How To Properly Wash & Care for Your Underwear

Preserve the fit, protect the fabric AND get your money’s worth 💸

Jun 26, 2025

I’m out here waxing poetic about underwear that costs $20 a pop (hello, EVRY), so you better believe I am serious about taking care of them so they last as long as possible! If you’ve ever pulled your favorite pair out of the dryer only to find it stretched out, misshapen or mysteriously two sizes smaller (or all of the above)… this post is for you.

Jokes aside, learning how to wash your underwear properly can extend its lifespan, keep it comfortable and protect the delicate fabrics—aka protecting your investment! Here’s exactly how I care for mine.

How to Wash Underwear the Right Way: Tips to Make Your Undies Last Longer

Use a delicates bag

One of the easiest ways to protect your underwear in the wash is by using a mesh delicates laundry bag. I keep mine on a hook next to our laundry bin so that I can easily keep my underwear separate from the rest of the laundry. Now Sean knows that anything in that bag does not go in the dryer… meaning he no longer shrinks my clothing!

I actually have two of these bags: one for bras and panties and the other for delicate clothing. It just allows me more flexibility to wash the delicates separately and with different settings.

Wash on cold and use the gentle cycle

Speaking of different settings, I always wash my underwear (and pretty much all of our textiles and clothing) on cold. This helps to prevent color fading and is better for the environment and can help you cut down on energy costs. I also recommend using a gentle cycle on your washing machine so that it agitates the clothing less in the wash, minimizing wear and tear.

Invest in gentle detergent

So many people swear by The Laundress Delicates Wash for underwear and bras. I personally do not use it because I’m super picky about my detergent in general—it needs to be plastic-free/low-plastic, smell good but not too strong, be natural and is a subscription service. I could literally give a TED talk on detergent, so I’ll spare you.

The key is to select a detergent that’s gentle. I find that most natural detergents like Mrs. Meyers, Seventh Generation, etc do the job without you needing to buy a second bottle. Whichever detergent you use, just remember: less is more. Using too much detergent can leave residue behind, which can irritate your skin and wears out the fabric. And definitely skip the bleach—it breaks down elastic and weakens the fibers over time.

Don’t use fabric softener

Please, please, please: don’t use fabric softener on your underwear. I am a firm believer in not using fabric softener for any of our laundry, but especially for underwear. Because it’s so close to the skin and other delicate body parts, fabric softener is a big no no. Not only does it reduce the absorbency of the fabric (something to know when it comes to period panties especially!), it also builds up in the fabric over time. This means that it can form a barrier on the fabric that prevents water and soap from absorbing… gross. Not to mention that you never really what weird chemicals, artificial colors, and synthetic fragrances are used in the liquid. Just skip it all together — no one actually needs fabric softener for any laundry in my opinion.

Skip the dryer and line dry instead

Honestly, skip all the other recommendations in this post if it means you’ll actually do this one! The heat of a dryer is the number one culprit of misshapen, shrunken, faded, and worn out underwear. The heat literally breaks down the elastic, not to mention shrinkage and fadied colors.

Instead, get a drying rack or install a retractable clothes line to air dry your delicates. The retractible clothes lines are awesome because they all but disappear when not in use!

Share The Underwear Thesis from Joanna @ Jojotastic

Gently reshape while damp

I also recommend reshaping your underwear when you pull it out of the washing machine and place it to dry. This is especially true with bras! I swear, once you start doing this, you’ll really notice the difference in how your undergarments fit.

Pay attention to fabric content

I love cotton underwear and wear mostly that, so my laundering process is simpler. But if you have synthetics, I highly recommend not using a fabric softener. Fabric softener works by coating the fabric which can diminish some of the features you want a synthetic pair of underwear to have (like moisture wicking). Softeners also don’t rinse out, so that is one more chemical you’d be putting against your delicate skin. No thanks!

Want to learn more about the different types of underwear fabric? This post is super helpful!