Whenever it's time to do laundry, there are a few things to consider even before putting everything in the washing machine, including remembering how long it's been since the clothes were last washed. This is important because some clothes, depending on their condition or fabric type, might not need washing as often, allowing you to reduce the amount of laundry you do, which in turn saves water and laundry detergent.

And on the other hand, we must also consider those items that we think do not yet require washing, either because they are thicker garments that we only use in certain seasons or because they are part of the home decor.

It can be difficult to determine how often each item needs washing, so today we'll share some recommended times for the next time you're sorting through what you think needs cleaning.

The importance of timing

We've already mentioned that one benefit of knowing when to wash clothes is saving resources, but this is also important for the care and longevity of all your laundry. We can even add that the overall health of the family is also affected, as it can be impacted by the accumulation of dust or cleaning product residue.

The wear and tear on some fabrics occurs either from very frequent washing or from being left outdoors for too long. We should have a general idea of everything that has been washed recently in our house and in our wardrobe.

For some parts it may be convenient to keep a written record in a notebook of when it was last serviced.

Casual clothing

Everyday or more casual clothes are those whose washing time we are more aware of, but which we tend to assign in a similar way even though, in reality, they are different:

• After each use: T-shirts, underwear, socks and sportswear.
• After 2 to 3 uses: shirts, blouses, shorts and dresses.
• After 3 to 5 uses: cloth pants, sweaters, sweatshirts and pajamas.
• After 5 to 10 uses: jeans or denim pants.
• Every 1 or 2 months: jackets.

It should be noted that these timeframes are not definitive and depend on the season, the level of dirt and the degree of skin contact. 

Household items

Now, household linens are those used in different rooms and with which we may not interact directly, but they still need to be washed from time to time:

• Every 3 or 4 uses: bath towels.
• Every 3 to 7 days: pillowcases and sheets.
• Every 3 to 6 months: carpets and curtains.

For these items, it's important to consider the amount of dust or dirt they may accumulate depending on where they are stored or displayed. These washing times are recommended even if they have been stored and will be used after weeks or months.

Additional or household items

Some things are not so often considered because they are not clothing items or are rarely used; below we share some examples:

• Kitchen tablecloths: Due to their exposure to food, they should be washed every 1 to 2 weeks.
• Car mats: Their washing can be done in conjunction with the rest of the car, so it would be every 2 to 4 weeks.
• Blankets or comforters: Since they are not in as direct contact with us as sheets, their washing time can be extended to between 1 and 3 months.
• Stuffed animals: Most of the time they are used only for decoration but their cleanliness should be ensured so, like blankets, they should be washed between 1 and 3 months.

We can see that we shouldn't just think about t-shirts, pants, and underwear when putting laundry in the washing machine. Keeping track of what we've washed and what we still need to wash will help create a healthier home environment.

Remember that caring for clothes starts even before washing. By incorporating these tips into our daily cleaning routine, we can give the best care to our clothes, our home, and our family.