Step away from the washing machine. Your clothes don’t need to be washed every day. Some of them don’t need to be washed at all (depending on who you listen to).
This article is a beginner’s guide how often to wash clothes. We’re going to imagine you’ve never seen a washing machine before.
To wash or not to wash?
First up, we’re going to start by saying the vast majority of you are probably washing your clothes way too often.
Whilst clothes you wear close to the skin (underwear and socks) and clothes you wear to get sweaty (that’s you, stinky workout clothes) do need to be washed every wear… almost everything else doesn’t.
Wears between washes
- Underwear/socks every time (except bras)
- T-shirts every 1-2 times
- Bras every 3-4 times
- Dresses every 3-4 times
- Jumpers/sweaters every 3-4 times
- Jeans every 4 times to never(!)
- Jackets every 5-6 times
Bear in mind, that this is a rough guide. If you have spilt something on your fit, you need to wash it as soon as possible. On the other hand, if you’ve only had a tee on for an hour, it might not count as a full wear. So, you can leave more time between washes.
Do good for your denim
The question on everyone’s lips… how often should you wash your jeans?
Prepare yourself for this… denim-die hards say as little as possible. Well, at least not in the washing machine anyway.
Bergh (the CEO of Levi’s) said, “True denim heads, people that really love their denim, will tell you to never put your denim into a washing machine. So that’s what I do.”
Those same denim heads think that keeping jeans unwashed will help them keep their colour and shape, plus, the creases and whiskers will have a chance to develop. This is what gives denim that lived-in look that we all love.
So, how should you wash jeans? Well, if you are going to use the washing machine…
- Turn them inside out
- Make sure everything is zipped/buttoned up
- Wash them with similar colours
- Don’t overload the machine (this causes more friction which could lead to damage)
- Use a mild detergent (especially if your jeans are dark/black)
- Avoid. Softener. At. All. Costs.
- Cold water is your best friend
- Pick the gentlest cycle possible
- Air dry inside out and away from direct sunlight
And if you’re not going to use a washing machine…
Soak your jeans in the tub for about 30 minutes with some soft detergent. You can use a soft sponge to spot-clean any stains. Rinse the jeans with cold water after, to remove all the detergent. Then, hang inside out in a semi-shaded spot.
Why should you wash your clothes less?
You could probably extend the lifespan of most of your clothes if you washed them less. Now, some clothes will inevitably fall apart after a few washes. We’re not naming names, but you know the pieces made in sweatshops from terrible materials. Those.
However, you can protect your well-made investment pieces by keeping them away from the stress of the washing machine. You probably wouldn’t want to spin around in a 40° bath for 90 minutes, every day. Your clothes don’t either.
Washing clothes also has a huge amount of environmental impact.
Washing clothes releases 50,000 tonnes of microfibres and microplastics into the ocean each year. That’s the same as 50 billion plastic bottles. And, washing machines use around 19 billion cubic meters of water a year and emit 62 million tonnes of CO2-eq greenhouse gases each year.
Basically, washing clothes is bad news all around. So, the less you can do it the better.
How to wash your clothes, sustainably
As well as less frequent washing, there are ways you can reduce the carbon footprint of your washing practices.
Reducing the temperature of your washes is one of the best things you can do for your clothes and the environment.
Air drying is always better than a tumble dryer, especially for delicate garments like wool jumpers, underwear and workout leggings.
Lots of laundry detergents contain harmful ingredients which are bad for aquatic life. Look for eco-friendly detergents instead.
Clothes washing tips for longer-lasting fits
This might mean more laundry loads, but you should be splitting out your clothing items into separate washes. That way you can wash batches of items according to the proper care instructions.
We’re going to run you through some key clothing groups and handy tips for washing those.
How do you wash black clothes without them fading?
If you love the faded black look, read on. This one’s for the ones who like their clothes blacker than Satan’s heart.
Clothes usually fade in the wash cycle due to high temperatures and hot water. The friction between each item can also damage the fibres, which contributes to fading too. But good news. There’s something you can do.
Black clothing washing tips
- Cold wash
- Use a delicate cycle
- Wash inside out
- Use a laundry detergent specifically for dark clothes
- Air dry (do not tumble dry)
- Keep clothes away from excess sunlight whilst they’re drying (this can fade the colour)
When your black clothes eventually do fade (unfortunately, that’s inevitable), you can give them a little more life by using a black fabric die.
How do you wash clothes without shrinking them?
Clothes getting tighter and tighter? It’s not you. It’s your washing skills. Now pick that doughnut back up.
Again, to stop your clothes from shrinking, you should stick to cold and delicate cycles. Fabrics are more likely to shrink when they’re exposed to high heat. This is especially true for natural materials, like wool, cotton, hemp and linen. Synthetic clothing, like polyester and nylon, is a little more resilient when it comes to shrinking.
How to wash gym clothes and activewear
Synthetic materials are great at wicking away sweat but they’re also pretty good at trapping bad smells that come from body oils.
Once your gym clothes have this smell, it can be pretty tricky to get rid of. There are some things you can do to prevent it, though. It’s all about being proactive, not reactive.
Gym kit washing tips
- As soon as you’ve finished working out, rinse your gym clothes in cold water. Jump straight in the shower with them, then wring and leave to drip dry until you’re ready to do a laundry load.
- Wash all your gym clothes inside out, as this is where the most bacteria builds up.
- Pre-soak your gym clothes in a water and vinegar solution for 15-30 minutes before putting them in the washer. This is great for combatting body odor.
- Use a specially formulated sports detergent or a scent booster for lush-smelling loads of laundry.
How to wash bras
Bras sit in direct contact with your skin, so they can collect dead skin cells and bad smells. How often you need to wash them depends on how many you have, and how long you’ve worn them for. As a general rule, you should wash every 3-4 wears. Though this depends on how sweaty you get.
To keep your bras in tit-top shape, you should wash them by hand. Especially if they’re made from silk.
Bra washing tips
- Close the hook and eyes
- Add a spoon of delicate detergent to lukewarm water
- Submerge the bra and swirl it around softly, don’t twist or wring
- Let it soak for 5-10 minutes
- Carefully rinse the detergent away
- Put the bra between 2 towels and push down to remove the water
- Re-shape the cups if you need to
- Leave it lying flat to dry
If you are going to wash your bra in a machine, you can protect your bras by putting them in a mesh bag.
So, now you know how often to wash clothes
If you’ve got this far and you’re still wondering ‘Is washing clothes every day bad?’, it depends on what you’re washing. Everyday items like pants, socks and sportswear need to be washed every wear. But, usually, everything else can wait.
So, next time you take off your clothes, don’t throw them mindlessly in the laundry basket. Do the sniff test and check for stains, chances are, you can probably wear it again.
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