Unnecessary Laundry

[MyLemonWriter]

A few months back I noticed whilst loading the washing machine that most things were actually clean. Has anyone else cut down on the number of times the launder their clothes?

Where I live we are advised, via TV, to wash things less. Wearing clothing once and then washing it is totally unnecessary, unless they really are dirty.

I think people doing so much washing are mad. Wasting resources and making work for themselves - not to mention damaging their clothing, towels etc.

Each to their own, I think people that don't wash clothing/towels/bedding regularly are mad.
I have been in people's homes that look clean but you can definitely smell their towels in the bathroom for example (it's delightful using the loo and knowing you are potentially smelling 'Dave's' ball sack and arse...) or the colleague that doesn't wash their clothes hot enough or often enough ponging the office out so much you have to have windows open even in winter.
I would rather be cautious and wash something that I could potentially have worn a second time than be caught out with it starting to smell.

You just carry on adding to the destruction of the planet then, don't worry your pretty little head about it. Being cautious and washing something just because you think it might smell is ridiculous.

Personally I think these people who are obssessed with imaginery smells are the ones with the problem. Can you tell me how, when you visit these people's homes, you can tell if they wash their clothing, towels etc, every day, every week, every month, or once a year?

The planet is being destroyed by the multiple coal powered factories in China belching out smoke 24 hours a day, it is being destroyed by the millions of trees being cut down in forests worldwide to make room for agriculture. It is being destroyed by the millions of tonnes of sewage being pumped into our waterways and the sea. It is being destroyed by the huge increase in cars on the roads globally and the deterioration of public transport services meaning the use of a private vehicle is necessary to most people. It is being destroyed by huge companies like Amazon that use so much packaging, a huge box for a tiny mascara for example. Every email we send has a carbon footprint, how many emails are sent daily across the planet? Even electric cars are terrible for the planet due to the mining for lithium required for the batteries.
I think I can safely assume that washing my clothes etc will not be the cause of earth's destruction.

I don’t think I’ve ever sat in someone’s bathroom thinking I can smell their ball sack and arse crack from their towels.

Do you hate the environment?

I'm not sure I've ever been able to identify those particular aromas, but I have been in people's bathrooms and noticed an unpleasant smell from their towels, and had to use hand towels that were very noticeably not fresh.

People wash coats? Mind blown!

Not sure I have ever washed any of them. I'd assume they'd need dry cleaning as big bulky things.

(I'd obviously mop them down if I spilled something on them)

Whilst it is personal choice, I don't think that not washing after every wear is being smelly. If you wear one extra day, you half the number of washes. If you can get to or 3 extra days then even better. No need to smell though?

We reuse trousers/pants, shorts and skirts but tops get washed after one wear

Towels once a weel

Well obviously the first part of your post is true, but surely if everyone does their bit, no matter how small it is, then it all adds up to make a difference. People with your attitude, that you can't make a big difference so you can't be bothered even trying to make a difference at all, are part of the problem. The amount of microplastics being released into the oceans are increasing every year, and this ridiculous modern trend of washing everything after one use or wear is partly to blame. But you just sit back and congratulate yourself because you aren't running a coal powered factory.

I do a group litter pick with my fellow litter wombles most weeks. I wear clothes that are need a wash. Sweatshirt has some gravy on it and t-shirt has mustard on it. Wear with my usual wombling hoodie and trousers. Throw them in washer on 15 min quick wash. Removes all mud and other stains.

In the summer and days which are warm enough to wear t-shirts, I have a few old t-shirts which I wear instead

I agree totally with very little change we have managed to more than half the number of loads per week. not to work on the kids helping but getting what is dirty at least close to the laundry basket!!

Most people wash stuff far too much. We I my wash underwear after one wear. Every tbh ing else gets at least 2 wears if not more.

Where do you think all your laundry detergents end up? Have a guess!

1 adult, 2 children, one dark wash and one white wash a week. Sometimes an extra one if needed. We wear things for numerous days and spot wash if a tiny amount of dirt I.e a bit of melted chocolate on a school jumper. I’d be washing all week if we only wore things once!

in summer when the weather is good I’ll do the extra washes of curtains, cushion covers etc and don’t do them in winter when I’d have to tumble dry them.