It may sound like the most basic hygiene rule, but changing underwear every day is one habit many people are quietly skipping. Now, experts warn that dirty drawers aren’t just gross – what lingers behind can carry real health risks, making daily changes a non-negotiable practice.
As unsettling as it sounds, a 2021 study found that a typical pair of underwear contains roughly 0.1 grams of fecal residue. With that in mind, going more than a day without swapping for a clean pair isn’t just unpleasant – it could carry real health consequences, according to medical experts.
Dirty drawers
Yet despite clear hygiene guidelines, a large portion of young adults aren’t sticking to daily underwear changes. A 2023 Newsweek poll revealed that 36% of Gen Z respondents – those aged 18 to 24 – admit to wearing the same pair of underwear for over 24 hours, and an additional 14% say they do this regularly. That means half of Gen Z reported going at least one full day or more in the same undergarments.
But the behavior isn’t limited to the youngest age group. The survey also found that 24% of millennials – those aged 25 to 34 – regularly wear the same pair of underwear more than once.
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