When briefs should be replaced

Short answer: Briefs need replacing when the elastic in the waistband or leg opening no longer springs back, when the fabric is thin enough to see through, or when the fit has changed after washing.

The elastic first

Pull the waistband gently and let go. If it does not spring back, the elastic is spent and cannot be repaired. A slack waistband slides down during the day and no longer sits where it should. It is usually the first sign that a pair is nearly finished. See bamboo briefs.

The leg opening tells you the same

Look at the elastic around the legs as well. If it stands away from the skin or ripples when the briefs lie on the table, it has lost its tension. The briefs then ride up or sit loosely, and the edge can start to rub. A leg opening that no longer lies flat will not recover, even after another wash.

Worn thin fabric

Hold the briefs up to the light. If you can see through them, the fabric has worn thin and a hole is not far off. Fabric usually wears first in the gusset and where there is most movement. It happens slowly, so it is easy to miss until you look for it.

A changed fit

If the briefs have shrunk in the tumble dryer, they fit differently from before. They may be shorter in the rise or tighter around the legs. That cannot be undone. If they no longer fit well, it is better to replace them than to wear something that pinches. See washing and care.

Pilling and a rough surface

Some fabrics develop small bobbles over time, especially where there is friction. That makes the briefs less soft and can feel rough against the skin. A few bobbles are not a problem, but if the whole surface has turned rough, the briefs have lost some of what made them comfortable.

Check the drawer a few times a year

The easiest approach is to go through the whole drawer a few times a year. Pick up each pair, pull the waistband and hold it up to the light. The pairs that fail go. That way you do not keep briefs around that you never want to wear anyway.

Top up as you go

Replace one pair at a time rather than waiting until the whole drawer is worn. You never find yourself suddenly out of clean pairs, and the cost spreads over the year. If you buy the same style as before, the new pairs fit in with the old. See bamboo underwear for women.

How to make them last

Wash at 40 degrees with a mild detergent and skip the fabric softener. Avoid a hot tumble dryer, as heat is hard on the elastic. Hang your briefs to dry and turn them inside out in the wash. That way it takes longer before they need replacing.

How long a pair lasts

In normal rotation a pair of briefs usually lasts one to two years. With many pairs the washes are spread out and each pair lasts longer. With few, they wear faster. So it is the signs of wear, not the age, that decide when a pair should go.