Our site uses cookies to give you the best experience. Manage your cookies here or continue shopping if you're happy.

Accept & close
Skip to main content
Basket

    How often you should be washing your clothes?

    Many of us wash our clothes more often than needed, unknowingly wearing them out faster. Laundry expert Gwilym Snook offers guidance on how to care for your wardrobe more thoughtfully—for the sake of your clothes, your energy bills, and the environment.

    Gwilym Snook, laundry expert, spoke on how often each piece of clothing should be washed. He explained:

    What Brits wash too much / often and why?

    “Many of us tend to over wash our clothes that aren’t necessarily dirty after each wear. Fabrics like your jeans or jumpers can be worn multiple times before they need a wash, a habit which can help prolong their life.

    “Brits can also tend to save money by reducing their water and energy consumption – a handy tip as we head into the most expensive part of the year.

    “Understanding when your clothes genuinely need washing versus when they can be aired out or spot-cleaned can help Brits enjoy more sustainable laundry habits.

    “As such, here’s a list of how often you should be washing your clothes:

    Trousers

    “Typically wash your trousers after three or four uses, unless visibly stained."

    Shirts / T-Shirts

    “Each shirt should generally be washed after it’s been worn once – especially if worn directly against the skin."

    Underwear

    “For the purposes of hygiene, your underwear should be washed after each use."

    Bras

    “Bras can be worn two or three times before washing, but this of course depends on your personal comfort and how active you are."

    Socks

    “Your socks should be washed after each wear, especially if worn without shoes or for sports."

    Bed Sheets

    “Ideally, clean your sheets once a week to maintain cleanliness and comfort."

    Jumpers

    “You should be washing your jumpers after three or four uses, unless visibly stained or if you've been sweating a lot."

    Sports Wear

    “These items should be washed after each use to remove any sweat, odours and bacteria."

    Dresses

    “Similar to your shirts, dresses should generally be washed after each wear."

    Jeans

    “Jeans can be worn multiple times before washing, as they don't stain as quickly and washing less frequently can prolong their lifespan. Aim to wash your jeans after three or four uses."

    Pyjamas

    “Your pyjamas should also be washed after three or four uses; however, this should be more frequently if you sweat heavily.”

    Shop all Washing Machines