How Often Should You Change Your Clothes (2024)

Home Inspiration How Often Should You Change Your Clothes | Panaprium

I used to change my outfit many times per day before I went from fast-fashion obsessed to following a slow approach to fashion. I now wash my clothes and buy new ones only when I need to.

Change and wash your workout clothes, swimwear, and underwear after every wear. Casual and formal clothes can last up to five times wearing them. Coats, jackets, parkas, hats, gloves, and other accessories can be laundered once a season.

How many times you should wash your clothes depends on a lot of factors. The climate at your location, your lifestyle, what kind of clothes you are wearing, their quality, and durability.

You don't want to wear dirty or smelly clothes. You should avoid clothes that are overused, faded, stained, or broken as well.

At the same time, changing, washing, and buying clothes too often cost money, pollute the environment, consume water, and energy.

Fashion is one of the most polluting industries in the world. Every year, tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean. Even washing most clothes at home releases plastic microfibers into waterways that threaten marine life.

There are many things you can do to be more environmentally friendly at home. Washing your clothes less often and in cold water is one of them. Your laundry doesn't require high temperatures every time. The cold water setting on your washing machine saves lots of energy.

Here are some tips on how often you should change your clothes to protect the environment, save time, and money.

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When to wash your clothes

Don't wash clothes that you don't wear. If you feel like you have too many clothes, consider donating them instead. It's reasonable to go through your clothes from time to time. Start decluttering and getting rid of pieces you don't need.

Read up my list of 10 ways to tell it's time to donate your clothes to get a sense of what kind of clothes to get rid of.

Workout clothes are usually very sweaty. In general, any piece of clothing that is tight-fitting, and worn close to skin should be washed more often. Place gym clothing, dancewear, sportswear, athletic gear, and swimwear in the laundry basket after every use.

How Often Should You Change Your Clothes (2)

Wash underwear, socks, undershirts, intimates, panties, bras, lingerie, bustiers, and stockings after every wear. This is pretty straight forward, non-negotiable and important for hygiene and health.

How Often Should You Change Your Clothes (3)

Handbags, gym bags, belts, scarves, ties, gloves, hats, and other accessories don't need washing that often. Once a month up to once every season is plenty enough to keep them in good condition.

How Often Should You Change Your Clothes (4)

Most heavy clothes and winter clothes such as coats, jackets, and parkas should be washed once every season. Washing them too often reduces their durability. Some of them even need to be professionally laundered.

How Often Should You Change Your Clothes (5)

Casual clothes such as tees, shirts, pants, shorts, blouses, jumpers, skirts, dresses, tanks, crop tops, sweaters, cardigans, and hoodies can last up to five times wearing them before they need to go in the washing machine. It depends on their materials, how much you sweat, and how many places you visit.

How Often Should You Change Your Clothes (6)

You don't need to wash your formal clothes very often. Office clothes and business attires can last up to a whole week before it needs to be dry cleaned. Make sure to drop off your whole outfit each time for cleaning so every piece wears at the same rate.

How Often Should You Change Your Clothes (7)

It's important to wash your clothes at the right moment. Washing them too often is unnecessary and very detrimental to the clothes themselves, your budget, and the planet. Wash them often enough to get rid of viruses, bacteria, fungus, and germs that may cause itching, red skin, infections, or chronic diseases.


When to buy new clothes

Most people don't wear the same clothes for too long. The rise of fast fashion over the last 20 years made us consider clothing as a disposable commodity.

Buying new clothes is now cheaper, faster, and easier than ever before. But it's not a good idea to renew your wardrobe every week. Under normal wear and tear, the average life expectancy of clothing could be more than 2 years.

Read up my article on the top 10 solutions to the fast fashion industry to learn more about the alternatives to fast fashion.

How Often Should You Change Your Clothes (8)

Buying new clothes is a common event for most consumers today. Some even shop for new clothing pieces every day. The overproduction and overconsumption of cheaply made clothing made fashion one of the largest polluters in the world.

