When it is time to replace the whole drawer

Short answer: When half the items in the drawer are worn, the best ones get used all the time and the rest just sit there. It is then often cheaper and easier to replace the whole stack at once than to buy single pairs one at a time.

Signs that it is time

You reach for the same three pairs after every wash and leave the rest at the bottom. That is a clear sign the rest are no longer good enough. Check the elastic, the fabric in the gusset and whether the edges have gone wavy. Read more in how to tell that clothes are worn out.

Same age

If everything in the drawer was bought at the same time, it all wears out at the same time. That makes the decision easy, because there is no reason to hold on to a few items with six months left. When the stack is the same age, it gets worn evenly, and the next replacement also comes all at once.

Multipacks

A pack of several matching items makes the replacement cheaper per piece, and you get a stack that matches in colour and fit. It makes the most sense when you already know which style and size you want. Read more in when a multipack pays off.

The same style again

If you know a style fits, buy the same again. That saves you trial and error, and you know how the waistband and leg openings feel after many washes. If something bothered you, such as an edge that pinches, a replacement is the right time to try another style. See bamboo underwear for men.

For women

The same applies to women's underwear. Briefs and tops bought at the same time wear out at the same time, and replacing them together gives you a stack where everything can be worn in turn. Choose the style you already know fits, and add a couple extra if you often run short. See bamboo underwear for women.

How many you need

Count how many days pass between your washes and add a couple. With too few, each item is washed more often and wears out faster. With too many, some sit unused. Around ten to fourteen pairs cover most people who wash once a week.

What to do with the old ones

Worn underwear cannot be passed on, but it does not belong in general waste either. Put it in the textile collection, where it is sorted. Some of it can be used as cleaning cloths at home first. Read more in how to hand in old clothes for recycling.

Washing

Washing correctly delays the next replacement. Wash at 40 degrees, skip fabric softener, and let the underwear air dry instead of using a tumble dryer. Heat and softener are what wear the elastic most and make the fabric thin. More on temperature and detergent in the washing guide.

Frequently asked questions

When should the whole stack be replaced?

When about half of it is worn and you only use the best pairs. The good ones then wear out faster, and the rest stay unused at the bottom of the drawer anyway.