How often should we wash our clothes?

According to sociology, the rules on personal hygiene that we are taught depend mostly on the expectations of the society and cultures in which we grow up. For centuries, unwritten rules on personal cleanliness have been used by some people and communities to discriminate against marginalized communities. Just as the ancient Egyptians considered bathing, namely washing in a tub of still water like the Greeks, to be disgusting, white Americans of the late 19th century described themselves as scandalized by the filthiness of Europeans. It is widely known that not washing one's clothes often enough can cause damage to the skin - and annoyance to the people around us - but few know that doing too much washing can result not only in a waste of resources but also in irreparable damage to clothing. Obviously, items that need to be washed after every single use include underwear and sportswear, as well as clothing that has been stained because, according to dermatologist expert Anthony Rossi's interview with CNN, these are «on a part of our body that has a lot of natural bacteria living on it, like our microbiome and bacteria,» he explained, «then, with daily activities, we sweat. This creates moisture and an environment where these bacteria can overgrow.»

When it comes to washing pajamas, jeans, and other outerwear, however, the suggestions are quite different. «I think it depends on your comfort level and the amount of sweat you have during the day,» Rossi explained, «many people wear underwear. These would need to be washed after each use, whereas the upper shirt does not.» In the case of pajamas, what the dermatologist recommends is related to the wearer's habits. If one happens to sweat very little during the night and washes before going to bed, one can even use it for a whole week and still maintain a healthy level of hygiene. Jackets can be washed as little as once a month, as they do not come into direct contact with the skin, while jeans can follow their own schedule. Keeping denim in good condition means washing them very little, and in fact, Rossi suggests hardly ever putting them in the washing machine except when visibly stained.