Scrub-a-Dub
We get it: you want to keep things clean. And while a fresh load of clothes will certainly always smell and feel better than a load you've kept by your bedside for a week, overdoing it can still backfire. After all, frequent washing can fade fabrics and weaken fibers, or shorten the life of items you paid good money for. And it's not just the stuff you wear—you could be washing your bedsheets and even your skin too much as well.
Maude Frédérique Lavoie on Unsplash
1. Jeans
If you're like most, you're probably guilty of tossing your denim into the wash after just wearing it twice. But you're doing it wrong. Unless your jeans are stained, sweaty, or noticeably dirty, they don't need a full wash just yet. Washing them less often can help preserve their original color and shape for much longer, too.
2. Your Hair
Daily shampooing isn't necessary for everyone, of course, and that's especially true if you're prone to dry scalp. By shampooing every day, you remove all the natural oil your scalp produces, which may affect its pH balance. Ultimately, your ideal schedule should depend on your hair type, styling products, and activity level, but you should always adjust as needed.
https://kaboompics.com/ on Pexels
3. Bath Towels
Your bath towel won't immediately become dirty after drying your freshly washed body just once, trust us. You'll still want to make sure you hang it somewhere that allows it to dry completely between uses, but it can generally be reused a few times before it's tossed into the laundry basket.
4. Sweaters
Sweaters often sit over another layer of clothing, meaning they rarely touch your skin directly or come into contact with sweat. And while it's not always a bad habit to throw one in the wash, doing it too often can cause pilling, stretching, or shrinking sooner than necessary.
5. Your Face
Yep, that's right—you're probably washing your face too often. You should, of course, cleanse your face at least once a day, but excessive washing will only strip away oils and leave your skin dry, tight, or irritated. It's a reminder to never use a super harsh cleanser!
6. Leggings
Unless you're doing intense activity, your leggings can be reworn after low-activity wear, especially if they were only used for errands or lounging. Constant washing can weaken stretchy fibers (peep the holes in the inner-thigh seams), dull the color, and make the fabric lose its shape sooner, which are all things you don't want.
7. Pajamas
Do you shower before bed? If your room is kept cool enough that you won't sweat heavily throughout the night, rest assured that your pajamas will stay reasonably fresh for more than one wear. Of course, that's not to say that other factors, such as hot weather or illness, can shorten the time between washes.
8. Jackets
Like sweaters, your jackets rarely come into direct contact with your skin and perspiration. That means while they often need occasional spot cleaning, they don't need to be thrown into the wash all the time. In fact, excessive cleaning may mean you'll have to kiss it goodbye sooner than expected.
9. Your Hands
Just like your face, your hands are pretty delicate. While you certainly don't want to run around with dirty paws after using the restroom or handling raw food, repeatedly washing can lead to dry, cracked skin that even hand lotion can't soothe.
10. Blankets
That decorative throw on your couch probably doesn't require weekly laundering if it's only used occasionally. Like others on this list, constant washing can drastically shorten its lifespan, and you'd sooner need to shop for a new one. A blanket used every night or shared with pets, however, is a totally different story.
11. Dress Pants
Those tailored dress pants probably cost more than a pretty penny! Given that, you should know that they'll survive being worn for a few hours in an office—you don't need to scrub them down as soon as you get home. You'll also find that it's much more useful to inspect them for stains and odors than follow a strict washing routine.
12. Hoodies
Remember how we said sweaters don't need constant washing? Well, add hoodies to the list. You'll want to wash fleece-lined ones even less, unless you're fine with pilling. Washing yours all the time can also fade printed graphics and dull darker colors.
13. Your Body with Harsh Soap
You obviously need to bathe, but aggressively scrubbing every inch of your body won't do you any favors. And if you tend to take very long and hot showers while using lots of oil-stripping soap, chances are, your skin isn't going to reward you for it.
14. Baseball Caps
You might think you should wash your favorite cap as often as you wash your hair, but this may do more harm than good. Frequent soaking and agitation can distort the brim, weaken its structure, and fade the fabric. If the cap comes with any specific care instructions, make sure to follow them.
15. Bedding You're Not Sleeping On
Have a guest sleeping over? Then of course you should wash the bedding before they arrive. Other than that, though, you're probably good if you haven't hosted anyone in a while. Washing unused bedding all the time wastes water and puts unnecessary stress on the fabric, too.
16. Wool Clothing
Don't treat wool like cotton! Unless your wool sweater or jacket is stained or has picked up an odd odor, it's best to just air it out between wears. Plus, machine washing isn't exactly delicate, meaning you might see shrinking, felting, or stretching—something you definitely don't want to see in a piece that's expensive to replace.
17. Silk Scarves
Silk scarves are pretty fragile, so wash them too often and you might quickly notice differences in their softness and sheen. With the exception of when they're visibly dirty or have picked up makeup, perfume, or oil, simply storing them properly between wears can help them stay looking good for much longer.
18. Special-Occasion Dresses
Wore a dress for a special dinner? Well, just because the event is over doesn't mean it needs to be immediately cleaned the following day. Think about how long it'd last (not long at all) if you did that! If the dress is free of stains and sweat, just airing it out may be all it needs.
Luis Miguel P. Bonilla on Pexels
19. Hairbrushes
Cleaning hair and product buildup out of a brush is worthwhile, but repeatedly soaking the entire thing? You'll only be putting it through the wringer! Depending on the material, excessive washing can also deteriorate expensive materials. You're better off saving deeper cleaning for when there's actual buildup on the bristles.
Alina Nichepurenko on Unsplash
20. Clothes You Only Wore Once
Sure, this might be a habit you developed after the pandemic, but not every item that touches your body once needs to be washed immediately after. As we've mentioned, how often something needs a scrub comes down to its materials, too. Check for sweat, odor, and stains; sometimes the clothing simply needs to be hung back up.
