Pure Snug Women's Underwear Size Chart

If the idea of washing period underwear makes you a little squeamish, you're in good company. It's the number one thing that stops people trying it in the first place: the worry that it'll be gross, complicated, or somehow ruin the rest of your laundry. Here's the honest truth after you've done it once: it's easier than rinsing a coffee cup, and it's every bit as hygienic as washing anything else. This is the complete guide to washing period underwear the right way, so it stays fresh, keeps working, and lasts for years. The exact steps, why each one matters, and the mistakes worth avoiding. The quick version Rinse in cold water until it runs clear, then cold machine wash in a mesh bag with a mild detergent. Skip the fabric softener and bleach, and air dry instead of using the dryer. That's the whole routine. Everything below is just the why, and the few details that make your pairs last longer. How to wash period underwear, step by step Step 1: Rinse in cold water first As soon as you take a pair off, give it a quick rinse under cold running water, gently pressing the gusset until the water runs clear. This lifts most of the blood out before it has a chance to dry in. Plenty of people just do this in the shower, which is honestly the easiest way to fit it into your day. Cold is the key word. Warm or hot water sets a blood stain instead of removing it, because heat cooks the proteins in blood the same way it turns an egg white opaque. So keep it cold, every time. On a lighter day you can sometimes skip straight to the wash, but on a heavier day the cold rinse is what keeps stains and smells from setting in. Step 2: Cold machine wash in a mesh bag Pop your rinsed pairs into a mesh laundry bag and run them through a cold, gentle cycle with a mild detergent. The mesh bag stops them tangling, stretching, or catching on zips and hooks from the rest of your load. Cold water protects both the fabric and the built-in layers that do the work, which brings us to the one thing that matters most. Step 3: No fabric softener, no bleach This is the mistake almost everyone makes, so it's worth saying plainly. Never use fabric softener on period underwear. Softener works by leaving a thin, waxy coating on the fibres to make them feel soft, and on a normal pair of socks that's harmless. On period underwear, that coating seals up the absorbent layer so liquid can't pass through it anymore, which quietly kills the absorbency and traps odours in. It's the reason a lot of people find their pairs stop working or start to smell, and it's largely permanent once it happens. Bleach is out for the same reason it's out on anything you love: it breaks the fibres down. Mild detergent, nothing else. Step 4: Air dry, never the dryer Hang them up or lay them flat somewhere with a bit of airflow, and let them dry fully. High heat from a dryer is hard on the waterproof layer and the elastic, and it's the fastest way to shorten a pair's life. If you're in a hurry, press them in a clean towel to pull out the extra water rather than wringing them, then let them finish in the air. Just make sure they're completely dry before they go back in the drawer, since any leftover damp is what causes that musty smell. That's it. For our own pairs, the care is exactly this: cold machine wash in a mesh bag, no fabric softener, air dry. Do you have to rinse before washing? On a heavier day, yes, the cold rinse is worth the thirty seconds. It pulls out most of the blood so nothing sets in the wash, and it's the single best thing you can do to prevent stains and keep pairs smelling fresh. On a light or just-in-case day, when there's barely anything to rinse, you can put them straight into a cold wash and they'll come out perfectly clean. Use your judgement, there's no rule that every pair needs a rinse. Why does my period underwear smell after washing? If a pair still smells once it's clean and dry, it's almost never the underwear itself. Fresh menstrual blood barely has a scent. A lingering smell after washing usually comes down to one of a few fixable things: Fabric softener or detergent build-up. The most common culprit. That waxy residue traps odour. Stop the softener, use a little less detergent, and run an extra rinse. Not rinsing enough first. Blood left deep in the absorbent layer feeds bacteria. A proper cold rinse until the water runs clear fixes it. Not drying fully. Damp left in the fabric turns musty. Air them somewhere with good airflow until bone dry. If a smell has already built up, soak the pairs in one part white vinegar to three parts cold water for about fifteen to thirty minutes, then wash cold as usual with no softener. The vinegar cuts through