“I only wore it once – do I really need to wash it?”
It’s an age-old dilemma that many Americans struggle with: Just how often do certain articles of clothing need to be washed?
The answer: It depends. Obviously, if an article of clothing is super soiled in dirt, sweat or something else, then you should wash it after a single use – no matter what it is. But some clothes you can wear more than just once. In this article, we’ll get to the bottom of things. Here’s a look at what you need to know:
Office, Business Casual Clothes
In most cases, you can wear the likes of work clothes up to five times before they need to be washed. Things like a suit can be worn multiple times, button-down shirts can usually be worn up to four times and pants can last for up to five wears as well before washing is necessary. You might even be able to get additional wear or two out of your shirts if you wear an undershirt underneath them.
Workout Clothes
Because you’re likely breaking a pretty good sweat in your workout clothes, it’s suggested that you wash them after a single-use. However, if you’re only wearing your workout clothes at the gym or on your neighborhood runs, you don’t have to worry so much about abiding by this rule. Washing them once a week will suffice.
Undergarments
Underwear, socks, and undershirts should only be worn once before they’re tossed in the hamper. There should be no exception to this rule, just based on the body parts that they come into contact with. Would you really want to re-wear your socks after a long day on your feet? Just think about it for a second and the answer is fairly obvious.
Jackets and Hoodies
Hoodies usually need to be washed after every four to five wears. Other warm-weather clothing, like jackets, usually only need a wash about once a season.
Now that you know just how often your various articles of clothing really need to be washed, you can be a bit smarter about how often you wash your clothes. This can even save you on energy and water if you launder at home, or money on loads if you take your laundry to the laundromat.
FAQs
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.
How often should you wear clothes before washing? ›
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. Leggings and tights should be washed after every wear to get rid of the baggy knees.
How many times should a cloth be worn? ›
Washing Frequency Chart
| Item of Clothing | How Often to Wash |
|---|
| Fleece jackets and sweatshirts | After 6 to 7 wears |
| Hats, gloves & scarves | 3 to 5 times a season |
| Hosiery | After every wear |
| Jackets and blazers | After 5 to 6 wears |
17 more rowsApr 11, 2024
Depending on how you fill your washing machine, the sort of clothes you wear and how fresh you like your clothes, the average person does laundry anywhere between one to three times a week. While this may not seem like a lot, it adds up to between 50 and 150 laundry loads every year.
How many times should you wear clothes before throwing it away? ›
If we managed to extend the usable lifespan of our clothes by just 3 months, we would reduce our carbon, water and waste footprints by around 5-10%. This is why we need the 30 wears campaign.
How many times should I wear jeans before washing them? ›
We recommend washing after 10 or so wears—or whenever jeans smell stale or unpleasant. In between wears, remove odors and add a clean laundry scent to jeans with a fabric freshener," says Gwen Whiting, co-founder of The Laundress.
How many times can you wear a bra before washing? ›
The Bottom Line. Bras are repositories for dirt, sweat, and dead skin cells. For best skin health and support, wash them every two to four wears, though increase that to more often if you were sweating a lot when wearing it or are experiencing skin irritation or infection in the area around your breasts.
How often should I wash my bed sheets? ›
"Regular washing, or about once every one to two weeks, is recommended to maintain cleanliness and a healthy sleep environment," says Harris. Once a week if you don't use a top sheet. Once a month if you do. Once a week if you don't use a top sheet.
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.
How often should I 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. It depends in part on your lifestyle.
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.
How often should you wash pajamas? ›
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 you get rid of clothes you don't wear? ›
Another example is if they're pieces that you bought because you wanted to explore a different part of your style but they just never really fit in your day-to-day, it is probably time to let them go. Not wearing certain things from your wardrobe is a big sign that it's time to clear them out of your closet.
Is it okay to wear the same clothes for 2 days? ›
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.
How many times should I wear leggings before washing them? ›
Because leggings are often worn for working out or everyday wear, it's important to wash this type of clothing after. every. wear. The fabric will trap odor and bacteria quickly, so make sure to stay up on your laundry days if leggings are a staple in your wardrobe.
How many times can 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.
How many times should I wear a hoodie before washing? ›
Hoodies usually need to be washed after every four to five wears. Other warm-weather clothing, like jackets, usually only need a wash about once a season. Now that you know just how often your various articles of clothing really need to be washed, you can be a bit smarter about how often you wash your clothes.
