WASHING CLOTHES, LINENS, AND MORE: HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU DO IT?
It is said that cleanliness is next to godliness. This adage is just one among the many reasons to stay clean and hygienic. Who doesn't like the feeling of a germ-free environment, especially when it comes to everyday living? It cannot be denied that wearing freshly-washed clothes or sleeping on fresh bed linen is one of the best feelings in the world.
So how do you ensure that your clothes and linen are always clean and tidy? By washing them, of course! However, washing them frequently can take a toll on their quality. It is crucial to know how often you need to toss them into the washing machine as that will help you with their upkeep.
Read on to know about how frequently you should be washing your everyday linen.
1. BATH TOWELS
It is recommended that you wash your towels at least once a week. A lot of people tend to wash them after three to four uses, and that's just fine. It is important that they are dried immediately after they are washed.
Just because bath towels are thick, it does not mean that they need more detergent. The fact is, too much soap can take away their softness, thereby leaving them less fluffy. Wash your towels in warm water and do not hesitate in giving the fabric softener a skip.
2. TEA TOWELS
Because tea towels are used often in the day, it is best to have them cleaned every day. After all, they aren't the cleanest things to have in the house after you've just cooked.
Whether it is food ingredients, grease from the kitchen, or dust, they can become contaminated with germs from any of these elements. When you wipe your hands with them over and over again, you're dirtying them even more.
It is, therefore, best to replace your tea towels every single day. You can also replace them every time you cook. To minimize food contamination and the spread of germs, you can also use a kitchen roll to dry your hands or clean up spills.
3. CURTAINS
While a lot of people wash their curtains once every three months, they can last for up to six months without a wash, unless you have specific allergies. Curtains are prone to attracting household dust, which can accumulate over time and give rise to allergies and other health conditions among the residents of the house.
When cleaning your curtains, make sure to follow the care instructions as some curtains needs to steamed or dry-cleaned. Between washes, use vacuum attachments to remove dirt and accumulated particles.
Cleaning curtains too frequently, even with the best detergents, can lead to the wearing off of the fabric as the fiber start to loosen and the colour fades.
4. JEANS
As per Chip Bergh, CEO, Levi's, machine washing jeans is completely unnecessary (Bergh's primary reason for not washing is jeans is conserving water), but Tech Insider says that science demands that they be washed every four to six days.
While a lot of people put off washing their jeans for as long as possible, the facts is that jeans become infested with bacteria, dead skin cells, microbes, the body's natural oils, dust, and so on after just one wear.
Depending on how much you sweat (and whether or not the pair of jeans is starting to smell), you can wash it once every two to six months.
5. GYM CLOTHES
Garments made from cotton, whether it is your t-shirt, tracks, shorts, socks, or anything else that comes in contact with sweat, should be washed after every wear. However, if your gym-wear is made from a performance fabric like water-resistant nylon and your chosen form of exercise is low-impact, like yoga, you can wash it after two to three wears. Also, do not forget to wash your gym bag once every month.
6. OFFICEWEAR
Taking care of office wear can be tricky. You may be using clothes hangers to store them properly in your closet, but washing them requires more attention to detail. Your suit, for example, can last for up to four to five wears before you send it to the dry cleaner's. Your button-down shirts, on the other hand, can last for two to three washes, especially if you wear an undershirt.
7. PAJAMAS
If you tend to sweat while sleeping, it is best to wash your pajamas after every wear. If not, you can wash them after every two wears. Not washing them regularly can lead to the build-up of wicked amount of bacteria and dead skin cells. That's just disgusting! In most cases, you can keep the dirt and grime away by washing your sleepwear after two wears or at least once a week.
8. BED SHEETS AND PILLOW CASES
Make it a point to replace your bed sheet once every week and wash it at a minimum of 60 degrees to kill the bacteria on it. It is best to dry it under direct sunlight so that the UV rays from the sun kills the harmful microbes.
When it comes to pillows, they're breeding grounds for dust mites, dead skin cells, and bacteria. Washing them at 60 degrees in your washing machine once every three months should kill most bacteria. Let them dry in direct sunlight. Further, run a hot iron over pillowcases on the cotton setting to kill any leftover bacteria.
9. BATH MATS
How often you wash your bath maths ideally depends on the usage and the quality of the mat. If you use it very often and it seems to be wet at most times, wash it once every week. If it remains fluffy and odor-free most of the time, you can use it for up to two weeks without washing. It is a good idea to hang it over the edge of the bathtub so it dries, and to prolong the time between washes. Alternatively, you can use a reversible mat.
CONCLUSION
Washing your clothes and other linen properly ensures their longevity and proper upkeep. Fabrics that come in close contact with your body should be kept scrupulously clean and tidy. Different fabrics and garments required different care. Taking adequate care and using proper methods when washing them will help retain the fit/size and the quality of the fabric.
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