the residue and resets the fabric. One honest note: if you're noticing a strong odour coming from your body rather than from clean underwear, that's a different thing worth mentioning to your doctor. This is general information, not medical advice. Can you wash period underwear with the rest of your laundry? Yes. Once a pair has been rinsed until the water runs clear, it's perfectly hygienic to wash it in a cold load with everything else, and it won't stain your other clothes or your machine. A washing machine dilutes everything almost instantly, and cold water keeps anything from setting. That said, plenty of people still prefer to use a mesh bag or run a separate load, just for peace of mind or to be a little gentler on the fabric. Both are completely fine. There's no hygiene reason you have to keep them separate, so do whatever makes you comfortable. How long does period underwear last? With good care, a pair generally lasts somewhere between six months and a couple of years, and how you wash it makes most of the difference. Cold water, no softener, and air drying are what protect the absorbent and waterproof layers over time. The pairs that wear out early are almost always the ones that went through a hot dryer or picked up softener residue. Replace a pair when you notice it's not holding like it used to, the elastic has gone, or a smell won't shift no matter how you wash it. Compared with reaching for disposables every cycle, a few well-cared-for pairs go a long way, which is part of the appeal. A note on soft fabric The same gentle routine that protects the working layers also keeps the fabric feeling good. Our period range is made from soft modal, which stays buttery against the skin when it's washed cold and air dried, and loses that softness fast if it's put through high heat. So the care that makes your pairs last is the same care that keeps them feeling nice to put on. If you're looking for a pair to start with, our Period Boxer Briefs have a full built-in absorbency panel, and you can see the whole period and leakproof range in sizes XS to 5XL. Frequently asked questions How do you wash period underwear? Rinse in cold water until it runs clear, then cold machine wash in a mesh bag with a mild detergent. Skip fabric softener and bleach, and air dry rather than using the dryer. Do you have to rinse period underwear before washing? On heavier days, yes, a quick cold rinse until the water runs clear prevents stains and odour. On light days you can usually put them straight into a cold wash. Can you machine wash period underwear? Yes. Use a cold, gentle cycle with mild detergent, ideally in a mesh bag to protect the fabric. Hand washing works too if you prefer, but it isn't necessary. Can you put period underwear in the dryer? It's best to air dry. High heat can damage the waterproof layer and the elastic and shorten the life of a pair. Air drying keeps them working and feeling soft for longer. Can you use fabric softener on period underwear? No. Fabric softener leaves a waxy coating that clogs the absorbent layer, reduces absorbency, and traps odour. Use mild detergent only, with no softener, dryer sheets, or bleach. Why does my period underwear smell after washing? Usually it's fabric-softener build-up, not rinsing enough first, or not drying fully. Stop using softener, rinse until the water runs clear, soak occasionally in one part white vinegar to three parts cold water, and let them air dry completely. Is it hygienic to wash period underwear with other clothes? Yes, once rinsed, washing them in a cold load with everything else is perfectly hygienic and won't stain your other clothes or your machine. Many people still prefer a mesh bag or separate load, which is fine too. How often should you replace period underwear? With good care, most pairs last from six months to a couple of years. Replace them when the absorbency drops off, the elastic wears out, or a smell won't wash out. Shop period & leakproof  

It's the first proper warm day. You put on the dress, you feel great, you walk out the door. Twenty minutes later your inner thighs are on fire, and by the time you're home there's an angry red patch where skin met skin all afternoon. If you know, you know. This is chub rub, and it's one of the most common, least talked-about parts of warm-weather life. Here's the good news: it's very fixable, and you don't have to hide your legs to fix it. This is the honest, complete guide, every real solution laid out with the pros and cons, not just a list of things to buy. What is chub rub, really? Chub rub is the friendly, slightly cheeky name for inner-thigh chafing: the skin irritation you get when your thighs rub against each other, over and