Laundry is a regular chore, but how often should you actually wash your clothes? Some items need washing after every use, while others can last multiple wears before hitting the laundry pile.
Knowing when to wash your clothes not only saves time and resources but also helps preserve the lifespan of your garments. This article discusses how often you should wash your clothes and other laundry items.
How Often You Should Wash Different Categories of Clothes
Here’s how often you should wash your clothes:
1. Everyday Clothing
Your everyday clothing includes t-shirts, underwear, socks, jeans, and pants. These clothes you wear for your daily activities, including casual outings, indoor activities, etc.
T-shirts, underwear, and socks absorb sweat and body oils, making them susceptible to bacteria buildup. You should wash them after every wear to maintain their hygiene and freshness.
Jeans can go several wears, about 3-5 times, before washing, as long as they’re not visibly dirty or smelly. Washing jeans too frequently can cause the fabric to wear out faster and fade.
2. Workwear and Uniforms
How often you wash your workwear and uniforms depends on where you work and how often you sweat because of your work. For example, someone working in an air-conditioned office with little to no physical activities won’t need to wash their workwear as often as someone who does strenuous work that causes them to sweat often.
Your office attire, such as your shirts, blouses, and dress pants, can be worn 2-3 times before washing unless stained or worn on a particularly sweaty day. Jackets and blazers can go longer, requiring cleaning after 5-6 wears.
If you work in healthcare or food service, uniforms should be washed after every shift. These clothes often come into contact with contaminants or food particles, so regular washing is essential for hygiene.
3. Activewear and Sports Clothes
Clothes worn during exercise, such as leggings, tank tops, and sweat-wicking shirts, should be washed after every use. Sweat and bacteria can linger in the fabric, leading to unpleasant odors and potential skin irritation.
This is non-negotiable, as the consequences of not washing your sportswear after every use are severe. It doesn’t only affect your health and comfort but also makes those around you visibly uncomfortable.
4. Outerwear
There’s a huge misconception about how frequently outerwear should be washed. The truth is, outwears like jackets, coats, and hoodies do not require frequent washing since they don’t come into direct contact with your skin. Generally, jackets and coats can be cleaned once or twice a season unless they’re visibly dirty or smelly.
Other outerwear like scarves, hats, and gloves should be washed every few weeks during their active use to remove sweat, makeup, or environmental dirt.
5. Sleepwear
Pajamas are often the most neglected outfits when laundry is being carried out. Often, people don’t remember having pajamas to wash until it’s time to use them.
While it’s not advisable to wash them after every wear, except if you sweat a lot during sleep, pajamas should be washed at least once or twice a week. That means they should be worn 2-3 times before washing, assuming you always shower before bed.
6. Household Items
While they’re not clothes you wear, household items like towels and bedding should be top priority during laundry. This is because they play a crucial role in how healthy your skin looks at the end of the day.
Bath towels should be washed after 3-4 uses to prevent bacterial buildup. Hand towels need more frequent washing, ideally every 1-2 days, as they’re used more often by multiple people.
Sheets and pillowcases should be washed weekly, as they accumulate sweat, skin cells, and oils. Comforters and duvets can be washed less frequently, about once every 1-2 months, or as needed.
7. Baby Clothes
Babies have more sensitive skin than adults. Their immune system is also not fully developed, making them more prone to certain diseases.
Therefore, baby clothes should be washed after every use to keep them clean and free of irritants. It’s important to use a gentle, fragrance-free detergent when washing baby clothes so as to protect their sensitive skin.
8. Special Occasion Clothes
Formal dresses, suits, and tuxedos don’t require frequent cleaning unless they’re stained or have absorbed odors. The reason is simple. They’re not worn as often as other dresses and most times, people are more gentle and careful with these dresses than they’re with their regular wears.
It’s okay if you want to wash and dry clean them after every wear. However, to preserve their quality and appearance, it’s best to wash them once in a while, ideally once in three or four months.
Table Showing How Often You Should Wash Your Clothes
Here’s a table showing the summary of how often you should wash your clothes:
| Clothing | How Often You Should Wash It |
| T-shirts, underwears, and socks | After every wear |
| Jeans | After 3-5 wears |
| Office blouses, shirts, and dress pants | After 2-3 wears |
| Jackets and blazers | After 5-6 wears |
| Uniforms for healthcare or food service workers | After every shift |
| Outer jackets and coats | Once or twice a season |
| Scarves, hats, and gloves | After 2-3 weeks during their active use |
| Pajamas | After 2-3 wears or after every sweaty night |
| Bath towels | After 3-4 uses |
| Hand towels | Every 1-2 days |
| Bed sheets and pillowcases | Once every week |
| Duvets | Once every 1-2 months |
| Baby clothes | After every wear |
| Suits and tuxedos | Once every 3-4 months |
Conclusion
Knowing how often to wash your clothes is key to maintaining hygiene while extending the life of your wardrobe. While some items demand frequent cleaning, others can go a few wears before needing a wash. Adopting smarter laundry habits will save you time, energy, and resources.
If you’re overwhelmed with laundry, consider outsourcing to a professional service like LaundryMaids. With convenient pickup and delivery options, you can focus on what matters most while we handle the laundry for you.
