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If you want to cut down on laundry and dry cleaning — to save time or money, or reduce your everyday environmental impact — you’re not going to be tossing your entire outfit into the hamper every day. So what are your best tips on what to do with clothes that are worn but not dirty?
We thought this would be an interesting topic for an open thread, so let’s chat about it today! What do you do with your semi-dirty/half-dirty clothes that still look and smell clean, readers? Are there certain items you always wash after every wear?
{related: how often do you wash your workwear and other clothes?}
When to Wash Your Clothes: Advice from the Experts
Guidelines for how often to wash clothes are often surprising (and some seem silly), and the advice varies. Wash bras after three to four wears, says Real Simple (hahaha). Vogue UK instructs us to wash our sweaters once a season. Wash jeans after every three wears, Good Housekeeping advises, while the CEO of Levi’s famously said to solely spot-clean denim — no washing machine needed. Hmm. We’ve all got our own preferences!
What to Do With Clothes That Are Worn But Not Dirty
No matter what you think of rules like this, when you have an item of clothing that’s worn but not dirty, where do you put it? Here are some options:
1. A clothes/blanket ladder: This wood-look ladder from Amazon has a handy basket at the bottom and is under $30, while this $66 one from West Elm is made from powder-coated steel.
2. A chair — or, in my case, a blanket chest where cashmere sweaters worn once can “air out” for a bit
{related: “dry clean only” clothes and how to wash them}
3. A valet or rack: This stainless steel valet with a bamboo base is under $50 at Amazon, while Pottery Barn has a recycled-wood/recycled-metal rack with a shelf for $229.
4. A spot with cedar or lavender sachets: Amazon has a pack containing 10 of each for under $20 total. You can hang them on hangers from the little ribbons on top or put them in a drawer to keep things fresh.
5. A designated drawer or closet area
{related: everything you need to know about dry cleaning women’s suits}
Readers, do tell: What’s your routine for worn-but-not-dirty clothes?
Stock photo via Stencil.