over, usually in heat and humidity. Dermatology sources describe chafing as exactly that, skin rubbing against skin or clothing in warm, damp areas like the inner thighs, groin, underarms and under the bust. Sweat, heat and movement all make it worse. It usually shows up as redness, a stinging or burning feeling, and sometimes a raw patch or rash. When it gets more severe, or keeps happening in the same warm, moist fold of skin, it can develop into what doctors call intertrigo, an inflammation of the skin folds that can sometimes get irritated further by yeast or bacteria. Most mild chub rub calms down within a day or two once the rubbing stops, but if it keeps coming back, that's worth paying attention to. Why do my thighs chafe? (And why it's not about your weight) This is the myth worth busting first, because it keeps people quietly embarrassed for no reason. Chub rub is not a plus-size problem. Whether your thighs touch comes down to the width of your hips and the structure of your pelvis, not the number on the scale. That's why slim women get chub rub. Runners get it. Athletes with strong, muscular thighs get it, sometimes more, because muscle increases the contact. If your thighs touch when you walk, you can chafe, and most people's thighs touch. So if you've been carrying a bit of shame about this, put it down. It's friction, it's physics, and it's incredibly common. Every way to stop chub rub, honestly reviewed There's no single right answer, because it depends on what you're wearing and how your day looks. Here's the honest rundown. Long-leg underwear and bike shorts This is the most reliable all-day fix, because it puts a smooth layer between your thighs so skin never touches skin in the first place. Unlike a balm, it doesn't sweat off or need reapplying halfway through the day. The catch is that a lot of bike shorts are thick, hot, or roll up as you walk, which defeats the point. The trick is a thin, breathable pair with a leg that actually reaches where your thighs touch and a hem that stays put. More on how to choose below. Shop the 5″ boxer (XS–5XL) Anti-chafe balms and sticks A glide stick or balm (the drugstore favourites like Body Glide and Megababe Thigh Rescue) creates a slippery barrier right on the skin. It's invisible, it works under any outfit, and it's easy to carry. The downside is that it can sweat off on a hot day, needs reapplying, and can melt or feel greasy. Great for minimal outfits where you don't want an extra layer, less reliable for a long, sweaty day on your feet. Powders and gels Powders (cornstarch-based ones rather than talc) absorb moisture and cut friction, which helps because damp skin chafes faster. Anti-chafe gels do a similar job to balms but tend to dry clearer and resist sweat a little better. Both need reapplying, and powder can get messy or cake up. Thigh bands Fabric or lace bands that sit around each thigh (Bandelettes are the best known) are a discreet alternative to shorts. They work well for some people, but the common complaint is that they slide down or roll as you move, so fit matters a lot. Staying dry Not a barrier on its own, but it helps everything else work: breathable fabrics, changing out of damp clothes, and avoiding cotton (which holds sweat against the skin) all reduce how fast you chafe. Think of it as the base layer of any chub-rub plan. Most people land on a combination. The honest takeaway: for a long, active, hot day, a good pair of long-leg underwear is the most dependable option, and a balm is a great backup for outfits where you'd rather not layer. How to choose anti-chafing shorts that actually stay put If you go the underwear route, the difference between "life-changing" and "back in the drawer" is in the details. Here's what actually matters. Length that reaches where your thighs touch. This is the whole game. A short cut leaves your thighs meeting below the hem, so the chafing just moves down. For most people that means a 5″ or 8″ inseam. The longer the leg, the more reliably skin stays off skin. A leg band that grips without rolling. The number-one complaint about anti-chafe shorts is that they ride up. A flat, bonded hem (rather than a thick stitched one) tends to stay lower on the thigh and won't dig in or leave marks. Breathable, moisture-managing fabric. Since heat and sweat are what start the problem, you want something that breathes and dries fast, not a thick compression short that traps heat. Modal, for example, is more breathable than cotton and dries faster, so it stays comfortable in humidity. Smooth and no-VPL under dresses. A seamless pair in a nude or skin tone should be invisible under a summer dress, so you get the protection with none of the "are those