It may surprise you to know that most people are washing their clothes too often.
Washing clothing less frequently makes them last longer, saves energy, resources, time, money and our environment.
How Often Should You Wash Your Clothes?
You should only wash your clothes when they are dirty. The term dirty is subjective however in this case it refers to the items having stains or bad smells.
Obviously underwear and workout clothes need to be washed regularly. These are the exceptions.
Some denim companies suggest you need never wash jeans. They recommend placing them in the freezer for a couple of days to eliminate bacteria which causes odor. Stains should only be spot cleaned.
Personally I wash my jeans once every couple of weeks if I’m wearing them daily.
Preserve Your Vintage Treasures – Avoid Washing Them When Possible
If you are a vintage lover like myself you know that every time you wash one of your favorite pieces it wears out the garment. Over washing can create unwanted holes
, warn out seams and pilling. I follow the steps below to avoid washing my vintage treasures too often.Tips To Avoid Washing Your Clothes
1. Deal With Stains ASAP
After you’ve worn an item you should check for stains. Stains should be spot cleaned as soon as possible. The faster you address a stain the more chances you have of removing it.
Heat can set some stains so it is best to use cool water to remove the stain when possible.
If you are spot treating a stain on silk or chiffon be prepared to follow up with a hand held dryer to quickly dry the area and avoid water marks.
Real Simple has a brilliant info graphic for all types of stain removal here.
2. Brush It
Items can be brushed with a clothes brush to remove lint, hair or surface dirt.
3. Spritz
Most clothing can be spritzed with vodka. This helps remove trapped smells and keeps the piece fresher longer.
Do not spritz fur, leather or suede.
I keep a large bottle of cheap vodka in my basement for this exact purpose.
4. Air Out
In between washes it is a good idea to air your clothes. Just hang them up somewhere with good ventilation (outside is ideal if you can) for a day before you put them back in your closet.
4. Steam
If you want to freshen your item and remove wrinkles at the same time try steaming in between wears. It is fast and works well especially for pleated skirts, sweaters, jackets or suiting.
I sometimes use the vodka spritz, then the steamer and finally allow the item to air a bit.
If you don’t have a steamer you can simply hang your item in the bathroom while taking a shower. Be sure to air dry it well so it isn’t damp when you place it back in your closet. Damp clothes attract bugs and grow mold.
5. Dryer & Febreeze
I sometimes use this method if suiting or a jacket has a strong odor. Give it a quick spritz of Febreeze inside and out and then pop it in the dryer. Be sure to remove it from the dryer and hang it promptly to avoid wrinkles. If the Febreeze smell is overwhelming then spritz again with vodka and air dry.
6. Lounge Clothes
I’m a big fan of changing into relaxed clothing once I’m home which is often jeans and tees, something that isn’t bothered by the copious amounts of pug hair Zoë sheds daily.
If I’m working in the kitchen I use an apron to protect my clothing.
How often do you wash your clothes?
Do you have any tips you’d like to share for keeping clothing fresh between wears without washing?
You may also be interested to learn how to clean your pre-loved and vintage clothing or how to remove bad smells from leather or suede.
Linking up with Visible Monday, Turning Heads Tuesday, Fancy Friday
Unless it’s really hot and I’ve been sweating a lot (hot flushes and all that ;-)) I wear my clothes more than once, airing them in between wears. However, if there are any lingering smells into the wash they go. I’m very good at spot cleaning too. I’ve wanted to buy a steamer for a long time, but I haven’t made the effort yet. I had no idea about the vodka trick. Not having touched even one drop of alcohol for 25 years, I doubt I’ll be making use of it, though. It would feel awkward for me buying a bottle of vodka, even if I’m not going to drink it! xxx
Neither of us drink Ann so it is weird asking my husband to buy a large bottle of vodka which I keep downstairs by the washing machine. Congrats on your 25 years! I stopped about five years ago and my husband almost 3 now.
I’m similar to you in my clothes washing habits. Other than underwear and workout wear I never feel our clothes get really really dirty. In summer I probably do more washing just because we sweat more, but in fall/winter, we both wear more dry-clean-only stuff and that only gets cleaned about once a year–at the end of each season. Of course, if I take a dive into a mud puddle or something, it’ll get cleaned sooner. 🙂
– Sherry
I wish that when I picked up dry cleaning they didn’t have to wrap everything in plastic. It drives me nuts.
Thanks for a helpful, reasonable approach to washing. I probably over-wash my stuff so I’m trying to repeat my tops this week. You know I love an experiment! I’m not going to change my weekly sheet-wash or my towel rotations, but my tops and skirts rarely get “dirty.”
Stay fab, xo
Patti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
I’m with you on the sheets and towels Patti : )
This is SO good, Suzanne. I’ve been trying to be better about this now, especially since I’ve retired. When I was working, I basically cleaned my tops every time because of the spray from the drill.
As for your statement : I keep a large bottle of cheap vodka in my basement for this exact purpose….that made me giggle. SURE, that’s why you have a large bottle of cheap vodka….ha ha!!
But I’ll have to try that. A little for the clothes, then a little for me!!
