Hygiene and save energy
How often do towels, jeans and bras have to be washed?
You don’t have to change bed linen as often as many people think.
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Washing machines are energy guzzlers, but they are essential for hygiene reasons. How often do bed linen, jeans and the like have to be washed?
A washing machine uses around 60 to 100 liters per wash cycle. Especially in times of the energy crisis, one should think twice whether a piece of clothing can be worn a second time before it ends up in the dirty laundry. On the other hand, other textiles should probably end up in the washing machine a little more often for hygiene reasons. Linens, jeans, bras and more: How often do these items really need to be washed?
Towels and bedsheets
Towels are used almost every day – and should therefore be washed regularly. This is especially true for the towels that you use to dry your hands. Since they rarely dry completely between two hand washes, a paradise for bacteria and germs develops here. It is best to wash towels every week.
Bed linen, on the other hand, can be used for a little longer. They should be changed and washed about every two to four weeks – a little more frequently in summer than in winter. If you sleep naked or sweat heavily at night, you should replace them every week.
pajamas and underwear
The washing cycle for pajamas is surprisingly short: you should change your pajamas after just three to four nights.
The situation is similar with bras that are often neglected: they should not be worn for more than three days without washing. Underpants clearly belong in the laundry after each wear.
pullover
Sweaters can be worn about two to three times before they should be washed, since they are usually only worn over other clothes. But the material makes a big difference: synthetic fabrics have to be washed more often, natural materials such as cotton or cashmere have to be washed much less often.
Jeans
Even if they don’t look like it – denim fibers are sensitive. If you wash jeans too often, they lose color and shape. If they are not soiled, you can wear jeans for around four weeks without washing. In between you can air them out in the fresh air and thus save a wash cycle.
sportswear
Leggings, t-shirts and sports bras should be cleaned after each workout. However, gentle, low temperatures are often enough to remove dirt and the smell of sweat from functional clothing. If you want to save energy, you can wash your sportswear by hand with shower gel or shampoo and lots of water after each workout. After three to four training sessions, however, they should finally be rinsed through in the washing machine.