It's a good idea to make space in your closet before buying new clothes. Go through your clothes whenever you can as often as possible. You will get a better picture of what clothing pieces you need and may even find garments you didn't know you owned in the back of your closet.

Follow my guide on how to decide what clothes to keep for guidance on decluttering your wardrobe responsibly.

How Often Should You Change Your Clothes (9)

Shop for new clothes when old items don't fit you anymore. If they are one size too big or too small, it's time to make room for better pieces that fit you perfectly.

If you don't plan on repairing some old clothes that are broken, with zippers that snag or broken buckles, you can always recycle or upcycle them and shop for new pieces instead.

If your clothes are uncomfortable, get new ones. You don't have to wear painful shoes or clothing that is too tight. Clothes are our second skin. They should make us feel comfortable and confident.

When you change your fashion style or adopt a new lifestyle, it's normal to buy new clothes. Keep only the clothes that still do it for you and buy clothes that are you. Think of a situation where you would wear it and what you would wear it with to make sure it's a purposeful purchase.

Check out my definitive list of different fashion styles that can help you pick the right ones for you.

How Often Should You Change Your Clothes (10)

I wouldn't keep underwear, swimwear, and workout clothes that are older than one year. This is a general rule to keep in mind. Depending on how often you wear them, your underwear assortment should be refreshed every six months.

If you've made purchasing mistakes in the past, if you bought clothes that went out of trend immediately, consider buying more classic and timeless pieces. They don't go out of style quickly, they are easy to combine, and you can wear them for a long time.

I hope these tips are helpful to you. How often do you change your clothes? Let us know in the comment section below.

Was this article helpful to you? Please tell us what you liked or didn't like in the comments below.

About the Author: Alex Assoune

How Often Should You Change Your Clothes (11)

Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. He founded Panaprium to inspire others with conscious living, ethical, and sustainable fashion. Alex has worked in many countries to address social and environmental issues. He speaks three languages and holds two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from SIGMA and IFPEN schools.

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How Often Should You Change Your Clothes (2024)

FAQs

How Often Should You Change Your Clothes? ›

Shirts and blouses: after 1-2 wearings. Dress pants or slacks: after 2-3 wearings. Jeans: after 4-5 wearings. Sweaters: up to 6 wearings, if worn with an undershirt; 1-2 wearings if worn without an undershirt.

Are you supposed to change clothes everyday? ›

Everyday Wear

"If you're wearing something for a few hours, and not sweating, it's probably okay to wait 2 to 4 wears before washing. Or, after a full day's use," says Dr. Gonzalez. "If you're working from home, it's probably okay to wait after 3 to 4 wears before washing your clothes."

How often should you replace clothes? ›

As a rule of thumb, though, check garments for wear about every two to three months. Then buy new when things start to show signs of wear.

How many days can you wear the same clothes? ›

You can wear the same clothes as long as you want, provided no-one else can smell them or you. As a rule, other people will be able to smell your clothes two days sooner than you can, because you get very used to the smell and don't notice it.

How many times can you wear clothes before washing the? ›

T-shirts, tank tops and camisoles should be washed after each wearing. Outer clothes like dress shirts and khakis can be worn a few times before washing unless it is hot out and you are sweating or they are visibly dirty or stained. Jeans can typically be worn 3 times before washing.

Is it OK to change clothes once a week? ›

Buying new clothes is now cheaper, faster, and easier than ever before. But it's not a good idea to renew your wardrobe every week. Under normal wear and tear, the average life expectancy of clothing could be more than 2 years.

Can you wear a shirt 2 days in a row? ›

Wearing a T-shirt two days in a row can be fine, if you're changing up your top layer. Whether it's a button-down or knit cardigan, make sure the shirt you're doubling up on isn't taking center stage. If it's a graphic tee or bold striped shirt, for example, people are going to take note.

