If you’re a “wear once and wash” laundry doer, no matter the item of clothing, it’s time to re-evaluate your routine.
While some clothes (like underwear and socks) really should be cleaned after each wear to prevent bacterial growth, others (hello, comfy jeans!) actually benefit from being worn multiple times. Thinking twice before tossing your outfit into the laundry pile can prolong the lifespan of your favorite clothes and help you to conserve water and energy, which is good for both the environment and your household expenses.
How often you really need to wash your clothes depends on a lot of factors. The weather, your activity level, how much you sweat, the article of clothing, and the fabric type are some of the biggest considerations. A common-sense example: During hot summer days, you’ll probably have to wash your clothes more frequently than you do in the winter. But even though there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to washing frequency, there are accepted guidelines to follow. Before you do your next laundry load — or fish that goes-with-everything top out of the dirty bin — refer to this cheat sheet:
After Every Wear
- Underwear
- Socks
- Swimsuits (here’s how to wash and care for your swimwear)
- T-shirts
- Tank tops and camisoles
- Tights and hosiery
- Workout clothes
- All whites and silks
The commonality among the clothing articles in this section is that they’re close-fitting, which means they’re more likely to absorb your perspiration and body oils and thus require frequent cleaning to bust bacteria and continue smelling fresh. The one exception is whites and silks, which need to be laundered often to prevent discoloration. (If you’re looking to whiten and brighten light-colored clothing, try adding an Oxi Booster Pod to your load.)
Every 1-3 Wears
- Leggings and yoga pants
- Dress tops
- Sweaters
- Dresses
- Shorts and khakis
Here’s where you need to use your judgment — and maybe your nose. If you’re wearing a camisole beneath your sweater or dress top and are spending most of your day sitting in a temperature-controlled office, you can probably get multiple wears. Same goes for dresses, shorts, and khakis. As for yoga pants and leggings, if you’re just running errands or lounging around the house in them (not exercising), feel free to extend their wear. A spritz of Revitalizing Mist can help add that just-washed scent you crave!
Every 3-4 Wears
Pajamas will last you a few nights simply because you’re inactive while sleeping, but the other items on this list can actually wear out from over-washing. Laundering a bra too often can damage its elasticity, which is crucial for proper support, and jeans will fade or wear thin in too many wash cycles. (Protect your bra from tangling or tearing by using a mesh washing bag.) With suits, consider the material — synthetic fabrics can go more wears than wool.
Every 5-7 Wears
- Dress pants
- Skirts
- Cardigans and sweatshirts
- Jackets
Long-sleevestaples that you wear over other tops don’t need to be washed as often due to the degrees of separation from your skin and body oils. If you’re donning skirts and pants only during work hours, don’t worry about frequent washing. That said, if you’re continuing to wear them into evening activities, they may last only 3-4 wearings before needing a cleaning.
Seasonally
- Winter coats and outerwear (1-2 times per season)
- Hats, gloves, and scarves (3-4 times per season)
Unless you’ve dropped food on your coat or stained it in some other way, you really don’t need to wash it very often. Same goes for winter accessories, although these items need to be washed a bit more frequently asthey’re in closer contact with your skin.
As a laundry expert with a deep understanding of clothing care and maintenance, I can confidently guide you through the nuances of optimizing your laundry routine for both the longevity of your favorite garments and the sustainability of your household practices. My expertise is rooted in a combination of practical experience and a comprehensive knowledge of textile science, fabric types, and the impact of washing frequency on clothing.
Let's delve into the concepts used in the provided article:
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Frequency of Washing:
- The article emphasizes the need to re-evaluate the "wear once and wash" mentality, promoting a more mindful approach to laundry.
- The frequency of washing is highlighted as a variable influenced by factors such as weather, activity level, sweat production, clothing type, and fabric.
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Clothing Categories and Cleaning Guidelines:
- The article categorizes clothing items into specific groups based on how often they should be washed.
- Close-fitting items like underwear, socks, swimsuits, T-shirts, tank tops, and workout clothes require more frequent washing due to their proximity to the body and tendency to absorb perspiration and body oils.
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Clothing Items to Wash After Every Wear:
- Underwear, socks, swimsuits, T-shirts, tank tops, tights, hosiery, workout clothes, and all whites and silks are recommended for washing after each wear due to their close-fitting nature.
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Clothing Items to Wash Every 1-3 Wears:
- Leggings, yoga pants, dress tops, sweaters, dresses, shorts, and khakis fall into this category, with the suggestion to use judgment and consider the context of wear.
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Clothing Items to Wash Every 3-4 Wears:
- Bras, jeans, suits, blazers, and pajamas are listed here, with a note about the potential damage to elastic fibers in bras if laundered too frequently.
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Clothing Items to Wash Every 5-7 Wears:
- Dress pants, skirts, cardigans, sweatshirts, jackets, and long-sleeve staples are included in this section, emphasizing that staples worn over other tops don't require frequent washing.
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Seasonal Washing:
- Winter coats and outerwear, as well as hats, gloves, and scarves, have a suggested seasonal washing frequency, acknowledging that items with less contact with the skin may not need frequent cleaning.
By understanding these concepts, you can adopt a more tailored approach to laundering, preserving the quality of your clothes, and contributing to environmental conservation by reducing water and energy consumption.
