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Original poster

At what point do you wash jumpers?

75 replies

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 06/12/2023 15:14

Silly question really, but I'm just wondering how often you wash things like jumpers?

I wore a jumper over a t-shirt on Saturday. Didn't smell, and crucially, didn't spill any dinner down it!

Wore it again yesterday, again over a t-shirt. Am just tidying up and went to throw it in the laundry basket - but really, do I need to wash it? It doesn't smell, it doesn't have any spills down it, it seems daft to wash it but slovenly not to!

OP posts:
AdoraBell · 06/12/2023 16:19

Hardly ever because I always wear them over some like T-shirt or shirts. Spot clean if I spill something. All of mine are wool or cashmere so need hand washing and it’s a faff.

AnnaMagnani · 06/12/2023 16:22

Pure wool or cashmere I'd spot clean for stains, hand-wash once a year and not always that and freeze once a year for moths.

Any jumper with man-made fibre just gets chucked in the wash occasionally.

TeenTraumaTrials · 06/12/2023 16:28

Only when visibly dirty so like some PPs only once a season for some - I wear a long sleeved vest every single day from Oct-March so no skin contact other than round the neck. I did wash a cowl neck one the other day when I noticed how grimy the inside of the neck was. I buy clothes because I like them and don't want to then have to replace from over-washing as inevitably I can't find one I like as much.

BertieBotts · 06/12/2023 16:35

Check for spilled food, sniff armpits, sniff general "scrunch" - if it passes all 3 tests it stays on my little shelf for worn-again clothing.

gannett · 06/12/2023 16:43

A jumper getting too dirty is a vibe rather than a strict rule. When you know, you know.

(Usually about three wears.)

eurochick · 06/12/2023 19:18

If I wear it next to my body two wears at most. With a T-shirt underneath as little as possible but I always air overnight on a chair or the radiator before putting away.

DRS1970 · 06/12/2023 19:21

When they look or smell dirty.

UsingChangeofName · 06/12/2023 19:24

Only once stained or don't pass the sniff test.
Can't understand why people are constantly washing things that aren't touching your pits or your bits and just aren't dirty.

KCSIE · 06/12/2023 21:11

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 06/12/2023 15:22

This is encouraging thanks! @Crunchingleaf I was expecting most people to tell me to wash after every wear tbh!

I'm going to hang this one up for now (outside the wardrobe) and give it another once over tomorrow before I put away.

My conundrum is where to put the 'wear again' jumpers after you've worn and aired them!

marthalovescheese · 06/12/2023 21:31

I put them back in the wardrobe, but MN probably considers this a hanging offence

FizzyStream · 06/12/2023 21:36

I have a selection of really nice cardigans with fancy buttons etc that I wear for work in winter and providing I don't spill anything on them I try to only wash them a couple of times over the winter months before putting them away in spring. Then I wash them inside out on a delicate cool wash in Woolite and hang up to dry on hangers. They seem to do ok with this treatment. I've got a cashmere jumper though that's got food on it and I'm too scared to wash it 😂

NotMeNoNo · 06/12/2023 21:42

About once a month in winter I have a handwashing session for all the wool/cashmere jumpers I've been wearing regularly so they go soft and pretty again. It's more to do with whether they are starting to look a bit tired and stretched although anything stained/spilled would be dealt with as and when.

Nothankyou22 · 06/12/2023 21:43

If I didn’t always spill dinner down me a lot less but usually every use because of that

Bearpawk · 06/12/2023 21:46

I only wear wool or cashmere so as little as possible. Maybe once every 5 wears ?I'll do a cool wool wash about once every month/ 6 weeks in winter. Always wear a layer underneath so they don't need washing regularly.

JesusAndMaryPain · 06/12/2023 22:14

As little as possible. Maybe twice a year? It's so risky washing wool or cashmere, it's like risk management to do it as rarely as possible!

Original poster
ChiefWiggumsBoy · 07/12/2023 17:52

I'm encouraged by this. I will endeavour to be more careful when eating my dinner and wear a t-shirt underneath so I don't have to wash as often Grin

I HATE having to handwash, especially in wintertime, so if I can avoid that I will.

Thanks all!

OP posts:
0scilla · 07/12/2023 18:11

Ps there's a hand wash function on most washing machines.

AnnaMagnani · 07/12/2023 18:16

@ChiefWiggumsBoy if you handwash with Eucalan you literally just need to soak the jumper for a bit, then take it out. No rinsing.

I dry them by rolling up in a towel, then standing on the towel to get as much water out as possible before drying flat.

Finestreason · 07/12/2023 18:19

AlisonDonut · 06/12/2023 15:49

When they stand up on their own.

This is my rule as well.

Generally speaking they will have holes in the elbows before I wash them.

MissBuffyAnneSummers · 07/12/2023 18:20

As many days as poss less if it smells or has dirty marks

Ladyof2022 · 07/12/2023 18:22

After about ten wears

starsinthenightskies · 07/12/2023 18:23

As a little as possible! Jumpers don’t last long at all if you wash them all the time.

I was at an event last night and a lady said she wanted to wear her Christmas jumper but couldn’t because then it would be out of action for Christmas jumper day at work the following day. I thought this seemed a bit odd but I presume she’s one of those people who wash every item of clothing after every wear.

Tisfortired · 07/12/2023 18:24

I usually get 3/4 wears out of a jumper before it needs washing.

Gowlett · 07/12/2023 18:25

Only if I have to.

Christmasss · 07/12/2023 18:29

I don’t wear t shirts under mine and I wash them after each wear or maybe two wears if I’ve only had it on half a day. I wear deodorant but still seem to be of a smelly underarm person.