Premium underwear fails in the laundry more often than it fails from actual wear. Heat, harsh detergents, and aggressive spin cycles degrade fabric and elastic long before the material itself wears out. Here's how to care for your underwear so it lasts.
The Basics: What Damages Underwear in the Wash
- Hot water — breaks down elastic fibres and causes fabric to shrink or warp
- Tumble drying on high heat — the single biggest cause of waistband stretch-out
- Fabric softener — coats fibres and reduces moisture-wicking performance over time (especially harmful to TENCEL™ Lyocell)
- Harsh detergents with bleach agents — fade colour and weaken fibre structure
- Overloading the machine — creates excess friction between garments
Care Instructions for TENCEL™ Lyocell Underwear
The Roam Boxer Brief and Boxer Brief I are made with TENCEL™ Lyocell, which has slightly different care requirements than cotton:
- Wash cold — 30°C / 86°F maximum. Cold washing preserves fibre structure and colour.
- Gentle or delicate cycle — reduces mechanical stress on the fabric
- Mild detergent — look for detergents labelled for delicates or activewear; avoid anything with optical brighteners or bleach
- No fabric softener — it coats the Lyocell fibre and reduces its natural breathability and moisture management
- Air dry when possible — hang or lay flat to dry. If you must machine dry, use the lowest heat setting
- Turn inside out — reduces surface pilling and protects colour
How Many Pairs Do You Actually Need?
A practical baseline for most men: 7–10 pairs for a weekly wash cycle, or 5–7 if you wash twice weekly. This ensures you're never wearing pairs past their optimal freshness window, and spreads wear evenly across your rotation so no single pair degrades faster than the others.
Signs It's Time to Replace a Pair
- Waistband no longer snaps back firmly when stretched
- Fabric has thinned noticeably at the seat or inner thigh
- Leg bands have lost grip or the hem is rolling
- Colour has faded significantly despite proper care
Most premium underwear, properly cared for, should last 1–2 years of regular wear. If you're replacing pairs more often than that, it's worth examining your wash routine before assuming the product is the problem.
Ready to refresh your rotation? Shop Nether boxer briefs — and now you'll know exactly how to make them last. Not sure on sizing? The Size Guide has you covered.
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