As a general rule, guys should replace their underwear roughly once a year. Make your trunks look their best for all 12 of those months with a few handy tips from The Underwear Expert.

Wash With Care

Regardless of what the care instructions say, wash your undies in cold water. (Hot water sets stains and wears out fabric.) For optimal underwear care, we also recommend you:

• Use a color-safe bleach to take care of bacteria.

• Apply a stain remover on underwear stains before throwing them in the wash.

• Wash your undies on a delicate cycle in a separate load to minimize fabric friction.

• Turn your underwear inside out when washing to further reduce the wear and tear on delicate fabric; this will get your underwear cleaner, too.

Let the air in

Air-drying your underwear will greatly increase the longevity of your under-duds. High heat breaks down fabrics, and in some cases, downright destroys them—the elastic doesn’t even stand a chance. Hang-dry and, if necessary, throw them in for just a few minutes to get that just-out-of-the-dryer feel. You’ll save on electricity, too.

Manicure your briefs

Snip loose threads on your older underwear and use a fabric shaver to them will reduce pilling—a.k.a. annoying fuzz balls—and keep your shorts looking better, longer. Since underwear isn’t the cheapest necessity, this is something you can do and blame on the fiscal crisis, for sure.

Keep them separate

If you’ve been to the gym even once in your life, you know that your underwear gets the brunt of your sweat. So, set aside several pairs—like these athletic spring picks—that you wear only to the gym. You shouldn’t be working out in your top-shelf underwear.

Follow us on Twitter @MensHealthStyle for more underwear tips and tricks.

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