Everyone's talking about simpler routines right now. Fewer steps, gentler products, less fuss. Skincare went from ten steps to three. Wellness went from "optimize everything" to "just get some sleep."
And Canadians are putting their money where their routines are: health and personal care purchases are up more than 10% from last year, according to Statistics Canada data.
That got us thinking about the routine nobody talks about: how you wash your underwear, the item that touches your most sensitive parts.
Sarah's quality-control team checks every pair of do+dare undies before it ships. So we spend a lot of time thinking about what makes a pair last, and what wears one out early.
The good news is that caring for bamboo underwear isn't complicated. It just works a little differently than cotton, and once you know why, the routine makes sense.
Why bamboo needs a slightly different routine
Our fabric is viscose from bamboo. Bamboo pulp is turned into a soft, fine fibre, and that fineness is exactly why it feels so smooth and breathes so well.
But viscose has one quirk worth knowing: it's much weaker when it's wet. Textile references put the strength loss at roughly 30 to 50% (some say more) while the fibre is soaked.
It gets its strength back as it dries. This isn't a flaw, just how the fibre behaves.
But it means the moment your undies are most vulnerable is in the washer and right after. Heat, friction and twisting do the most damage while they're wet.
Keep that in mind and the three steps below make sense.
Step 1: Wash cold
Cold water is gentler on fine fibres. It's also gentler on elastic, and it helps colours (hello, fuchsia!) stay bright.
It's also the easiest money you'll save all winter. Research on laundry in Canada found that heating the water accounts for about 80–85% of the energy used per wash in a conventional top-loading machine. Natural Resources Canada recommends washing in cold whenever you can for exactly that reason. Once the furnace kicks on and the hydro bill climbs, that matters.
Sarah's tips:
- Turn pairs inside out. The outside surface rubs less against everything else in the drum, which means less pilling.
- Use a mesh laundry bag if you have one. It keeps undies from tangling with jeans, zippers and Velcro, the main culprits behind snags and fuzz.
- Choose a gentle or delicate cycle.
Step 2: Use less detergent than you think, and skip the softener
Underwear is small and usually not very dirty in the "grass stains and mud" sense. Half the recommended dose of detergent is plenty. Too much soap doesn't wash out fully, and the leftover residue can leave fabric feeling stiff and trap odour.
Fabric softener is the one product we'd ask you to skip entirely. Studies on household softeners have found that rinse-cycle softeners reduce how well fabric absorbs water. They work by coating the fibres, which feels soft at first, but that coating builds up wash after wash. On a breathable fabric like bamboo viscose, that build-up works against the exact thing you bought it for. It's the same reason activewear brands warn against softener.
Bamboo viscose is already soft. It doesn't need help.
Step 3: Hang dry, or tumble on low
Heat is the enemy of elastic. Waistbands don't usually fail all at once. They slowly lose their snap from repeated hot dryer cycles.
- Best: hang dry. A drying rack works overnight, and in October you can set it near (not on) a heater or register and it'll be done by morning.
- Fine: tumble dry on low or delicate, then pull pairs out while they're still a tiny bit damp.
- Skip: high heat, and wringing pairs out by hand. Remember, viscose is at its weakest when wet, so twisting it hard is the fastest way to stretch it out of shape. Press water out gently, or roll pairs in a towel.
Natural Resources Canada also points out that skipping the dryer is one of the simplest ways to cut laundry energy use. So this step is good for your undies AND your bill!
A few extra tips
- Treat stains early and cold. Rinse under cold water as soon as you can. Hot water can set protein-based stains.
- Skip chlorine bleach. It's harsh on viscose and on elastic.
- Wash full loads, but don't cram. NRCan's advice here is good: overfilled machines clean worse and cause more friction.
- Rotate your drawer. Wearing the same three favourites on repeat wears them out faster than spreading the love across the whole drawer.
When is a pair actually done?
Even with great care, nothing lasts forever. Signs it's time to retire a pair: the waistband stays stretched out after washing, the fabric has gone thin or see-through in spots, or there are holes along the seams. When that happens, check out our post on what to do with underwear that's actually done.
That's it.
