I’m a firm believer in hot water and bleach in every undies and socks load.  While I suppose it might hasten the items becoming threadbare, everything stays much whiter and the bleach also kills germs.

Been there and I say TOSS away.  There are some things that are just not necessary to deal with among the daily grind—-of course, if you are running low on these items perhaps not…..

Sort of on topic, where do you stand on hand-me-down undies? I’m talking for the very young (under 6 set). My SIL is wonderful about sending boxes of clothes across the country for my 3 boys after her 3 are through with them. I’m talking high-quality, wonderful clothes here. BUT, she also sends along the briefs. They are very clean and in great shape, but I never use them. I haven’t told her, feel too guilty about it, but now I’m at the point when I could be passing from DS #1 to DS #2 and I am on the fence. What do you all think/do?

I’m a squeamish mom of girls who will go without out Starbucks, red wine and even take-out dinners on those crazy nights if necessary to justify tossing any unmentionables directly in the trash without ever reaching the hamper first.  I am with TracyE. As far as threadbare—I think girls are different in that department, but I can’t wait to hear the answers from the rest here, so I can pass the link on to my husband

Hmmm…

-I have accepted hand-me-down undergarments *without stains* for very small children.

-Absolutely no hand-me-down unmentionables for older children. I use the “Would I (mom) wear it?” rule for anyone even remotely close to puberty in order to maintain their sense of dignity and encourage proper dressing habits.

-I do toss thread bare (aka see through) unders and those with holes. We are not uptight people with regard to dress but there should be some standards even on the underside…lol.

-I have thrown away perfectly intact items that were messed beyond recognition by a potty training toddler. I know I should have scrubbed and bleached them back into shape…But just think of all the water I saved:)

I say that if there is a hole, or the likely hood that wearing them could cause a hole due to thin material, they get tossed. No body wants to get to school( or work ) only to realize that their thin briefs are now crotch less ! I also toss (after being washed) anything that may be   stained. Since my kids are teens I don’t have to worry about accidents but when they were little that was good cause to throw away(obviously unlaundered in a tied plastic bag.) As for hand me down undies, my youngest does get any freshly laundered undies that are in good shape but outgrown by his older brother. Other than brotherly hand me downs we haven’t gotten any hand me down undies since my older son was ” in training ” but the ones that we got then were in good shape so after being washed ( I’m sure they were before they were given to us but I always rewashed things ) they went into the drawers.

Holes, shot elastic, threadbare…toss ‘em!  A new package of underwear from Target is very reasonably priced.  Three of my kids are boys, and I do pass the undies down as they are outgrown.  That way, I never feel a twinge of guilt at tossing the potty-training messed ones.  I wash them if I have someone still in cloth diapers and I can put them in a diaper load, otherwise, they get tossed.

We accept used diapers from friends, so I guess underwear wouldn’t be any different. I have some from my nieces though my oldest daughter hasn’t yet worn them since she’s still in diapers.

We don’t have many accidents with my son anymore, but I have put his underwear in with diapers rather than washing in regular clothes. Even so, sometimes I’d be willing to throw them out.

Of course, Grammy keeps us well-supplied with new ones, so cost isn’t really an issue for us.

Yes, we toss any with obvious wear (it’s what, $2 a pair tops?).  As far as skids go, I’ve discovered they make dark colored ones for a reason!! Just have to use colorsafe bleach on them. 

Here’s where I am really weird—Myles has never worn hand-me-down briefs, but I have no problem with his accepting hand-me-down boxers.  But then again, he rarely wears briefs.  Even brand new or clean, I don’t like to touch them.

This is a regular conversation between my wife and me- we don’t have children yet (but soon!)- in particular as regards my undergarments.  I will hold onto them like grim death.  I still have (but no longer wear) the very first pair of boxers I got 15 years ago- they have worn so thin that you can literally see through them.  I know it’s completely ridiculous, and I have started getting rid of the worst offenders as they come up in the laundry.  I think if it’s full of holes, stains, or is just stretched out beyond wearability, it’s time to let it go.  Let me put it this way: I have some crew neck undershirts that are starting to look more like v-necks, and I am coming to terms with dropping them from the rotation.

I do accept unstained/like new hand-me-downs for the 5 and under set from family members but garage sale and thrift shop underwear are a “no”. 

Personally, I’m not terribly fazed by stains- maybe because I use cloth diapers and have become immune to the badges of bodily functions imparted by small children.  I do have to mention that my boys are only 1 and 4.  I can respect that the soiling of a 4 year old’s drawers may be a bit easier to shrug off than the similar staining of a 10 year old due to the (much hoped for, yet possibly elusive) better grasp of hygienic practices.

Goodwill doesn’t take undergarments.  That should be a clue.  However nice, unstained and hardly worn can be all in the family.

Oh, golly!  Laughing so hard my daughter was giving me a funny look.  Holey undies go…really “earthy” may not even make it into the washer…just right into the circular file!