What clothes should I throw away? ›

Here are seven signs to consider when getting rid of clothes.
  • It Has Stains, Holes, or a Smell. This might seem like an obvious sign. ...
  • You No Longer Love It. ...
  • It's From an Outdated Trend. ...
  • It Hasn't Fit in a Year. ...
  • You Haven't Worn It in a Year. ...
  • It No Longer Fits Your Style. ...
  • It's Uncomfortable.
Nov 13, 2020

Is it OK to wear clothes multiple times? ›

There's no hard and fast rule for how many times you can wear clothing again, but experts say there are a few types that should be washed after every use: underwear, socks, tights, leggings and activewear. This advice also applies to any other clothes with stains, sweat, odor or visible dirt, Mohammed said.

What happens if you don't change your clothes? ›

Germs and Microbes Build up on Your Clothes

Not washing your clothes often enough can cause germs and microbes to accumulate. When you wear your clothes in public, you are exposed to other people's germs. These germs can stick to your clothing. The more people you run into, the more germs you will accumulate over time.

Is it OK to wear jeans 2 days in a row? ›

A good rule of thumb is to wash your jeans after every 3-10 wears, or when they start to smell. If you're regularly active in your jeans (think: manual work, anything where you work up a sweat), wash them every 3 wears, but if you're working at a desk, you can probably go through multiple wears without washing.

Do people notice if you wear the same thing? ›

No, most people don't. And unless it is a very formal and conservative culture/environment, I don't think anyone would even bother or tell it to you on your face that you wore the same thing yesterday.

Is it OK to wear same clothes again and again? ›

We at Bright Side decided to find out what happens if you re-wear your seemingly fresh clothes for a few days in a row.
  1. It may cause body acne.
  2. It might lead to unpleasant body odor.
  3. You might be exposing yourself to other people's germs.
  4. It may give you a rash.

How often should you wash bed sheets? ›

Most people should wash their sheets once per week. If you don't sleep on your mattress every day, you may be able to stretch this to once every two weeks or so. Some people should wash their sheets even more often than once a week.

How often should I wash my hair? ›

When to wash. Rossi generally tells his patients they should wash their hair once or twice per week. But if you've had chemical treatments that can make your hair drier — such as bleach, perms or relaxers — you might want to wash it less than once weekly to avoid breaking or brittle hair or split ends, he said.

How many pajamas should I own? ›

Depending on your laundry schedule, you might need more than 5 pajama sets. But for most people, 3 to 4 pajama tops and bottoms are more than enough to meet everyday needs. Keep in mind that you don't need to wash your pajamas too often. You should wash them only when you need to.

Can I wear the same clothes for 3 days? ›

You can wear what you want. But there are ways of recasting your wardrobe so no one realises you've worn the same thing four days in a row. I do it all the time. I think of getting dressed like making soup – start with the broth, then just add different flavours each day.

Is it OK to wear the same pants every week? ›

As long as you maintain cleanliness and do not allow bacteria to grow, it is okay to wear the same pair of pants for one week. Make sure your pants dry when you come home from work before wearing them again.

Should you change pajamas every night? ›

The experts at the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) have detailed a helpful guide for how often we should wash our clothes. For pajamas, they suggest washing them after three or four wears. That's about two pairs of pajamas a week. While this standard is a recommendation, it's not the general norm.

Is it OK to wear the same clothes after a shower? ›

Is it okay to wear the same clothes after taking a shower? It's better not to wear clothes after taking a shower or any other time. But, if you have to wear ugly uncomfortable fabric covering, then you can wear the same clothes for several days. Washing clothes every day just wastes water and wears them out quickly.

How long should you wait to wear the same shirt? ›

T-shirts can last for as long as two wears, depending on the weather and how much you sweat. As tees absorb more oil and sweat, you may have to chuck them into the dirty pile sooner than you think.

Is it OK to wear the same outfit twice in a week? ›

Original question: “Is it unprofessional to wear the same clothing item twice in a work week?” Answer: No, it is not unprofessional to wear the same clothing item twice, thrice, or as many times as you want to wear it during a work week.

