Ever wondered how long women's underwear lasts? That's really up to you! We have some pairs that have been with us for the good part of a decade, and others that have found themselves in the trash sooner than we'd hoped. While the shelf life of a pair of women's underwear normally ranges from about six months to a year, you can extend a high-quality pair of underwear with a little extra TLC. Here's how to take care of underwear so your favorite pairs are with you for the long haul. 

Try a delicate detergent

Using a delicate laundry detergent can almost be as good as dry-cleaning your underwear (which, let's face it, you would never do).  Delicate washes clean your underwear while preserving the fabric. If delicate wash isn't your thing, just make sure to avoid using bleach or harsh chemicals when washing your underwear.

Put it in a mesh laundry bag

Sure, you can hand wash your underwear, but who has the time or the patience? If you want to extend the longevity of your panties, without going through the trouble of hand-washing, put them in a mesh laundry bag before throwing them in the wash. This is especially important for lace underwear as the mesh bag will protect the lace and prevent it from getting caught on buttons or snagging. 

Lay flat to dry

Most underwear can be tumbled dry on low heat, but if you want to take extra good care of your underwear, it's best to lay it flat to dry. The heat from the dryer can break down the spandex fibers in your undwear and make it lose its stretch and shape over time.

Scent your drawers

This part isn't really necessary but it will make your undies smell great, and who doesn't love that? If you're feeling crafty, you can make a DIY scented sachet with some spare cloth and dried lavender or, even better, put a scented soap bar in your underwear drawer. Bar soaps emit just enough scent to make your whole drawer smell fabulous and they last forever.

One last thing...

So now that you have fantastic-looking, great-smelling underwear, it's time to wear them with confidence. Go on out there and show them what you're working with!