Three steps, no special products:
- Cold wash
- Less detergent, no softener
- Hang or tumble low
That leaves more time to cozy up in a sweater with your fall beverage of choice.
And speaking of fall, we have lots of orange undies if you want to embrace the pumpkin spirit this October. 🎃
Happy fall,
-Sarah+Rob
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I wash bamboo underwear?
Wash bamboo underwear in cold water on a gentle cycle, inside out, with about half the usual amount of detergent and no fabric softener. Then hang it to dry or tumble dry on low. A mesh laundry bag helps prevent snags and pilling. Always check the care label on your specific pair.
Can I put bamboo underwear in the dryer?
Yes, on a low or delicate heat setting. High heat is what slowly wears out waistband elastic and can cause shrinkage, so low heat or hang drying will make your pairs last noticeably longer. If you do use the dryer, take them out while they're still very slightly damp.
Does bamboo underwear shrink?
Viscose fabrics can shrink with hot water and high dryer heat. Washing cold and drying on low or on a rack is the best way to keep the fit you started with.
Why shouldn't I use fabric softener on bamboo underwear?
Fabric softener works by coating fibres with a waxy or oily layer. Research on household softeners has found that rinse-cycle softeners reduce how well fabric absorbs water, and the coating builds up over time. On a breathable fabric like bamboo viscose, that build-up reduces the breathability and moisture handling you're paying for. Bamboo viscose is naturally soft, so softener isn't needed.
Are dryer sheets okay?
We'd skip them too. Research suggests dryer sheets have a smaller effect on absorbency than liquid softeners, but they still leave a coating behind. Wool dryer balls are a good alternative if you want to cut drying time.
Why is cold water better for bamboo underwear?
Cold water is gentler on fine viscose fibres and on elastic, and it helps colours stay bright. It also saves energy: heating water accounts for roughly 80–85% of the energy used per load in a conventional top-loading washer. That's why Natural Resources Canada recommends washing in cold whenever possible.
Why does bamboo fabric feel more delicate when it's wet?
Bamboo viscose, like other viscose (rayon) fibres, loses a significant amount of its strength when wet. Textile references commonly cite around 30 to 50%. It regains its strength once dry. That's why we recommend gentle cycles, no wringing, and low heat. The fabric is most vulnerable to stretching and wear while it's wet.
Is bamboo underwear actually made of bamboo?
It starts as bamboo, but the fibre in most bamboo clothing (including ours) is made by processing bamboo pulp into viscose, a type of rayon. That's why Canada's Competition Bureau requires bamboo textiles made this way to be labelled with names like "viscose from bamboo" or "rayon from bamboo," not just "bamboo." Plain "bamboo" is only allowed for fibre that has been mechanically processed, the way flax becomes linen.
How often should I replace my underwear?
There's no fixed rule. Replace a pair when the waistband stays stretched out after washing, the fabric has thinned or gone see-through, or seams have started to separate. With cold washing, no softener and low or no dryer heat, a well-made pair should last a long time.
How do I get stains out of bamboo underwear?
Rinse the stain under cold water as soon as possible. Hot water can set protein-based stains like blood or sweat. Gently work in a small amount of mild detergent, let it sit for a few minutes, then wash as usual on cold. Avoid chlorine bleach, which is harsh on viscose and elastic.
Can I hand wash bamboo underwear?
Yes, and it's the gentlest option. Use cool water and a small amount of mild detergent, swish gently, and rinse well. Don't wring them out. Press the water out or roll them in a towel, then lay flat or hang to dry.
What causes pilling?
Pilling is usually caused by friction, especially when washing with rough items like jeans, towels, or anything with zippers or Velcro. Wash pairs inside out, use a mesh laundry bag, choose a gentle cycle, and avoid high-heat drying to keep pilling to a minimum.
Sources: Retail Insider - Canadian Retail Monitor, September 2026 | Glimpse - Personal care trends 2026 | Natural Resources Canada - Make laundry day more energy efficient | PubMed - Residential energy use and potential conservation through reduced laundering temperatures in the United States and Canada | Virginia Tech - The effects of household fabric softeners (thesis) | Swicofil - Viscose properties | Textile School - Characteristics of rayon fibre | Competition Bureau - Guidance on labelling textile articles derived from bamboo