How often you wash your clothes depends on what you’re flying and your personal preferences. However, it’s essential to ensure you do your laundry correctly so your clothing stays in good shape.
Sweat, body oils, and stains should all be removed from your clothing as soon as possible, as they can build up and cause odors and colors to form. This can also damage the fabric and reduce its lifespan.
Underwear
Many people think they should wash their underwear after every time they wear them, but that isn’t always the case. According to a study, 1 in 20 men and 7% of women re-wear their underwear more than five times before washing them.
To keep your underwear looking fresh, you need to wash them regularly. This means you need to read the care labels before each wash.
The American Cleaning Institute recommends using a temperature of around 60 degrees to kill bacteria, but you can also use antibacterial laundry sanitizer to help eliminate germs.
You should also avoid putting your underwear in the dryer, which can damage elastics and thin fabrics. This is especially true if you’re running a hot dryer cycle.
Sweaters
There aren’t any hard and fast rules for how often you should wash your sweaters, but it depends on the material and the type of wear and tear they get. Sweaters from cotton or synthetic fibers should be washed less frequently than cashmere, wool, or other heavy fabrics.
If you’re hand-washing your sweaters, don’t rub or wring them, which can cause them to stretch and damage the fibers. Instead, roll them up and gently squeeze them before laying them flat on a towel to air dry.
When machine-washing sweaters at laundry shops like WashBistro, choose a gentle or delicate cycle. Also, check the sweater’s care label before trying a new washing method.
Lastly, spot-treat any stains before you wash your sweater, whether it’s an old coffee spill or a dreaded pill. You can use a stain remover like Lysol or a mixture of white vinegar and 3 percent hydrogen peroxide to remove the spots.
T-shirts
T-shirts come close to your skin and are prone to accumulating sweat, oils, dead skin cells, and dirt. They should be washed after each wear to help prevent stains and ensure they last as long as possible.
When washed incorrectly, T-shirt fabric is susceptible to damage, fading, pilling, and shrinking. That’s why it’s essential to follow specific washing instructions for your t-shirt.
When washing your t-shirt, start sorting it based on color and material to avoid damage. Cleaning different types of t-shirts together can result in stains or dye loss.
For most t-shirts, cold water on a delicate cycle is recommended to preserve the print and color. Turning printed t-shirts inside out before washing minimizes rubbing and fabric pilling.
T-shirts can also be dried in the dryer on a low heat setting instead of a high heat cycle. However, keep them dry, or the fabric may shrink and fade prematurely.
Pants
How often you should wash your pants is a personal choice that depends on your lifestyle and what type of material your pants are made from. Pants resistant to stains and odors typically don’t need to be washed often, saving you a lot of time and energy on laundry day.
Choosing fabrics that can handle everyday wear and tear without wreaking havoc on your laundry bill or the environment is also a good idea. Materials that resist moisture and odors, like polyester, nylon, and spandex, can help you re-wear your favorite pair of jeans for days without putting them through the washing machine.
Aside from saving you money, spacing out your laundry loads can save you a ton of energy and water. Using green or recycled fabrics can also be an eco-friendly choice that helps the planet (and your wallet) in the long run.
