You wear clothes every day and, often, have different clothes for different purposes. You have a specific set of clothing for working out, for hanging out, for the office or school, for special events, and even for sleeping. It is no wonder that laundry is no one’s favorite household chore.
Most people have a designated day when they wash all items of clothing that they used throughout the week. However, it turns out, it is doing more harm than good. Some items of clothing such as tights and socks absolutely need to be thrown into the washing machine after every use. Otherwise, it can lead to unsightly infections. T-shirts also have to be washed immediately after use regardless of how clean it smells because re-wearing it would lead to bad body odor.
There are, however, items of clothing that you do not have to wash as often and save you time as well as water.
Jeans
Your denim jeans are, perhaps, one of the most well-worn and durable items of clothing in your wardrobe, but they are also prone to damage over time. You also are making the fabric deteriorate faster by washing them after every use.
If you want them to look as pristine as the day you found them in the men’s denim jeans sale, you have to wash them less frequently.
There are debates as to how often denim jeans have to be washed. The CEO of Levi’s, for example, publicly stated that denim jeans should never be washed, only spot-clean when there is visible dirt.
There are also people who swear by putting denim jeans inside the freezer to preserve their quality and to kill bacteria. However, there is no scientific basis to it. Many bacteria can survive in environments where the temperature is lower than that of the human skin.
Experts have spoken up and agreed that you do not have to wash denim jeans as often, but you should still wash them. Some of them say that you can get away with re-wearing your denim jeans 10 or more times without washing them. Others said around six weeks is fine. In the case of denim jeans, having the smell test works. Give your denim jeans a sniff and, if they smell unpleasant, that is when you should wash them.
Pajamas
The pajamas you wear when you sleep do not have to be thrown into the washing machine as soon as you wake up. If the nights were cold and you are confident that you did not sweat, you can go through a week wearing the same set of pajamas.
If the weather is hot, you will need to wash your pajamas after two uses. Any less than that will lead to skin conditions like back acne and rashes.
Knitwear
Your knitwear is delicate. That is why they have to be handled with care. Otherwise, the material will come undone. Washing knitwear is especially dangerous because it can destroy knitwear.
Luckily, you can wait after two to three wears before you wash your knitwear if they are made with cotton, cashmere, and silk. Wool and man-made fabrics like polyester and acrylic can do longer. Wool, in particular, is great because it naturally repels liquids, dust, and dirt. It only has to be washed after five wears.
White Clothes
The exception to every rule is your white clothing. It does not matter if the item of clothing is a T-shirt, a pajama, a pair of jeans, or knitwear. If it is white, it has to be washed immediately after every use.
White fabric tends to become discolored over time, especially around the armpits. This is caused by the minerals in your sweat that react with the active ingredients in your deodorant or antiperspirant. Salt, in particular, does not mix well with aluminum. When both minerals interact, they can leave yellow stains.
Do wash your white clothes every after use. It may seem excessive, but it will remove traces of sweat and your deodorant/antiperspirant from the fabric. It will give you more wear out of the item of clothing.
It is easier to just throw all your clothing into the washing machine after use, but it is essential that you know how to care for them. If you wash an item of clothing too often, it can ruin the fabric and you will spend more on utility bills as well as buying something new to wear.
If you are unsure, read the label. Most clothing items have a little tab that gives instructions on how to take good care of the product.
