Do you wash your children’s clothes after each ‘use’?

[CookieCrumbles23]

Like many, my washing is never ending. Sometimes I’m washing clothes my kids have worn for a few hours, it looks and smells okay. My mum believes everything should be fresh and washed after each ‘use’, new PJs each night etc. My kids have a bath each night and I think it’s okay to wear PJs two nights on the trot (okay, sometimes even 3 🙊)

What do you do? Wash because it’s been worn or fold it up and pop back in their cupboard?

I buy decent quality clothes and washing liquid. Clothes last. We don't over buy clothing and lots of kids clothes are second hand. They out grow them so quickly!

Once clothes are worn they are covered in skin cells, sebum, sweat, cooking and food odurs, and other environmental debris. I don't want to have that touching my skin for a second day.

Also, I would hate to think my kids was the smelly one in class! Reworn clothes always smell stale to me.

I don't notice the cost or the "energy" of washing them. It's a part of life.

I understand that not everyone notices the cost in monetary terms of washing clothes daily, but what about the environmental cost of the water, electricity, detergent that is used? Already the sewage system is struggling with untreated waste being pumped out into the sea and waterways, with microfibres from clothing adding to pollution. There have been so many articles written about how we can help protect the environment by washing clothes less frequently and on lower temperatures. If it is becoming a trend to wash clothes daily after one use, then the cumulative environmental impact becomes huge.

Yes, a bit of dirt does matter. Gross.

So, five minutes after getting your child to the playground, if they have got dirt on them then you would need to change their clothes? Yesterday's dirt, today's, don't see the difference.

I didn't say I'd rush them home to get changed, did I?
There is a big difference in getting dirty from something they have done today, to then thinking it's ok to put those dirty clothes back on again tomorrow.
I would never put visibly dirty clothes on myself or my kids.

What is the difference between a little dirt today or yesterday? I'm not talking about clearly dirty, just the kind of dirt you may not notice until the following morning, that no-one else is likely to think anything of it they saw the children. I don't see what's gross about a bit of dirt either.

Surely its a balance - pg once a week but hot weather likely more.

Clothes on for couple of hours after school - may be top might be washed as teens now but not jeans - pants socks daily or even more if showers are had in daytime.

I'll wash more in summer easier to dry but also more sweating.

So those who wash clothes after each daily wear, does that include washing coats?

For my 4 year old, her clothes get quite dirty so I'll wash them after one use usually.
PJs she can wear 3-4 times before being washed.

This for me too. Apart from the socks- the can last a couple of wears 🧦

No.

Yes.

Only things washed after each use are underpants and socks, swimming things and anything which has an obvious mark or stain. DH and I work full-time as teachers, two pre-teen/teen DC and no tumble dryer. Couldn't possibly manage washing everything after each wear, not to mention that it's bad for the environment.

Me too. Usually 2 wears unless dirty after the first wear. I try to dress toddler in different clothes daily, so after the first wear, I put them aside to wear again on a different day, and then put them in the wash after the 2nd wear.
PJs are usually changed weekly, as bath before bed. Pillow cases are changed with each hair wash if not daily, but every other night.

Teen does a lot of sports so changes all clothing and showers twice a day at least. Sleeps in the nude.

Yep. I wash everything after it’s been worn once. I want my kids to smell nice and now they’re teens it has really helped with any body odour issues. A shower at least once a day and clean clothes all round. Lots of deodorant! Washing basket is never empty but I’m happy to do this for them.

What about the environmental impact? Washing clean clothes is extremely wasteful of resources.

When i read these threads I always wonder what these 'wash everything every day' people do when they go on holiday? If you're a family of 2 adults and 2 children are you packing 28 sets of nightclothes and 28 sets of daytime clothes? However do you manage that? Do you have to take several suitcases? Obviously, if you're self-catering I guess you could do washing (but really, who wants to do that on holiday?) but what if you're staying in a hotel?

Also,, what about things like dressing gowns? Do you wash those after every wear too? And coats? The mind boggles

I wash our towels after 4 uses max, hand towels changed every day, everything else fresh and used once apart from jeans and hoodies. Sheets changed every 5 days. I spend my day washing in between wfh!

Nearly always have to wash after every wear, but DS has SEND and eats his clothes/covers them in stuff.

If by some miracle something can be worn twice then it is!

In principle I only think underwear has to be washed after every wear.

If we go away for 7 days we take at least 14 sets of clothes for DS, plus even more pants, T-shirts and socks- usually some stuff comes back unworn but experience has taught me that we can go through 3 changes of clothes a day on holiday.

To compensate we barely take anything for ourselves- I can do a week on 2 pairs of gym leggings and 1/2 vest tops (lots of practice travelling light when backpacking when I was young!)

Mumsnet competitive washing at its best 😂
According to Mumsnet standards I must be a real munter! Things are washed when dirty, not after every wear.

PJs - weekly, DD's daily when she was in nappies or toilet training.

tops, underwear and socks - daily

trousers - when dirty or after 3-4 days

Jumpers/hoddies - depending on how long they were worn and with or without a top underneath

No. Underwear yes and of course if anything is obviously stained/dirty. But if not then as many wears as possible!

You people are all insane. Never heard of airing clothes and towels?