How many times can you wear your clothes before washing them?
For underwear, we wear them once, and presto, it's in the washing machine!
Same for socks and undershirts.
On the other hand, bras can be worn 3 or 4 times before going to the washing machine.
But what about jeans, sweaters or pajamas? How often should everyday clothes be washed?
Luckily, here's the easy guide to knowing how often you should wash your clothes . Watch:
Click here to easily print this guide in PDF.
Not sure how many times you can wash your clothes before washing them? Here are some basic recommendations:
- T-shirts: only to be worn once
- Socks: 1 time
- Underwear: 1 time
- Tights: 1 time (hand wash recommended)
- Swimwear: 1 time
- Sportswear: 1 time
- White or silk clothing: 1 time
- Shirts: 1 time (or 2 times with undershirt)
- Blouses: 1 time
- Bras: 3 times (hand wash recommended)
- Shorts: 2 to 3 times
- Dresses: 3 times (but only 1 time for evening dresses)
- Pajamas: 3 times
- Suits, jackets and blazers: 3 to 4 times (wool suits) and 4 to 5 times (synthetic material suits)
- Skirts and petticoats: 3 times
- Dress bottoms: 3 times
- Sweatshirts: 6 to 7 times
- Pants: 2 to 3 times
- Jeans: 4-5 times (or until they smell bad)
- Sweaters: 6 times (1 time without undershirt)
- Scarves, hats and gloves: 3 to 5 times per season (hand wash recommended)
- Leather gloves and hats: 1 time per season (dry cleaning recommended)
- Shoes: when dirty or smelly (wash according to label)
- Coats and outerwear: every 3 months (for down parkas and wool coats) and once per season (for leather and suede jackets)
Click here to easily print this guide in PDF.
Here are some basic recommendations for keeping everything else as clean as possible:
- Tea towels: everyday
- Hand towel: everyday
- Washcloths: everyday
- Towels: after 3 uses
- Sheets: 1 time per week
- Pillowcases: 1 time per week
- Bath mat: 1 time per week
- Bathrobes: 1 time per month
- Mattress topper: 1 time per month
- Under pillowcases: 1 time per month
- Shower curtains: Every 3 months
- Plaids and blankets: Every 3 months
- Bedside rugs: Every 3 months
- Pillows: every 6 months
- Duvets: every 6 months
Sheets, towels and washcloths are not worn as clothing. That's a no-brainer!
But that doesn't mean you shouldn't wash your linens regularly.
Indeed, because like clothes, sheets, pillowcases and towels are in direct contact with your skin.
In addition, household linen absorbs water and perspiration, and can quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria!
Therefore, do not use your terry towels more than 3 times before washing them.
As for sheets, fitted sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases, wash them once a week.
Also remember to select a hot cycle to wash towels and sheets to kill all bacteria.
As for women's underwear and lingerie, choose the delicate program or wash them by hand.
Similarly, dry your pieces of lingerie on a drying rack indoors and away from the sun.
In the dryer, choose a delicate or low temperature drying programme.
