From The Straits Times    |


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Since we were young, we’ve all been taught to wash our clothes to keep ourselves clean, and our clothes and smelling fresh. But did you know that if you wash your clothes too much, you can actually ruin them faster than they were made to last? Yes, there is such a thing as too much washing.

The truth is, many of us might be washing our clothing way too often, which isn’t good for certain fabrics and just ends up shortening the lifespan of these clothes. 

With that in mind, we’ve created this general guide that tells you the advised number of wearings per item before you toss them into the wash. From your everyday white shirts and weekend dresses to your beloved denim, we’ve got it covered. 

1. Bras: After 3 or 4 wears
Over washing will damage the elasticity and the shape of the bra. Once the shape is gone, the support of the bra is compromised. 

2. Underwear, socks, leggings and tights: After every wear
While you enjoy the luxury of not having to launder your bras every day, the same rule does not apply to these items. They are tight-fitting, absorb body oils and perspiration, and are close to your genital and perspiration zones resulting in lots of bacteria build up. 

3. T-shirts and camisoles: After every wear
Treat these items like your undergarments. These clothes are body-hugging, close-fitting and thin, so they tend to absorb sweat easily. However, there’s a bit of a wiggle room; if you wear them for less than four hours you can probably get away with one repeat wear. 

4. Sweaters: after 3 to 4 wears or more
There are many variations of sweaters so it depends greatly on the type. For cotton and cashmere, you can probably wash them after three to four wears. For chunkier and more durable fabrics like wool and acrylic, they can go longer without washing. You can wear them up to 10 times. 

5. Blouses and dresses: After 2 to 3 wears
You can get away with two or three wears with these items if you are in an air-conditioned environment most of the time because you won’t perspire heavily. Remember to check the care labels to select the correct washing or dry cleaning methods.

6. Dress pants and skirts: After 5 wears
These items can be worn multiple times without washing, especially if you are wearing them in an air-conditioned office. Tip: Hang dresses, pants or jackets you’ve just worn for at least 24 hours before wearing them again so the fibers can relax and air. This will allow fibers to rebound and wrinkles to relax.

7. Jackets and blazers: After 8 or more wears
Technically, these are the most low maintenance of the lot. They usually don’t touch much skin, so they don’t need constant cleaning. However, they tend to retain odors. If you wear them out to lunch or places with strong smells, it’s advisable to give it a sniff test before putting it back into your wardrobe. Apart from washing, you can also try Fabric fresheners. 

8. Jeans: After 8 or more wears
When it comes to denim there’s always a huge debate on whether or not your jeans should be washed. As a general rule, we would recommend that you wash them after 8 wears or more. Find out how you can keep your favourite jeans in tip top condition here.

9. Pyjamas: After 2 to 4 wears
If you sleep in a cool air-conditioned environment, you can definitely try to maximise your pyjamas by wearing it up to a maximum of four times. However, it’s important to note that, you might sweat while you are sleeping at night and dirty pajamas can lead to skin problems like acne, so be careful about that! 

10. Anything white: After every wear
If you want to keep your whites white, there’s no laziness to be had. They get dirty easily and absorb perspiration that will result in yellowing. 

This list is non-exhaustive. It’s a general guide for you ladies to refer to when in doubt. But of course, as long as there are spills, stains or signs of perspiration, there’s no need to wait! Throw them into the wash as soon as possible.