How to keep the underwear drawer in order

Short answer: The simplest method is to own a few models in the same colour. Then everything goes together, you do not have to sort when putting the laundry away, and the drawer looks the same from week to week with no extra effort.

Few models

One model for everyday and perhaps one for training covers most people. The more cuts and sizes in the drawer, the longer it takes to find the right one, and the more pieces end up unused at the back. Choose the model you know fits well and stick with it. See bamboo underwear for men.

Same colour

If you only own black and skin tone, everything matches automatically, and you never have to hunt for the piece that goes with the rest. This is especially true for women, where briefs and bra often need to match under clothes. Neutral colours also work under both light and dark clothing. Read more about underwear sets that match.

Replace together

If everything was bought at once, everything wears out at once. Then the whole drawer can be replaced in one go, rather than leaving you with a mix of new and old pieces that look different. It also makes it easy to see when it is time: when the elastic is slack in most of them, it is time for a new round.

Socks in a bag

A wash bag for socks makes pairing quicker, because all the socks come out together instead of being spread around the machine. It also reduces the risk of a single sock vanishing into the drum or the rubber seal. If you only own one model in one colour, you do not need to pair them at all. Read more in when should you use a wash bag.

For women

Women often have more types in the drawer: briefs, bras and perhaps a model for training. The same principle applies: few models, few colours, and buy together. Keep bras separate so they are not squashed, and stack briefs by colour. See the matching items in bamboo underwear for women.

The number

Ten to fourteen pairs let you wash once a week and always have something clean. Fewer than seven means washing more often, and more than fourteen fills the drawer without making daily life easier. If you have too many, sort out the most worn, so the drawer only holds what you actually use.

Washing

Wash underwear and socks at 40 degrees without fabric softener. Softener makes the elastic slacker and the fibres worse at moving moisture, and the elastic is what decides how long underwear keeps its shape. If you wash it all together each time, it also fades evenly and looks uniform in the drawer. Read more in the washing guide.

Put it away together

If you put the whole wash away at once rather than bit by bit, the drawer does not get mixed up. Fold underwear the same way every time and put freshly washed pieces at the bottom, so all of them get used equally. Socks can be rolled in pairs or simply lie loose if they are identical. See all bamboo socks for men.