6 Things You Don’t Need to Wash After Every Wear—and Why You Shouldn’t

Believe it or not, there is such a thing as cleaning too often . When it comes to laundry and washing clothing , this is especially true. While you should aim to keep your clothing clean and hygienic to prevent bad odors, skin irritation, or infections, you should also consider your garments' lifespan. Washing your clothes too often can wear them down faster, so it's good to cut out unnecessary laundering when you can. While some items (like exercise clothes) should be washed after every wear, some can last quite a few more wears before they need to be laundered.

Scott Schrader , a cleaning expert at CottageCare , says that unless a clothing item smells, is stained, or is soaked in sweat, he recommends simply refreshing it—via steam, air drying, or sunlight drying—rather than washing it. "This will keep your fabric looking newer, it will reduce how much your clothes shrink , and it will cut your laundry by half ," Schrader says.

Here are six items you don't need to (and shouldn't) wash after every wear so you can cut down on laundry and keep your clothes in better condition.

Jeans

Schrader says jeans are one of the most over-washed clothing items. They're often laundered after only a single wear, when simply airing them out to dry or spot cleaning them would have been sufficient, he explains.

"Denim is tough as nails," Schrader adds. "It does not really even absorb sweat. Unless really dirty, wash every four to six wears. Washing less preserves your denim color and the life of the fabric ."

Sweaters

If you want to wear the same cozy sweater every day of the week—go for it. Schrader says sweaters and cardigans don't need to be washed after every wear because they're typically worn over other garments, meaning they aren't directly in contact with any sweat or oils from your skin. So, unless you spill on your sweater or it's noticeably dirty, you only need to wash it after every five to seven wears.

Jackets and Blazers

Similar to sweaters, jackets and blazers are typically worn as outer layers over other clothing, so they don't need to be washed as frequently as something like a T-shirt. Plus, jackets and blazers often have a more structured form that may not respond well to frequent washing and may have specific laundering needs. Schrader recommends cleaning (via dry cleaning or steaming) your jackets and blazers every season or every 5-10 wears.

Dress Pants and Trousers

Like jackets and blazers, dress pants often have more specific tailoring and creasing that can be damaged by standard machine washing. So, it's important to not only wash these items thoughtfully, but also less frequently, about every 5-10 wears or twice every season.

Pajamas

If you're a super hot sleeper who wakes up in a sweat every night, this one may not apply to you. Generally, though, "if you shower before bed, [your pajamas] will be fine at three to four wears before laundering," Schrader says.

Bras

This one may also depend on your sweatiness level and personal preferences; however, we recommend only washing bras after every three to four wears. And when you do wash them, put them in a mesh laundry bag to keep them from getting damaged or from damaging other items in the wash.

Read the original article on Real Simple