showing?" worry. Size-inclusive. Since chub rub affects every body, the range should too. Shop the 8″ Biker This is exactly where our longer styles fit in. The 8″ Biker gives the most thigh coverage of anything we make, in a thin, breathable modal with a flat, hot-pressed hem that's designed to stay down instead of rolling up. For a shorter, lighter option that still clears most thighs, the 5″ boxer brief runs all the way to 5XL. One customer put it better than we could: "I've long been a curvy girl who wants to wear dresses, but the chub rub can get real!", and another said the 8″ "literally feel like you are wearing nothing... especially if you have larger thighs." How to heal chafed thighs (and when to see a doctor) If the damage is already done, stop the friction first, that's what lets the skin settle. Keep the area clean and dry, and give it a rest from whatever caused it. Dermatologists at the American Academy of Dermatology note that a thin layer of petroleum jelly can help protect and soothe irritated skin while it recovers. Mild chafing usually calms down within a day or two. See a doctor or dermatologist if the skin breaks, oozes, blisters, spreads, or hasn't improved after a week or so, or if it comes with a fever, since that can signal an infection that needs treatment. This is general information, not medical advice, so if something doesn't look right, get it checked. Surviving chub rub season Summer is peak chub rub season: heat, humidity, dresses, weddings, festivals, long days walking around on vacation. The freeing part is realising you don't have to choose between comfort and wearing what you want. A thin pair of long-leg underwear under a sundress, a balm in your bag for touch-ups, and staying dry where you can, and the thing that used to ruin your afternoon just stops being a problem. Frequently asked questions What is chub rub? Chub rub is a casual, body-positive term for inner-thigh chafing: skin-on-skin friction that leaves your thighs red, stinging or raw, usually in heat and humidity. Does thigh chafing only happen to plus-size people? No. Whether your thighs touch comes down to your hip and pelvic structure, not your weight. Slim women, runners and athletes chafe too. If your thighs touch, you can get chub rub, and most people's do. How do I stop my thighs from rubbing together? Put a barrier between them. Long-leg underwear or bike shorts are the most reliable all-day option, an anti-chafe balm works for minimal outfits, and keeping skin dry with breathable fabric helps everything work better. What length should anti-chafing shorts be? Long enough to reach where your thighs actually touch, which for most people is a 5″ or 8″ inseam, with a leg band that won't roll up. A cut that's too short just moves the chafing lower. How long does chafed skin take to heal? Usually a day or two once the friction stops. More severe chafing can take up to a week or two. See a doctor if it blisters, oozes, spreads, or won't heal. Do anti-chafing shorts show under dresses? Not if they're seamless with a flat, bonded hem and in a nude or skin tone. A thin pair should be invisible under a dress, with no visible panty line. Are balms or shorts better for chub rub? Shorts are the most reliable all-day barrier since they don't sweat off. Balms are great for outfits where you don't want a layer, but they need reapplying. Plenty of people use both. What fabric is best to prevent chafing? Breathable, moisture-managing fabrics like modal, which is more breathable than cotton and dries faster. Avoid cotton on hot days, since it holds sweat against the skin. Shop anti-chafing shorts  

Let's talk about the underwear you never actually reach for. You know the one, shoved to the back of the drawer, only worn on laundry-emergency days. It rides up. It digs in. It goes see-through under leggings by lunchtime. Somehow, it's just... fine. We think "fine" is a pretty low bar for something you wear every single day. Most underwear is designed around broad averages and how efficiently it can be produced, not around how it actually feels on a real body, living a real life. So when we started Pure Snug, we asked a nosier question: what would make a woman genuinely excited to reach for the same pair again tomorrow? That question shaped everything, from the fabric to the women's-specific patterns, the inseam options, the gusset choices, the smooth finishes, and yes, those prints people can't stop collecting. Here's what we believe makes underwear genuinely great. The short version Great underwear should feel soft, stay exactly where you put it, and work with your body, your clothes and your day, not against them. We combine premium modal with women's-specific patterns, three inseam lengths, tapered leg openings, flexible gusset options and sizes from XS to 5XL. The goal is simple: underwear you forget you're wearing, and remember the moment it's time to get dressed. 