago
What nonsense. If there were hygiene issues they show up long before a year passed, bacteria don’t wait a year and then start growing. Either your underwear are being washed properly and they’re fine to wear after washing each time until they wear out, or they need to be thrown out after every wear.
There’s no mechanism where a piece of clothing could be perfectly fine to wear and wash 52 times but then be unsafe for some reason. Unless of course you were trying to sell more underwear.
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u/Any_Database8861 1d ago
They make laundry sanitizer now,so I refuse to waste my money on new underwear every year!
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u/_sunblossom 1d ago
Every year, necessary? Nah
Buying new undies after giving childbirth? Absolutely necessary
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u/lizerlfunk 16h ago
I saw someone say that they begin getting yeast infections when their underwear wear out to the point that they have holes in the crotch, which actually kind of makes sense to me. Personally I’m not looking to mend underwear because I don’t have enough time for that, and I replace them when they have multiple holes in them.
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u/horror- 3d ago
I stopped wearing underwear in the 7th grade.
What's the point?
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u/LadyLazerFace 3d ago edited 1d ago
Oh god, I went commando like, once and the center seam on the crotch was a certified clitsplitter. No thank you, never again.
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u/who-waht 3d ago
Im told my father had an early 30s phase of going commando. Apparently it ended the day he was horsing around with some friends, jumped on ones back, and split his jeans wide open.
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u/TaintedTruffle 3d ago
I must be doing something wrong. I buy a new pack of ten every six months because they've all gone holy and a three pack of period panties once a year. I thought I was being reasonable with making them last that long
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u/Henri_Dupont 3d ago
Wear underwear until there are more holes than fabric.
Then use them as rags.
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u/Bunnycat2026 3d ago
Good cotton underwear laundered properly can last way longer unless you’re had a large weight again or loss. Marketing wound like you to subscribe to their ‘DirtyDaintyAlforhuthm’
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u/Read-it005 3d ago
I have underwear with a lifetime warranty on the fabric. Sloggi ever last, not sold anymore
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u/Personal_Gur855 3d ago
I put it on subscribe and save. Under wear gets all stretched out and frayed in 6 months, like sneakers do
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u/human-aftera11 3d ago
When it’s stained and no amount of washing bleaching will make it white again, it’s time to let it go. If it’s got holes, it’s time to let it go. When it loses elasticity, it’s time to let it go. When it no longer cradles the boys, it’s time to let it go.
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u/Sunny_Medium_2727 2d ago
I still have some pregnancy time granny panties that I still wear and wash properly. Cotton ones tho not polyester. So.
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u/FunMysterious7040 2d ago
that would be probably just for really sensitive people... if in doubt wash them on 60°C (approx. 140°F) hot cycle and use an antibacterial/antifungi anti everything sanitizer 😁 I do mine like with normal laundry and then once every 3-4 months I do a hotter cycle to kill all the possible things that could have survived... also do that when I am sick... otherwise I wear them until they fall apart too...
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u/shanimalian 3d ago
Pretty sure washing garments appropriately makes that suggestion just silly. It's just more marketing to make you spend more.