Could You Wash Your Clothes Less?

[dave50]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-48908413
I know people who will wash a garment after wearing it once even though it is obviously not dirty (not talking underwear of course). Mine go back in the wardrobe to wear again, possibly for a few times until it is obviously dirty. Also towels, some will put it in the wash after only one use drying themselves after a shower. Why not hang it to dry to use again? Some peoples obsession with cleanliness is ridiculous.

[BagPussAA]

Sherrard.. Doesnt that mean that you spend much of your time washing and ironing? When do you have time to do anything else?

[sherrardk]

It’s not that bad (I didn’t say I ironed things well) - I wash clothes 6 times a week and iron 5 times a week. I’m am super organised so housework/laundry doesn’t take up much time at all.

[hereIam]

Towels once a week. In the summer I wash tops after two wears, but I wear jeans longer ! Only wear underwear once (obviously). Bedding is changed every fortnight.

[Canary42]

Towels washed once a year - after all where does any dirt come from as they are only used to dry clean bodies. Profligate use of energy on ultra-obsessive washing is destroying our precious planet.

[Bigbad]

Towels absorb bacteria and skin cells which thrive in the dampness.
You dry your feet, armpits, privates and bum, and use them again?
I’d rather be “profligate” as Canary so charmingly puts it.
There are far more damaging things going down the drain than a bit of soap powder.
People that flush anything other than the 3P’s down the loo, or pour fats down the kitchen sink are doing much more harm.

[andy-hughes]

I would never put worn clothes back in a wardrobe - they are hung up if they are to be worn again, and in the wash if not.

Anything next to my skin is worn once and washed, no exceptions.

Could I wash my clothes less? Yes, but I have no intention of doing so.

[albaqwerty]

pouring fat down the kitchen sink or any drain should be worthy of a flogging.

Washing machine is on about 3 - 4 times a week.
Bedding changed fortnightly.
Towels changed every 2 -3 days.
Underwear changed daily as are tops.
Trousers/skirts/dresses - depends on length of time worn and where.

[Maydup]

The problem is less about the soap powder going down the drain Bigbad, and more about the excessive use of electrcity and water used to wash towels after a single use. Promise me you dont tumble dry them too!

Save energy and reduce your impact on the environment by hanging then up and using them again.

[Mamyalynne]

We also seem to have lost the art of art of freshening up and airing thick garments and stuff like blankets,rugs and throws.

A decent few hours on a blowy day works wonders and if there's sun then so much the better.

[10ClarionSt]

People on here shouldn't do their dirty washing in public!

[Cloverjo]

Canary //Towels washed once a year//.
Crikey, I thought I was a bit skanky ;)
Towels seem to get grubby in my house, even though they’re drying clean hands and bodies.

[Cloverjo]

I agree, mamya. A bit of wind and sunshine is all you need sometimes.

[david small]

The consensus seems to be underwear daily, socks daily.
Towels and bedding weekly. Fluctuations on jeans though. Never wear them myself.

[10ClarionSt]

We don't have a tumble dryer. It's the clothes line for us, whenever possible. Clothes airer in winter.

[Bigbad]

I do indeed tumble dry them, Maydup!

No thanks to reusing.
What happens to the energy if I don’t use it?
Does it get stored away for someone else to use at a later date?
Is it not produced if I don’t hit the start button?
Will the water be stored for future generations if I don’t use it?

I’m happy to make some changes to help out, and I hate litter, fly tipping and pollution, but wearing clothes more than once, or reusing towels is a step too far.
I’ve never done it, not even when I was doing laundry for 4 people, so I’m not going to start now.
Rest assured that as far as recycling goes, I am extremely diligent, but I’m not convinced it makes much difference.

[Bigbad]

I like to see a line of washing blowing in the breeze.
But not towels, they end up stiff, especially if it’s sunny.

Night all.

[Buenchico]

I change my socks, vest and underpants daily but that certainly doesn't mean that they get washed daily. I've got more than 60 of each item, so there's usually a couple of months between my trips to the launderette.

[Georgiesmum]

The ordinary washing line for me too every time.

[Bigbad]

And for me, Georgiesmum. Towels are the only things I put in the drier, I don’t put clothes in it, not even when they can’t be hung out.

Night.
Again!