Your Quick Reference Wash Guide
Reducing how frequently you wash your clothes is a simple yet effective way to adopt a more eco-friendly lifestyle. But you might be asking yourself, How often is too often? or How little is too little? The answer varies depending on several factors, including the type of garment, your activity level, and how much you sweat. Everyone has a laundry routine that works best for them.
To help you make more sustainable choices, we've created this guide to help you determine how often to wash different items in your wardrobe. This way, you can make environmentally conscious decisions the next time laundry day comes around.
How often?
Outerwear, such as jackets: Once a season
Sweatshirts and Hoodies: After 5-6 wears
Pyjamas: After 3-4 wears
Trousers: After 2-3 wears
Leggings: After 2-3 wears
Dresses, Skirts and Shorts: After 1-3 wears
Shirts and Blouses: After 1-2 wears
T-shirts and tank tops: After every wear
Swimwear: After every wear
Workout and Gym Clothes: After every wear
Underwear and socks: After every wear
What about bras? They’re underwear too, right?
Bras are generally overwashed, and are the exception to the underwear rule of wash after every wear. Generally speaking, unless they have been exposed to heavy levels of sweat, they don’t need to be washed more often than after every 2-3 wears.
The great denim debate
Washing denim too often can cause the colour to fade, weaken the fabric, and lead to faster wear and tear. A good rule of thumb is to wash jeans after every 3-10 wears and denim jackets after every 10 wears, unless they become visibly dirty or start to smell, in which case they should be washed sooner.
Things to Consider
Cleanliness: You should wash clothes immediately if they are visibly dirty or stained.
Hygiene: If you sweat heavily, you may need to wash clothes more often.