1. Fabric: not all "soft" feels the same "Soft" and "breathable" get printed on just about every underwear label out there, but the fibre, the knit and the finishing all quietly decide how a fabric actually feels against your skin. We use premium modal, a regenerated cellulose fibre made from responsibly sourced beech wood. Modal is produced in a resource-efficient process with high recovery rates of the chemicals involved, and what lands on your skin is smooth, breathable, and naturally good at absorbing and releasing moisture, so it feels drier against the body through a long day. Our fabric is also tested to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, Product Class I, the standard's strictest product class, which sets the lowest limit values for harmful substances and is the class applied to textiles for babies and toddlers. To be fully upfront: this doesn't mean "chemical-free", and it isn't an organic or environmental certification. What it means is independent, third-party lab testing of the finished fabric against a genuinely strict limit for harmful substances, checked and renewed each year, not just a nice word on a swing tag. The result, for everyday wear, is a light, silky feel with real stretch and shape retention, without needing a heavy, bulky fabric to get there. Shop the 3″ boyleg 2. Fit engineering: designed around women's bodies Comfort isn't fabric alone. A pair can feel beautifully soft in your hand and still bunch, ride up, or demand constant adjusting if the pattern was never built for how your body actually moves. Our patterns are developed specifically for women, not resized from a unisex block. Waistband placement, gusset shape, leg taper, inseam length and coverage are all considered together, then refined through real customer feedback. That's what we mean when we say thoughtfully engineered to stay put. Tapered leg openings that actually follow your thigh A straight leg opening leaves excess fabric bunching in one spot and pressure digging into another. Our tapered leg shape follows the natural line of the thigh more closely, so the fabric sits snugly with less bunching and far fewer mid-day tugs. If you've been hunting for women's boxer briefs that don't ride up, or comfortable underwear for fuller thighs, this one small pattern detail tends to make a surprisingly big difference. Three lengths, because no two days (or bodies) are the same Bodies, outfits and comfort needs all vary, so we make three lengths. The 3″ boyleg is lighter, shorter coverage designed to sit smoothly under fitted pants and leggings. The 5″ boxer is the everyday all-rounder, with balanced coverage and thigh comfort. The 8″ biker is longer coverage for dresses, no ride up, anti-chafing comfort, or anyone who wants more fabric through the thigh. Gusset options built for real life Different needs call for different construction, so we don't force a single gusset on everyone. Our standard styles feature an attached gusset, while our PadStay collection uses a floating organic cotton gusset, designed to make it easier for the wings of many pads to wrap around securely. Gusset type varies by style, so it's always worth checking the individual product page. 3. Construction: the details you feel after hours of wear The very best construction details are usually the ones you never notice at all. We focus on cutting bulk, rubbing and visible ridges, while keeping every style secure and genuinely wearable. Smooth waistbands and hems Selected styles use heat-bonded waistbands and hems for a flatter finish under leggings, fitted pants and anything close-fitting, helping cut down on bulky edges and visible lines. Other styles use stitched finishes where that construction suits the garment best. Check the product page for style-specific details. Fewer pressure points where you sit Most of our styles skip the centre-back seam, so there's no raised ridge running through the exact spot you sit on all day. The result is a smoother feel with fewer pressure points, whether you're travelling, at a desk, or just living your life. Sizing from XS to 5XL Our range runs from XS to 5XL. Inclusive sizing isn't just about stretching a size chart, it takes real pattern grading and fit decisions to preserve the intended coverage, leg shape and comfort across every single size. Always check the current size guide, since fit is personal and varies with body shape and preference. 