Who wastes the most clothes? ›

People with higher incomes generate on average 76% more clothing waste than people with lower incomes. Once textiles are discarded, 66% of them are sent to landfills in the U.S. where they decompose — some quickly and others over hundreds of years.

How many outfits should a person have? ›

The researchers found that a “sufficient” wardrobe consists of 74 garments and 20 outfits in total. As an example, they've suggested six outfits for work, three outfits for home wear, three outfits for sports, two outfits for festive occasions, plus four outdoor jackets and trousers or skirts.

How many dresses should a woman own? ›

In general, aim for 40 to 50 items, including 3 to 5 casual dresses or skirts. Refer to this ultimate guide on how big your wardrobe should be for inspiration. Only keep the essentials and what you truly need to earn more time, space, and money for the things you truly love.

How many clothes is too many? ›

There's no magic number of clothing items that you should have in your closet, but a good rule of thumb is only to keep clothes that you love and actually wear. If you haven't worn something in the past season or for more than a year, chances are you're not going to wear it again, and it's time to get rid of it.

Should you button pants before washing? ›

It's also important to zip zippers and fasten buttons and snaps — this helps keep the jeans in shape and prevents snagging other items in the load.

How often should jeans be washed? ›

A good rule of thumb is to wash your jeans after every 3-10 wears, or when they start to smell. If you're regularly active in your jeans (think: manual work, anything where you work up a sweat), wash them every 3 wears, but if you're working at a desk, you can probably go through multiple wears without washing.

How many times does the average person change clothes? ›

How many times are clothes worn before being discarded? On average, clothes are only worn seven times before being discarded.

How many times can you wear socks before washing? ›

How often should you wash your underwear, socks and bras? Underwear, socks and undershirts should be washed after every use, while bras can be worn 3-4 times before washing. Since underwear, socks and undershirts are in close contact with your skin and sweat, washing them after every use keeps them smelling fresh.

Is it OK to wear clothes straight from the store without washing them? ›

New clothes can transfer dye to your skin.

While you likely will not experience any serious health issues by not washing clothes before wearing them, more than anything – washing clothes before wearing is just good personal hygiene. Before washing, make sure to follow the instructions on the care tag.

How many pairs of jeans should I own if I wear them everyday? ›

Whatever the reasons behind this rather excessive average jean ownership rate, denim experts believe that 3 pairs of jeans is enough for any wardrobe, these 3 pairs of jeans can be categorised as; Dressy jeans. Every day casual jeans.

How many jeans should I own if I wear them everyday? ›

You should aim for 4 to 5 pairs of denim jeans, excluding shorts. It is a good number to meet your everyday needs, even though a woman own 7 pairs on average, and men 6.

Is it weird to wear the same pair of jeans Everyday? ›

It's quite common! In fact, when you first get a new pair of jeans, you're supposed to wear them often in order to break them in. Also, echoing Richie, you're not supposed to wash jeans often, as that causes them to fade and wear faster.

What is it called when you wear the same clothes everyday? ›

Uniform dressing: a guy who wears the same thing every day explains - Vox.

How many pairs of pants should a woman have? ›

Depending on your laundry schedule, you might need more than 5 pairs of pants. But for most people, 4 to 5 pairs of casual pants, including denim jeans, are more than enough to meet everyday needs. Keep in mind that you don't need to wash your casual pants too often. You should wash them only when you need to.

Why would someone wear the same clothes everyday? ›

When you wear the same thing every day, you save time deciding what you're going to wear each morning. And you save significant energy over the course of the week. Just think about how much time goes into maintaining, and organizing, and taking care of your clothes. Laundry, for example.

