I am a serious over-washer of our clothing, sheets, even the couch cover! I’m trying to work on this, though, since it is costing me money.
Not only does it bite into the budget with the cost of laundry detergent, hot water cost and electricity, but it also costs me money in terms of replacement costs for the clothing. I suppose I can probably also include the replacement costs for the washer and or dryer, assuming that more use shortens the life spans of these appliances.
Why then do I do it?
Well, partially it might be the way I was raised, partially because I like putting clean clothes on each day and partially because I heard about an Oprah show which revealed the amount of dust mites that live in sheets.
Still, most clothing experts seem to tell us that there is really nothing wrong with wearing something more than once before washing it. As long as an item of clothing smells okay and isn’t stained, there is no need to wash it. They also say that sometimes simply airing out an item of clothing will extend the number of times that it can be worn. Wearing underwear, too is a factor. Supposedly, jeans can be worn at least three or four times.
Hmm. Well, I don’t know if I can stretch past my neuroses that much, but I am aiming to cut down on the washing a bit. For example, I’ll change out of good clothes when I am home, to help keep them fresh and extend the number of times they can be worn. I’ll try to reuse PJs or nightgowns, since they don’t have too much chance of getting dirty while I am sleeping, and I may even let the kids wear the same thing two days in a row…well, unless they have school.
What do you think?