4. Prints designed to be collected This might be our favourite difference to talk about, honestly, because it's the one most brands skip entirely. A lot of "cute print" underwear is built from cheap, mass-produced stock patterns, the kind of small repeating tile you'll spot on a dozen unrelated products. It's fine. It's also completely forgettable. Picture your desktop printer printing a photo onto a sheet of paper, then scale that up to a giant textile printer running continuously across metres of fabric. That's essentially how our digital prints are made: the artwork is printed straight onto the fabric roll before it's cut and sewn into your Snugs. More traditional printing methods are often built for large production runs, where simpler repeating patterns and flatter colours are more practical. Digital printing gives us the freedom to play with intricate detail, colour gradients, more complex artwork and smaller batches. That's how flamingos, Wild Jungle, cherries, birds and all our other slightly-too-fun ideas make their way onto your underwear, with a richer, more detailed finish that genuinely feels like wearable art. Some of our customers properly collect our prints, the way other people collect scarves or sneakers. That's not an accident, it's kind of the whole point. Shop the printed boxers 5. Built through real customer conversations We keep refining fit and construction based on the people who actually wear it. Our length options, expanded sizing, gusset variations and evolving finishes all come from one practical idea: comfortable women's underwear should work for real bodies and real routines, not ask women to work around the garment. Is Pure Snug "better" than every other brand? Honestly? Fit is personal, and no single pair is going to be perfect for every body, we're not going to pretend otherwise. What we can promise is intent: our fabric, patterns, length choices, gussets, finishes, sizing and prints are all deliberate decisions, shaped around real women's comfort, not just around what's cheapest to mass-produce. If you've spent years bouncing between brands, wondering why underwear just won't stay put, the problem probably isn't your body. It might simply be that the garment was never designed for the way you move, sit, walk and live. Trying a new underwear brand can feel like a bit of a leap of faith. Our Love at First Snug Guarantee is designed to make that first-pair decision easier: if your first pair isn't right, get in touch and our team will help sort it out. Full eligibility and conditions are on our website. Frequently asked questions What fabric does Pure Snug use? Premium modal, a regenerated cellulose fibre made from responsibly sourced beech wood. It's soft, breathable and naturally moisture-managing, and it's tested to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, Product Class I, the strictest product class of that certification. Is modal good for hot weather? Its smooth, breathable feel and the way it absorbs and releases moisture can make it a genuinely comfortable choice in warm weather, though comfort still depends on fit, activity and personal preference. Does Pure Snug make anti-chafing underwear? The 8″ biker offers the longest thigh coverage and is our go-to recommendation when you want extra help reducing skin-on-skin friction, whether that's under a dress or just through a busy day. What does "printed by the metre" mean? Think of a desktop printer printing onto paper, scaled up to a giant textile printer running continuously across metres of fabric. The artwork is printed straight onto the fabric roll before it's cut and sewn. Unlike traditional methods built for simple repeating patterns, digital printing lets us play with intricate detail, colour gradients and smaller batches, which is how we get all those detailed, collectable prints. What sizes does Pure Snug offer? XS through 5XL. Use the current size guide, and factor in how snug you personally like things to sit. What's the difference between a floating and attached gusset? A floating gusset is secured at the ends but open along the sides, which makes it easier to wrap pad wings around. An attached gusset is built in flat all the way around. Gusset type varies by style, so it's always worth checking the product page. Which inseam length should I choose? Go for the 3″ boyleg for shorter, lighter coverage, the 5″ boxer for everyday versatility, or the 8″ biker for longer coverage and extra thigh comfort. Your height, thigh shape, outfit and coverage preference can all steer the decision. Will Pure Snug show under leggings? Selected styles use flat, heat-bonded waistbands and hems designed to reduce bulk and visible lines. Results can vary with garment colour, fabric thickness, fit, and the leggings you're wearing. Find your snug