Can you wear the same clothes everyday without washing? ›

Let it serve as a little laundry day inspiration.
  • They Will Start To Smell Way Less Than Great. ...
  • Your Bodily Oils Will Begin To Accumulate. ...
  • Those Oils Can Mess Up Your Skin. ...
  • You Are Wrapping Yourself In Other People's Germs. ...
  • Stains Will Set In, Possibly For Good. ...
  • You Might Even Get An Itchy Rash.
Mar 31, 2016

How often should you change your towel? ›

Dead skin cells, bacteria, and even sweat can accumulate quickly on your towels, so using a fresh one about every three days is a simple rule of thumb—for all kinds of towels. You can of course change them more often.

Do hotels wash sheets every day? ›

Sheets are usually changed between guests, and sometimes state law requires it, but there's no guarantee that they will be. As for bedspreads, forget it. As countless hidden-camera investigative TV programs have confirmed, they aren't washed regularly.

How often should you clean your toilet? ›

Once a week at least.

coli can be found within six feet of the toilet and in the sink. To keep it at bay, disinfect the toilet and sink at least once weekly, and the bathtub every two weeks — more if you shower often.

How often should you shower? ›

Many doctors say a daily shower is fine for most people. (More than that could start to cause skin problems.) But for many people, two to three times a week is enough and may be even better to maintain good health.

What are the benefits of not washing your hair for a week? ›

Washing hair once a week, or even every other week, can help prevent the hair from drying out while also removing any buildup of hair products. Chemically treated hair and hair of older people may be drier, so not washing it for a week can help prevent it from drying out.

How long can you go without washing your hair? ›

"The average individual can typically go 2 to 3 days without shampooing their hair. However, if your hair is visibly oily, you may not want to wait that long," she says. "Usually, you can go longer without washing your hair when your hair is styled up, but no one should ever go more than 14 days."

Can I wear the same pajamas every day? ›

How often should I wash my pajamas? You don't need to change your pajamas every night, unless you're profusely sweating throughout the night (or wear them when you're sick). If you're not sick and sweaty, you can comfortably re-wear the same pajamas three to four times between washes.

How many clothes does the average person have? ›

People own an average of 148 pieces

Most survey respondents seem to have between 77 to 155 pieces in their wardrobe with a few outliers in the 300+ range. Again, I believe the survey data I collected skews a bit lower than what the 'true' average is for most people.

How long should you wear pajamas before washing them? ›

The Experts Weigh In

The American Cleaning Institute, however, is a little more lenient with its suggestions, recommending that pajamas are washed after three or four wears. Good Housekeeping magazine says once a week is the longest you should go.

Should I wear the same outfit every day? ›

When you wear the same thing every day, you save time deciding what you're going to wear each morning. And you save significant energy over the course of the week. Just think about how much time goes into maintaining, and organizing, and taking care of your clothes.

Are repeating outfits OK? ›

Is it OK to repeat outfits? Not only is it 'OK': repeating outfits should be praised and encouraged! But we get it. There's still a stigma around repeating clothes in a short period of time or at multiple events, especially for women due to the 'style gap'.

How many clothing items should I own? ›

Caption Options. The researchers found that a “sufficient” wardrobe consists of 74 garments and 20 outfits in total. As an example, they've suggested six outfits for work, three outfits for home wear, three outfits for sports, two outfits for festive occasions, plus four outdoor jackets and trousers or skirts.

What is the 30 wear rule? ›

What is the 30 Wear challenge? The 30 wear challenge is a commitment to wearing a new item of clothing at least 30 times. It forces you to pause before clicking buy and ask yourself, 'will I actually wear this 30 times?” If the answer is not 100% yes, then you don't make the purchase.

How often should you change your jeans? ›

"Denim is a thick fabric (unlike your average T-shirt) so you can get away with more wears between washes. We recommend washing after 10 or so wears—or whenever jeans smell stale or unpleasant.

How many pieces of clothing does the average person have? ›

People own an average of 148 pieces

Most survey respondents seem to have between 77 to 155 pieces in their wardrobe with a few outliers in the 300+ range. Again, I believe the survey data I collected skews a bit lower than what the 'true' average is for most people.

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