How to Wash Your Underwear – Temperature and Durability

Short answer: Wash underwear at 30-40 degrees with ordinary detergent and no fabric softener, and skip the tumble dryer. That keeps them clean and hygienic, while the elastic and the softness last far longer.

The right wash temperature

40 degrees is enough to get underwear clean and hygienic in a modern machine, and 30 degrees is plenty for lightly worn pairs. Higher temperatures wear needlessly on the elastic and the fibres — especially in bamboo viscose, which keeps its softness best with a gentle wash. The whole method is in our washing and care guide.

Skip the fabric softener and the tumble dryer

Fabric softener leaves a film over the fibres that reduces the ability of bamboo viscose to move moisture. Tumble drying on high heat is the most common cause of slack elastic. Hang your underwear up to dry instead — it dries quickly. That goes for all your men's bamboo underwear.

Washing extends — or shortens — the lifespan

Two otherwise identical pairs of underwear can last very differently depending on how they are washed. A gentle wash means several extra years of shape and softness. If the drawer needs something new anyway, you find the range of bamboo underwear for men here.

Frequently asked questions

What temperature should underwear be washed at?

30-40 degrees. That gets them clean and hygienic in a modern machine and is gentle on the elastic and the fibres at the same time.

Can underwear go in the tumble dryer?

Preferably not. High heat wears down the elastic and the shape. Hang them up to dry instead — bamboo viscose dries quickly.

Should you use fabric softener on bamboo underwear?

No. Fabric softener leaves a film over the fibres and reduces how well the material moves moisture. Bamboo is soft entirely without it.