General recommendations will help you decide if you are unsure whether it is time to refresh your favorite dress or jeans.
What general recommendations should you consider
There are no strict rules about how often you should wash your clothes. But you can focus on several factors. The first is how often you wear something. That is, it does not matter how much time has passed since the last wash, what matters is how many times you have worn the item since then. The more often you do this, the more often you need to wash it.
As soon as stains appear on your clothes, it is better to immediately remove them spot-treat them, wash the entire item, or dry clean it. If there is no obvious stain, the fastest and easiest way to understand whether it is time to refresh your T-shirt, dress, or pants is to smell them.
Sweat is a significant factor. If you always sweat in a certain item, it will need to be washed frequently. And it’s not just about the smell: sweat is not only a great breeding ground for bacteria, but also spoils clothes over time, so you should get rid of its traces as quickly as possible.
Another factor is the time of year. For example, if in winter you can wear a shirt up to five times, then in summer, in hot weather, you will most likely need to wash it after the first or second time.
In addition, the frequency with which we wash affects our health. Microorganisms can get onto things from both the environment and our own body and remain on the fabric for some time. Contact with dirty clothes can cause acne and other rashes on the skin. In this case, you should not only consult a doctor, but also, perhaps, start washing clothes more often, especially those that are close to the body.
Is it possible to wash clothes too often or too rarely
Regular washing allows you not only to eliminate unpleasant odors from clothes and look neat, but also to keep your wardrobe in good condition for longer. Sweat or cosmetic residue can damage the fabric fibers. Stains are harder to remove if left on for a long time.
At the same time, you need to consider the features of the washing machine: how effectively it removes dirt while maintaining the integrity of the fabric and fittings.
Some things are really better washed less often, for example, jeans. And some, say, bras, need to be refreshed much more often. In general, you can focus on these intervals and send clothes to the wash if you put on:
- 1 time – any white or silk item, swimsuit or swimming trunks, T-shirt, tank top, thin knitted sweater, evening dress (it should be dry cleaned), panties, socks;
- 1-3 times – leggings, shapewear, blouse, dress;
- 2-3 times – shorts, trousers, cotton or cashmere sweater;
- 5-6 times – jacket, blazer, wool or synthetic sweater;
- 6-7 times — fleece, hoodie, sweatshirt.
Some items need to be washed several times per season:
- 1-2 times — leather or suede jackets, wool coats, classic trousers and skirts, sweatshirts, down jackets and down vests;
- 3-5 times — hats, scarves, gloves.
How often to wash different wardrobe items
Bras
Some experts advise washing a bra after one or two wears, while others believe that you can wear it three or four times. However, if you wore the bra for a short time and hardly sweated, you can not count the entire wear. And vice versa: several hours in hot conditions are equivalent to two or three wears.
If you wear a bra for 10-12 hours a day, it will not only absorb sweat, sebum and deodorant, but also stretch. To prevent this from happening, experts recommend giving your bra at least one day of rest between wears so that the product can regain its shape.
To make your underwear perform its functions longer and retain its appearance, when washing, you should strictly follow the instructions on the label, use a special bag and dry your bra in the open air, not in the machine.
Jeans
As a rule, jeans are advised to be washed after every fourth or fifth wear. However, some experts recommend doing this even less often – every six weeks or after every 10th wear.
The former head of Levi Strauss generally advised never to wash jeans. In his opinion, this is harmful to good denim and is a waste of water. Other manufacturers note that “raw” denim should not be washed earlier than six months after purchase. When we sit down, keep our hands in our pockets, put our phone or wallet there, the indigo color lightens in places where folds naturally appear. If you wash your jeans too early, the paint will wash out evenly and the highlight will disappear.
Coats and jackets
Outerwear generally needs to be cleaned once or twice a season. Leather or suede jackets are best dry cleaned, and before that, wiped regularly with a soft cloth to remove dust, or a sponge soaked in water to remove stains.
Wool coats can also be taken to a professional dry cleaner no more than twice per season. The same amount of time is enough for down jackets and down vests. In this case, you can restore the cleanliness of your clothes yourself, after checking the recommendations on the label. Fleece jackets should be washed every six wears.
Hats, gloves, scarves
Winter wardrobe items should be washed about three to five times per season. If they are made of cotton or synthetics, then there will be no problems with washing. It is only advisable to put the items in a mesh bag so that they do not get caught on anything in the drum of the washing machine.
Wool items can be hand washed in a basin with cool water and a small amount of mild detergent. At the same time, to remove excess water, it is better to squeeze scarves and hats rather than twist them, otherwise they may stretch and lose their shape.
Sportswear
This is a personal preference, but if you don’t work out for hours or sweat a lot, it’s fine to wash your clothes every two or three workouts. If you work out a lot, you should wash them after every workout. It’s best to use warm or cold water, as hot water can ruin the elasticity of the fabric.
If you don’t want to wash your sportswear because you’re going to the gym again the next day, at least take it out of your bag and hang it up to dry thoroughly.
Pajamas
You can wash your sleepwear every three or four wears, or even less often if you don’t like to wrap yourself in a blanket and don’t sweat too much at night. Many people take a shower before changing into their pajamas, and then don’t do much except read or watch TV shows in bed.
However, you shouldn’t wait too long with washing: even if your pajamas look clean, they still contain sweat, bacteria, dead skin cells, and cream residue. Also, if you don’t wear underwear under your pajamas, you should treat them like underwear and freshen them up often.
Swimwear
Swimwear and bathing suits should be washed after each wear to remove any sweat, sunscreen, beach sand, or pool chemicals. Dry your swimwear naturally, not in the machine, as this will affect the elasticity of the fabric.