In this article, we will help you how to take care of your vintage clothing sustainably.
How Many Times Should You Do Laundry a Week?
This can be defined by the environmental impacts of doing laundry or as per individual washing needs per garment.
On that note, the UK water usage on average accounts for 50 litres for washing machines during one laundry program in the year 2022 (Statista, 2023).
The United Kingdom uses 840,000,000,000 litres of water annually.
Common household appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers accumulate a water usage of 360,000,000,000 litres every year.
Furthermore, the nation spends GBP 2,300,000,000 on heating water for showers alone (Energy Saving Trust, 2013).
However, comparing washing machine devices from the last decades, newer models require up to seventy percent (70%) less energy, which may count as a positive progress (National Park Service GOV, 2024).
Therefore, it is recommended that you use your washing machine only when unless necessary.
If you want to read more resources about water and protecting the environment, you can read resources on Water UK.
Ultimately, there are no restrictions on how many times you should do laundry each week.
Every household varies in size and garments in use that require cleaning, therefore try to be responsible and set your individual rules.
You potentially save money towards your water bills due to reduced laundry days and overall water usage!
How Many Washes Should Clothes Last
Clothes wear out faster the more times you wash them (The Guardian, 2019).
Ultimately, how much you wash each clothing item depends on its material and condition.
How Often Should You Wash Knitwear
Wool items, or knitted garments, are at the highest risk of being over-washed. But it may be sufficient to clean them quarterly (Vogue, 2022).
Other sources, such as laundry detergent brand Lenor, suggest wearing wool jumpers after five (5) times of usage (Lenor, 2024).
How Often Should You Wash Jeans
Jeans are often undergoing more washing cycles than necessary (Vogue, 2023).
When it comes to how often you should launder your clothes, jeans are the superstars of it.
They don't need to be washed after five (5) to ten wears (10) (Textile Apex, 2024).
The American Cleaning Institute, however, recommends washing jeans after three times of wearing (American Cleaning Institute, 2024).
How Often Should You Wash Bed Sheets
An online washing guide published by the Unilever company, Persil, recommends washing bed sheets approximately every 1-2 weeks (Persil, 2024).
Other Resources
If you are looking for additional textile care tips, visit our blog.
We highly recommend the eco-friendly laundry detergent by earth breeze.