XOXO
Jodie
Well in years past Jodie I wouldn’t have been able to keep that vodka from disappearing before I used it for the clothes but we both don’t drink, me for close to 5 years and my husband for close to three.
I never understood people who throw everything in the wash after one wear. Unless it’s work or gym clothes that have been really dirtied or perspired in. No one takes dry clean clothes to the cleaners every time they wear them. So why put washable items in the washer every time? Plus, as you state, it saves your clothing. And, all synthetics when they’re laundered, leave particles in the water that end up in the ocean. So the least amount of washing the better for the environment!
I’m a big fan of white vinegar. It’s mostly the armpits and sometimes around the collar/neckline that get the most “use” in dresses and tops. Spraying with vinegar/water mixture freshens things nicely. I spray enough to saturate, hang to dry.
I do love my commercial steamer as well. I use a lavender laundry spray when steaming. Everything comes out smelling so nice.
Theresa
I need to try to use vinegar more often, it’s cheaper than vodka!
I had never heard about the vodka fix! Thanks Suzanne!
It’s a trick I learned from Ian Drummond. He supplies wardrobes for films and TV.
Interesting post Suzanne , must try the vodka tip. I am a great spot cleaner and other than undies and workout gear only wash when necessary, clothes do last so much longer if not over washed and living in a dry country we are acutely aware of saving water.
I imagine water consumption is a big issue down your way.
I’m lucky to have hanging wires into my balcony, so I can hang my clothes in their own hangers to air them between wears. It’s particularly useful to hang your coat or jacket when you’ve been in a restaurant or bar, to remove the food smells!. I let them overnight and it works perfectly in the Winter. In the summer, I put some of my delicate clothes in the freezer for some days before wearing once more!.
However, I must confess that I used to throw everything in the washing machine as soon as I took it off. It looked so easy!. But not anymore.
I’ve become a huge fan of putting anything I buy (and I buy only second hand) in the freeze for some weeks. It makes me feel safer as many clothes can’t be wash in hot water.
Love to read your advice and witty remarks on this theme!. And love your dress too, such a fab floral print!
besos
I wish I had a larger freezer, I’d be using it more often, especially for leather.
I , too, did not know about the vodka trick until reading about it in a Guardian article recently. And if it eliminates Febreeze stench? Fabulous! Vinegar I’ve used on cat pee (don’t ask) with great success, but vinegar can’t conquer Febreeze. I’m wondering if vodka will work against perfume. A friend sent me a poly knit dress and it reeks of Lauren perfume. I think the oils of the perfume bonded with the polyester. Vinegar and air freshening didn’t work. Will report back with the results!
Great tips!
I had two VERY stinky vintage dresses that were a real challenge recently. I found that I had to wash them three times with vinegar added to the water before the smell would come out but now they smell fabulous. Also have you tried baking soda with the vinegar? It will foam but you don’t need to put a ton in.
Sometimes I have to use the vodka three times or more to get rid of the smells in coats or suits.
I swear by steamers. We used them n in our store, when new clothing came in it could be very crinkled and that doesn’t look good in the store. It is ideal. I always hang my clothes out before hanging them in the closet.
I agree with this and am glad to see you spread the word. Too many people wash clothes for no reason other than habit.
I think some of my family chuck things in the wash because it’s easier than rehanging them. I also think my hubby has a reaction to putting once worn clothes back in the cupboard, so we put hooks inside his door so he can hang them there and rewear them. My14 yr old is the opposite. I have to encourage him gently to change his clothes! Ha!
My husband laughs at me sniffing my clothes to decide if they need washing. Especially when I pull a face at the stink!
Great tips Suzanne!
xo Jazzy Jack
great tips – suzanne!
i mostly air my clothes – under the tin roof of the summer salon and overnight – our night air is misty because of the river and the woods around deliver extra ozon – so i do not need extra “spritz” or steam. spoiled – eh ;-D
oh – and of cause i change in house dress or play suit when coming home and an apron is a must.
xxxxx
I think we all probably wash things too much, and it’s something I’m trying to address, but I am finding it really difficult. It’s easier with my non-work and occasion wear, but clothes I wear to work genuinely do need more cleaning – I am quite ‘active’ (read: sweaty) and on an average work day I am legging it to the train station, spending an hour on an overheated train, then am rushing between buildings for meetings, and then going out for a walk at lunchtime etc, so by the end of the day anything worn next to my skin like a dress or blouse really does need a wash. ‘Airing’ clothes is also more difficult in a really damp climate like the one I live in. I am tempted to try dress shields, I’ll let you know how I get on!!
This is such an informative post!
We’re over zealous when it comes to keeping on top of our imagined soiling of garments.
That dress… SO GOOD!!!
YOU in that dress?? Even better!!
Where is my comment? I commented on this post.
Greetje
I don’t know where it went. Strange as this comment shows up.
I follow most of these tips for laundry- the vodka is the best trick I learned several years ago from an actor friend! (It’s what they do for their costumes at the end of each show)
I don’t tend to tell people how infrequently I wash my clothing though- I know so many germaphobes and they’d probably excommunicate me!