Deformed elastic on underclothing

Have it with my Capilene 3 and Carhartt Work-Dry long underwear bottoms, plus UA Boxerjocks, and 1 of the 3 different types of Terramar synthetic boxer briefs that I own.
Doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it.
I don't put any of this stuff in the dryer, btw.

Cheers Chris,

This is definitley a strange one, its like the
elastic has lost its rigidity.

Lots of synthetic things like elastic will go to hell once chlorine bleach has been on them. Sometimes the wrong kind of detergent will do it.

–B.G.–

I think you found the culprit Bob.

Much appreciated.

To quote Captain Renault in Casablanca: "Round up the usual suspects."

–B.G.–

That happened to me on my dead bird phase SL boxers. Only used revivex synthetic cleaner, and air dried.
They are about 5 years old….but still….bummer.

Your right Bob on that.

Christopher, I might try ironing the elastic on the oldest
ones and see if it straightens out the elastic.

Stephen, on some types of elastic, if they are ironed, they get brittle due to overheating. Then they go completely bad.

–B.G.–

I have been tying some ruberlegs nymphs this week for Steelhead fishing and have been annoyed that the rubber legs material (similar to some elastic) is somewhat curly. I'll have to try ironing my rubber legs! This stuff has the advantage that if you screw it up you can throw it out without much loss.

This thread gave me the idea of replacing the waistband on a pair of baselayers.
I don't even know what their warranty is, or if it would apply, but I just dug a pair of TNF XTC Flight Series bottoms out of the gear closet that are many years old. They have seen more wear than several other bottoms that I've worn the crotch completely out of, but still look like they're brand new. The waistband has completely lost its elasticity, though.
Wondering how much trouble it would be to switch the waistband with one from a pair of Terramar boxer briefs that have held up very well. I have 6-8pr of them, and only paid ~$6ea.
I've got to get some alterations done soon, and am going to take them with me and see what they say…

Owen, I guess you know that you can purchase elastic in several widths at a good fabric store.

–B.G.–

"I've got to get some alterations done soon, and am going to take them with me and see what they say…"

If you have not already thought of this, I'd suggest checking with a local dry cleaning/laundry establishment. They often do alterations, and I have found them to be cheaper than a full time seamstress. The ones I have dealt with are Korean, and they do excellent work for a very reasonable price.

"Owen, I guess you know that you can purchase elastic in several widths at a good fabric store."
I've never been in a fabric store, but I'm glad you said that. Reminded me that some pants have waists with replaceable elastic bands running through a tunnel of the pant material. My R1 weight surplus bottoms have a rise so high that the band has to be folded over several times for me to wear them. Think they're going to get "chopped and channeled" while I'm in the mood to mod :)

I have some items with bungee cord elastic in them that are 20 years old, and they still
seem fine. But I have some other (certain collapsible tent poles come to mind, for example) where the bungee cords virtually turned to powder and lost all elasticity in a matter of 5 or so years. It doesn't seem in this case to be due to the addition to any adverse chemicals, at least post purchase. I have always wondered about this – anyone know what this might happen to some and not others?

I had this happen to some synthetic insulation as well. In that case I kind of expect deterioration of the synthetic over a decade, yet some of it still seem find while others have gotten "brittle". It crosses my mind in a sort of vague but totally unscientific way that perhaps running that stuff through the x-ray machine at the airport might break enough bonds (or something) so that 10 years later you can tell. Probably not. Possibly it IS due to chemical where at some companies they do not wash (or whatever) the materials well enough and some trace damaging chemical remain.