How to Wash Boxer Shorts
Short answer: Slip shorts are washed at 30 degrees on a gentle cycle, without fabric softener and without a tumble dryer. Lifespan is decided by the elastane in the waistband and leg opening, and both heat and softener destroy exactly that part of the garment fastest.
Wash after every wear
Slip shorts sit against the skin in a place where heat and moisture meet, and so they belong in the wash every time. Sweat and skin oils stay in the fibres and make the fabric less breathable if they build up over several days, and that is also where odour starts.
30 degrees is enough
Bamboo viscose comes clean at 30 degrees when the detergent is an ordinary liquid one. A higher temperature does not remove more odour, but it destroys the elastane and fades the colour. If something in the household has to be washed hotter, take the shorts out of that load.
Leave out fabric softener
Softener leaves a film on the fibres that closes the fabric up and slows moisture transport. That property is exactly what you paid for, and it disappears after a few washes. If the fabric has already lost some of it, a wash with a decilitre of household vinegar in the softener compartment helps.
Use a laundry bag
A laundry bag stops the leg opening being stretched by zips, hooks and heavier clothes in the drum. The edge is the first part to go slack, and that damage cannot be repaired afterwards. Turn the shorts inside out at the same time so the surface does not pill against other clothes.
Never a tumble dryer
Heat destroys elastane fastest of all, and a single trip through the dryer can cost the edge its grip. Hang the shorts up or lay them flat. They are dry within a few hours precisely because the fabric is thin, and in practice that is faster than a dryer.
Not on the radiator either
In winter the temptation is to put laundry on the radiator, and that does exactly the same to the elastane as a tumble dryer. Dry the shorts at room temperature instead, ideally hanging over the back of a chair so air reaches both sides.
Stains and discolouring
Treat stains with a little liquid detergent directly on the spot and let it sit for a quarter of an hour before the shorts go into the machine. Do not use chlorine bleach, which dissolves viscose fibres. Nude fabric has to be washed separately, or it turns grey.
How to put them away
Lay the shorts flat in the drawer rather than rolling them up tightly, so the edge is not pressed into folds. If you have several pairs in rotation, put the freshly washed one at the bottom so they all get worn equally. See the full range under slip shorts. See also complete washing guide for bamboo clothing.
Frequently asked questions
Can slip shorts be washed with towels?
They should not be. Towels are washed hotter and shed lint that settles in the thin fabric. Wash them with the rest of your underwear at 30 degrees instead.
When should they be replaced?
When the leg opening starts to roll or no longer holds, even though they are washed correctly. Have a look at bamboo vests for men and the rest under bamboo underwear for men if the drawer needs renewing as a whole.
Can they be ironed?
No. There is no reason to iron underwear, and the heat of an iron wears the elastane in the edge. Hung up straight after washing, the shorts come out smooth by themselves.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
