What the fabric looks like after fifty washes
Short answer: After fifty washes the fabric is thinner, the colour more matte and the elastic weaker. The garment usually still works, but it has passed its best, and now it is about judging how much time is left.
Why fifty washes is a turning point
Fifty washes equal about a year if you wash weekly. It is a natural point to assess the garment, because most changes are visible by now. Wear happens gradually, and you seldom notice it until you hold the garment next to a new one and see the difference side by side.
The fabric
Every wash takes off a little fibre. After fifty you can see it: the fabric is thinner against the light, and the places that have rubbed most are paler. Armholes and hip height are usually first. Hold the garment up to a window and see where the light comes through.
The elastic
The rubber in waistbands and cuffs ages fastest, because heat and sweat break it down. After fifty washes the grip and recovery are clearly weaker. Compare with an unworn pair of bamboo inner shorts if you want to feel the difference clearly in your hand.
The colour
Matte rather than faded. The colour is still there, but it reflects less light and so looks more muted, especially on black and navy. New clothes in the same colour next to it show the difference at once. See offers and all bamboo socks for men if you want to add to what you have.
Pilling and surface
Pilling is part of life after a year, especially where fabric rubs against itself or against straps. You can remove it gently with a fabric shaver, but it shows the surface fibres are giving up. If you keep removing it, the fabric may become even thinner.
Seams and wear points
Look at the seams at the crotch, sides and under the arms. After fifty washes the thread has been under many small strains, and a seam that begins to open is worth repairing at once. A few stitches now can save you a hole later and take only minutes.
The fit after a year
After a year the fit is no longer quite the same. The fabric has given a little in places, and the garment may sit looser or hang more. That is normal, but a garment that once fitted exactly does not necessarily do so now. Judge whether you can wear it without adjusting it all day.
How to extend its life
Wash cooler, skip the tumble dryer, and rotate several garments so each one is washed less often. Turn garments inside out in the wash to protect the surface. With these habits a garment can last noticeably longer, and it costs nothing to change them, so try it with what you already own.
When to replace it
If you can see skin through the fabric, the waistband no longer springs back, or the colour is so matte that the garment no longer goes with anything new, the time has come. Start looking for a replacement before it becomes urgent, so you are not left without anything clean and whole.
Frequently asked questions
How long is fifty washes
About a year if you wash weekly. If you rotate several garments, it takes longer, because each one is washed less often, and then it typically also lasts longer.
Is the garment worn out after fifty washes
No, but it is past its best. Many last considerably longer, especially if washed cool and kept out of the tumble dryer, but you should start watching for the signs.
Can you do anything about the matte look
No. It comes from the surface of the fibre and cannot be reversed. You can slow further change by washing cool and drying in the shade, so the colour does not become even more muted.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
