Do I need to wash school uniform daily?

[buildingmycorestrength]

My children have miraculously come home without yoghurt stains, grass stains, blood, dirt, or other filth on their uniforms.

I don't want to wash it, and normally wouldn't, but we've just had so many instances of threadworm over the last year that I thought, 'Oh no, what if by not washing their uniform I am allowing extra germy things to breed all over the house?'

And then I thought, 'Oh, come on, all the germs are already in them from all the nose picking and nail biting and eating with u washed hands, so letting them wear the uniform another day will make no difference and save money and time.'

Etc.

So, I thought I would seek opinion/experience and decide a policy for the year. I love policies. Please provide evidence for my new evidence-based laundry policy. Many thanks. .

[scarlettsmummy2]

I don't wash my daughters summer dress or cardigan every day- so far it has been every other day as it has been generally clean and she is only four so not sweaty, and wears a vest. But if there were marks on it I would give it a quick wash on the fast cycle.

[JemimaMuddledUp]

I wash my DC's uniforms every day. But my children are little scruffs who have yet to ever come home not covered in mud, grass stains and food.

Plus the three sets of uniform make up a full load, so even if one child miraculously had something that didn't need washing it still makes sense to stick them all in together.

But if I could get away with not washing any of them, I would.

[buildingmycorestrength]

Usually the pain of checking them is outweighed by the convenience of them knowing they just always sling everything in the laundry basket...but I'm starting to wonder if I might be able to teach them to check how clean they are and put them in their rooms for tomorrow...IF they won't get infected somehow ...I'm being weird about that, aren't I?

[PigletJohn]

if you have a tumble-drier, a hot tumble will kill eggs.

But I doubt they eat their clothes much.

[buildingmycorestrength]

My son is much better about not chewing his clothes now we've got him a chewy thing. .

But what about viruses and bacteria and other children's invisible snot and so on? And why am I suddenly obsessed with this?

[invicta]

I never washed the uniform daily.

[holidaybug]

No way! I aim to wash once a week, or maybe twice at a push. In between, I wipe off any marks with a damp cloth.

[buildingmycorestrength]

Thank you all so much.

I'm going to have a new policy which involves NOT WASHING CLOTHES THAT ARE PERFECTLY FINE.

And life will be slightly better.

[buildingmycorestrength]

See, now there is a thread in chat about the norovirus and people are saying they wash uniform daily straight after school because of this. Do viruses live on clothes? Really?

[CMOTDibbler]

A virus that can survive sitting around on dry uniform is not going to be worried about a 30' wash. Chill out about it.

[siblingrevelry]

You've now given me something new to worry about - until now, clothes have been unwashed if still clean (which happens often owing to my 'no squishy stuff in lunchbox' policy!)!

If the concern is for kids bringing germs and viruses home on their clothes, surely shoes/coats/book bags etc would all need disinfecting too?

And what about the nights where they don't have their hair washed? Or Friday night when they don't have a bath?

I think if you follow the argument through to it's logical conclusion, you'd be hosing them down 'ET style' before they set foot in the house.

Clothes will last longer, the planet will last longer, and you'll last longer if you only wash stuff when it needs!

[Meglet]

I wash it everyday, regardless of what it looks like.

They have between 4-6 pieces of every item so there's always something clean.

[CecyHall]

I had no idea people washing uniform daily was a thing.

This might explain why everyone seems to be busier than me!

[buildingmycorestrength]

Yes. You are right. I shouldn't think many viruses will survive on their clothes and THEN be the source of infection. They'll have been infected earlier by the constant nose-picking!

[WowOoo]

I only put shirts, pants and vests in the laundry straight away. I decide by looking if sweaters and trousers need a wash.

I think another good thing you can do is insist on giving their hands a good scrub when they come home from school. My eldest just does it now, my youngest needs my help.

My friend thought I was nuts when she was here, but I don't care.

I think some viruses can live on clothing and elsewhere. But don't panic about it! You can try as hard as you can and then you get a poorly child who sneezes in your face. What can you do?

[TeacakeEater]

I wash as needed and sponge clean where possible.

I was taught that too much washing is bad for clothes!

[TeacakeEater]

And yes to WowOoo for health, HAND washing in warm soapy water after school is the thing to do.

[RoganJosh]

Apart from underwear, I only wash what has a mark on it. That goes for non uniform too.

[jennymac]

Apart from on a Friday when everything gets chucked in the wash, I only wash uniform items that are actually dirty. My 2 are in primary so finish every day at 2pm and then change straight away into their ordinary clothes so 2 uniform changes usually last the whole week (apart from shirts). They are sickeningly healthy and very rarely get stomach bugs, have never had threadworm so obviously not washing their uniforms more regularly has done them no harm!

[fasterthanthewind]

yes, wash hands when come home (from shops, playground, school) - first thing on getting home (after taking off shoes!)

DS has now bought into my 'wear it again until it's dirty' policy, and is rather mortified if his clothes are deemed only suitable for the laundry basket. We often have 1 pair of trousers/week, but shirts are more variable (2-5/week depending on heat/dirt). Jumpers - always try to make one last all week (spot clean where needed) but often don't manage.

Down with laundry!

[buildingmycorestrength]

They managed 4 full days in the same uniform this week...then chose to 'do archeology' in the garden yesterday.

Am v proud of myself for this change. Washing machine struggles enough with the wet bedding most mornings, frankly.

[NoComet]

I have one policy for washing.

Is it visably dirty or does it smell -

Wash!

[cq]

I used to make DC's re-wear their uniform every day until Friday unless there was a large paint/food incident down the front.

DS is now a manchild of nearly 15, at least 6" taller than me, and insists on giving me a bear hug every time he comes home, which is lovely. Except my nose gets squished into his armpit, after a day of hot classrooms, sweaty games and 90 minutes of bus round trip.

He has a clean shirt every day now

[buildingmycorestrength]

Just a quick update...I am spending a LOT less time hauling washing around. Thank you for talking some sense into me.