What a drawer of knickers costs per year

Short answer: What the drawer costs per year depends on what you pay for each pair, how many you own and how long they last. The cheapest pair is rarely the one that costs least when you count per year, and fewer good pairs often beat a drawer full of unworn ones.

Count what is really in the drawer

Start by emptying the drawer and sorting the knickers into piles: those you wear weekly, those you wear rarely and those you never put on. Many people find that three or four pairs do most of the work. The unworn pairs cost money without giving anything back, and they belong in the price of the drawer.

How to work out the price per year

Write down what you paid for a pair and how long it lasted before you threw it away. Divide the price by the number of years or wears. Do it for three pairs and compare. You do not need an exact number, because the gap between pairs that lasted and pairs that wore out quickly shows clearly anyway.

Why cheap pairs often cost more

A pair that loses its shape, splits at the seam or itches after a few washes soon has to be replaced. Then you buy the same thing again and again, and the sums flip. The price per year goes up even though each pair was cheap. Choose a fabric you enjoy against your skin, so you wear the pairs and do not just own them.

Fit decides how long they last

Knickers that pinch at the waistband or cut into the thighs wear out needlessly fast and often stay in the wardrobe. Try several cuts and choose the one you forget you are wearing. A good fit means more wears, and more wears lower the price per year. See the range of bamboo knickers.

Washing so seams and elastic last

Wash knickers at a low temperature following the care label, preferably in a laundry bag, so the seams do not catch on other clothes. Skip fabric softener, which can affect the fabric, and dry them hanging rather than in a tumble dryer if the label recommends it. Elastic lasts longer when it is not exposed to heat every time.

How many pairs do you need

Use your washing rhythm as a starting point: if you wash every week, a week's worth plus a couple of spares may be enough. It is better to have a few pairs you like than a full drawer. Do not buy new pairs before going through what is already there. See what other women choose among bestsellers from Copenhagen Bamboo.

The whole wardrobe in view

Underwear is only one part of the sums. The same thinking works for everything you wear daily: ask how often you really use it and whether it survives the wash. For days at home, look at bamboo sweatwear, which is soft and easy to look after, so all your clothes get more wears.

When a pair has had its day

A pair is finished when the elastic is slack, the seam is coming loose or the fabric is thin. Do not leave a worn pair in the drawer out of habit, because it only takes the place of one you would wear. Sort regularly and replace as needed. That keeps the drawer short and the sums honest.

Frequently asked questions

How do I work out what the drawer costs per year?

Add up the prices of the pairs you wear and divide by the years they last. Include the unworn pairs, because they cost money without giving anything back.

How many pairs of knickers do I need?

It depends on how often you wash. As a rule of thumb, a week's worth plus a couple of spares is plenty. More than that means some are rarely worn.

When is it time to replace my knickers?

When the elastic is slack, the seams are coming loose, or the fabric is thin or itchy. Then the pair is no longer doing its job, and a new one is due.