When To Wash It Laundry Guide
Putting clothes in the washing machine too often can actually lessen the lifespan of your clothes — all that agitation breaks down the fibers and wears things out. But if excessive washing can ruin your clothes, then exactly how often should you wash bras, jeans, towels and other household items? Kidspot has put together this laundry guide to when you should wash it and when you should save yourself a little laundry time.
Laundry tip #1: Bras
When to wash them: After 3 to 4 wears
As bras don’t come into direct contact with your underarms, they can withstand a few wears and need only be washed after every third or fourth wear. TOP TIP: Bras ideally should be washed by hand. Hand wash your bras when you shower to save time. If you choose to machine wash them though, make sure the clips are fastened together so they can’t get caught in the lace or shred up the rest of your washing.
Laundry tip #2: Bath towels
When to wash them: Once or twice a week
There is a school of thought that says bath towels should be washed after every use because they harbor bacteria – but who has time for that amount of washing? Bath towels should ALWAYS be hung up to dry after every use as a damp towel is a breeding ground for bacteria and that dank, musty smell. Ideally, towels should make it into the washing machine at least once, if not twice a week. Use your nose to determine if they could do with a wash. Hand towels and face washers that are often left damp should be washed more regularly than bath towels – at least every couple of days. TOP TIP: If your bathroom is prone to mold, don’t store your dry clean towels in the vanity where they will also develop mold. Also, to sanitize your towels and make them smell fresh, add a little eucalyptus oil (just half a teaspoon) to the wash cycle.
Laundry tip #3: Jeans
When to wash them: After 4 to 5 wears
Washing your jeans too often can cause them to prematurely fade and fray (and not in the store-bought intended way). As denim is a great dirt concealer, you can get away with four to five wears before it’s time to toss your jeans in the wash. Kids jeans are another thing though – especially if they’ve been playing outside in the grass or mud! Dirty jeans need prompt washing. TOP TIP: To keep your jeans looking like you just bought them, wash them in cold water and hang them inside out on the clothes line to dry so that they don’t fade.
Laundry tip #4: Pajamas
When to wash them: After 3 to 4 wears
Icky fact: Our skin sheds thousands of skin cells all the time, so the PJs that you wear to bed are best washed after three or four wears — less if the pajamas belong to a sweaty bloke! TOP TIP: Shower before bedtime and you can get away with less laundry.
Laundry tip #5: Dress pants
When to wash them: After 4 to 5 wears
Dress pants that you wear to work are often made of stain-repelling synthetic blends so you can get away with washing them a bit less than you think. Modern synthetics can be washed after four or five wears, but check the care labels carefully as some fabrics stipulate dry-clean only, which usually means a rough machine wash can damage the fabric. TOP TIP: If the dress pants are part of suit, avoid one fading more than the other by dry-cleaning both pieces together.
Laundry tip #6: Bed sheets
When to wash them: Once a week or fortnight
Unless you have a bed-wetter in the house, bed-sheets can be washed once a week or even once a fortnight. The dead skin cells we all shed become dust mite food (yes, the average bed has anywhere between 100,000 to 10 million dust mites), so washing sheets is definitely a key laundry task to be tended to. TOP TIP: Washing your pillow every month is also important to disinfect and wash away dust mites. You can purchase dust mite proof covers for your mattress and pillows from department stores which will help to keep dust mites at bay.
Laundry tip #7: T-Shirts, camies and singlets
When to wash them: After every wear
Life is messy when you’re a mum and chances are your t-shirt is as filthy as your toddler’s at the end of the day! Wash everyday tops after each wear. Likewise, figure-hugging items like camies and singlets that absorb body sweat should be tossed in the dirty clothes basket at the end of the day too. TOP TIP : If you only wore these items for a few hours, then you can get away with a second wear.
Laundry tip #8: Swimwear
When to wash them: After every wear
Salt and chlorine will eat away at a swimsuit and cause it to lose shape, unless it is washed out properly after every wear. Hand wash your suit after swimming at the beach or in a pool and leave it to line-dry in the breeze. TOP TIP: To get longer life out of your swimsuit, wash it in cold water using a gentle detergent.
credit: kidspot
