The truth is your underwear may have some kind of expiration date. It is not something that is explicitly described, but the truth is that from time to time it is appropriate that you make a renewal and throw away some of these pieces. Know everything.
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03/08/2026
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Sis the underwear valid? You may think that even if you wash them and take care of them the best, these pieces last for years and years. Not quite, though. There are times when you should check and realize that it's time to throw away your underwear and trade for new pieces.
The Health Digest website has gathered some studies and indications from experts to see when you should exchange these pieces and why you should do it more often and not use them over several years.
Risks of wearing the same underwear for many years
Susanna Unsworth is an expert in female health and in an interview with Good Housekeeping warned of some problems. “Even if the older intimate pieces appear clean after repeated washing, the fibers of the deteriorated tissue can still retain bacteria, fungi and moisture. The loss of elasticity of the tissue can also increase the risk of irritation and rashes”, said the specialist.
On The Independent, Shirin Lakhani, a doctor who specializes in intimate health, left further warnings. “The inner garments accumulate many dead cells, besides bacteria. Both healthy bacteria that we all have naturally, and more harmful bacteria that can be the result of infections such as candidiasis” explains.
Factors affecting the life of underwear
There are several factors that make your underwear eventually need some renovation. Frequent use may lead to a decision to replace them. Regular use even when washing may lead to this accumulation of bacteria. So the advice is to trade them for a shorter period of time.
Shirin Lakhani says the ideal is that this exchange be made every year in the case of ordinary underwear. The one you use for sport should be changed in a shorter time.
Narendra Pisal, a gynecologist at London Gynaecology, was more specific and revealed to The Independent that it is ideal to change these parts after 50 washes on the machine. However, whenever you notice that the elastics no longer good, that cause irritation and are with some holes, the ideal is to leave them out and buy new ones.
On the other hand, the choice of tissue type also turns out to be something relevant for good intimate health. “Technically, synthetic fabrics can last longer, but this happens because they are made of materials that do not degrade. They can also retain heat and moisture, which is not ideal for daily use.”
The recommendation goes by using cotton pieces that offer durability and breathe better.