Care Guide
The 5 Washing Mistakes That Ruin Leakproof Underwear
They worked beautifully at first. A few months later they hold less, take longer to soak up a leak and sit looser at the legs. Very often the product isn’t the problem. The laundry routine is. Here are the five habits to stop.
By Rebecca M. · Updated: October 2026 · Reading time: 4 minutes
Leakproof underwear isn’t one fabric. It’s several layers sewn together, each with a job: a soft top layer that pulls moisture away, an absorbent core that holds it, and a waterproof barrier that keeps it off your clothes.Most laundry mistakes damage one of those layers, and you only notice when a leak gets through.
The five mistakes
Using fabric softener
Softener leaves a thin, waxy coating on the fibers. On the top layer and the absorbent core, that coating makes liquid bead up instead of soaking in, so the underwear absorbs more slowly with every wash.
Instead: Skip softener and dryer sheets completely. The fabric stays soft without them.
Washing on hot
High heat is hard on the stretch fibers that keep the brief close to your body, and on the waterproof layer. A brief that has lost its stretch sits looser at the legs, where leaks escape.
Instead: Wash cold with your regular laundry.
Drying on high heat
A hot dryer does the same damage as hot water, only faster. It is the most common reason leakproof underwear stops fitting snugly.
Instead: Hang to dry, or tumble dry on low. Hanging is gentlest.
Using bleach or harsh stain removers
Bleach weakens the fibers and can damage the layers that hold and block the leak. It is the quickest way to shorten their life.
Instead: Use a mild detergent. For odor, rinse right after wearing (see below) instead of reaching for bleach.
Washing with towels, jeans and zippers
Heavy, rough items rub against the soft top layer and pill it, and zippers and hooks can snag the fabric.
Instead: Wash with similar soft items, or put them in a mesh laundry bag.
Care at a glance
Do
- Rinse in cold water after wearing
- Machine wash cold
- Use a mild detergent
- Use a mesh laundry bag
- Hang to dry, or tumble dry low
Don’t
- Fabric softener or dryer sheets
- Hot water
- Bleach or harsh stain removers
- Towels, jeans or zippers in the same load
- High heat in the dryer
Always follow the care label on your own underwear. These are the instructions for DryGuard Leakproof Underwear.
How many pairs you need
A simple way to work it out: one pair to wear, one that’s drying, and one that’s in the laundry. That’sthree pairs as a minimum if you wear them every day and wash often.
If you do laundry once or twice a week, plan on five to seven pairs, so you’re never caught without a dry one. Rotating several pairs also means each one is washed less often, which helps them last.
Made to be washed
DryGuard Leakproof Underwear is a soft cotton brief with 4 layers of protection, made to go in the washing machine with your regular laundry on a cold cycle. It comes in 3-, 6- and 9-pack bundles, which makes the rotation above easy.
From DryGuard
DryGuard Leakproof Underwear. 4 layers of leak protection built into a soft cotton brief: a top layer pulls moisture away from your skin and the core holds up to 60 ml (about 2 oz). Sizes XS to 4XL, in black, beige, dark brown and light brown. Machine washable.
4.8 stars · 1,356 reviews on the DryGuard shop
$69 for 3 pairs (about $23 a pair) · free shipping · 6- and 9-pair packs also available
Over 50,000 women have chosen DryGuard.
Common questions
Can I put leakproof underwear in the dryer?
Check the label. DryGuard can be tumble dried on low, but hanging to dry is gentlest. High heat wears out the stretch and the waterproof layer.
How do I get rid of odor?
Rinse in cold water right after wearing, and let them dry fully before washing. Don’t use softener, which traps odor in the fabric. If a pair still smells after washing, wash it again on cold rather than using bleach.
Can I wash them with my other laundry?
Yes, on a cold cycle with similar soft items. Keep towels, jeans and anything with zippers or hooks out of the load, or use a mesh laundry bag.
How do I know it’s time to replace a pair?
When it no longer sits close at the legs, takes noticeably longer to soak up a leak, or keeps an odor after washing.
Do I need special detergent?
No. A mild everyday detergent is fine. Use the normal amount for a small load; more detergent doesn’t clean better and can leave residue.
This article is general information, not medical advice.