# Did you know you can rewear dirty clothes instead of cleaning them **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 30, 2005, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-you-can-rewear-dirty-clothes-instead-of-cleaning-them/306116 "2005-05-30T18:00:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2005, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-you-can-rewear-dirty-clothes-instead-of-cleaning-them/306116/1 "2005-05-30T18:00:22Z")
This realization has opened new doors for me. I only have 4 pairs of good pants and I was under the impression that I had to wash them every 4-5 days. Apparently not, all I have to do is check to see if htey smell bad, spray some febreeze on them and wear them again. I’ll be damned. I learned this trick from a woman in school who told me she hasn’t washed her pants in several months. I have no desire to take it that far but wow, talk about eye opening experiences. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2005, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-you-can-rewear-dirty-clothes-instead-of-cleaning-them/306116/2 "2005-05-30T18:04:59Z")
Yep. Unless you sweat in them a lot, or get them really dirty, pants can go several weeks without washing, if you rotate them and let them air out between wearings. I do this all the time. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-you-can-rewear-dirty-clothes-instead-of-cleaning-them/306116/3 "2005-05-30T18:08:06Z")
Easy for you–you don’t live in Arizona! ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-you-can-rewear-dirty-clothes-instead-of-cleaning-them/306116/4 "2005-05-30T18:14:41Z")
And you can wear dress shirts more than once as long as you wear an undershirt (preferably with sleeves, rather than a “wife-beater”), apply deodorant, don’t sweat through to the shirt, and don’t wrinkle it too much. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2005, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-you-can-rewear-dirty-clothes-instead-of-cleaning-them/306116/5 "2005-05-30T18:17:34Z")
> [@Dr. Rieux](#): > > Easy for you–you don’t live in Arizona! What with Arizona’s dry climate, I thought you sweat less and it would therefore be one of the major centers of extended wearing between washes. I’m in Southern California, and I’ll wear jeans about three or four days in normal circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-you-can-rewear-dirty-clothes-instead-of-cleaning-them/306116/6 "2005-05-30T19:00:59Z")
The number of wearings of a shirt and pants, though subject to different formulae, are both inversely proportional to the average ambient temperature to which you’re exposed during the days you wear them. Underwear is not subject to this formula. Change it every day without exception. (Exception: If you’re too hung over to move.) Hoodies. Also not subject to the formula. Hoodies are outerwear. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-you-can-rewear-dirty-clothes-instead-of-cleaning-them/306116/7 "2005-05-30T20:03:55Z")
> [@Wesley Clark](#): > > I was under the impression that I had to wash them every 4-5 days. > [@silenus](#): > > Yep. Unless you sweat in them a lot, or get them really dirty, pants can go several weeks without washing Huh. I don’t necessarily go by time - I usually wear things twice (even hoodies) and wash them; unless it is my biking, horse, or gardening clothes. Those get washed every time. I’m just saying that if you are wearing somthing every day, or even every other day - PLEASE wash them more often! I sit next to people in school all the time who smell like dirty laundry - that smell that is like they picked up something that had been sitting on their dorm floor for two months (in some cases, it probably has) and it is not a pleasant smell. I know you can get away with it, but somtimes other people can smell your dirty clothes even if you cannot. And hang them if you plan on wearing them again - don’t just pile 'em up and put 'em back on. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-you-can-rewear-dirty-clothes-instead-of-cleaning-them/306116/8 "2005-05-30T20:51:44Z")
I second what **Bobsico** said. Sometimes you can stank and not even know it! ---
**Author:** ![Burnt\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@Burnt\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burnt_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-you-can-rewear-dirty-clothes-instead-of-cleaning-them/306116/9 "2005-05-30T21:00:31Z")
The only things I wear more than once are jeans and jumpers (which I always wear with a top underneath. I will wear jeans twice and jumpers 3 times. The only reason I do this is because jeans and jumpers take so long to dry on the line! I wouldn’t dream of re-wearing t-shirts, shorts, socks or underclothes. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2005, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-you-can-rewear-dirty-clothes-instead-of-cleaning-them/306116/10 "2005-05-30T22:38:37Z")
> [@Burnt Sugar](#): > > The only things I wear more than once are jeans and jumpers (which I always wear with a top underneath. I will wear jeans twice and jumpers 3 times. The only reason I do this is because jeans and jumpers take so long to dry on the line! > > I wouldn’t dream of re-wearing t-shirts, shorts, socks or underclothes. By jumper, you mean…? Is that like coveralls? ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-you-can-rewear-dirty-clothes-instead-of-cleaning-them/306116/11 "2005-05-30T22:44:24Z")
I got these slightlly damp fabric refresher sheets by All, and they’re great for tossing items into the dryer and fluffing for about 10 minutes. Removes any smell from them and leaves them ready to wear. I love them for jeans, sweaters that I don’t dry clean often, and other stuff like that. (Jackets, if you wear it to a bar, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2005, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-you-can-rewear-dirty-clothes-instead-of-cleaning-them/306116/12 "2005-05-30T22:47:31Z")
Your clothes will also last longer, because it’s washing them that makes them wear out fast, not wearing them. ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2005, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-you-can-rewear-dirty-clothes-instead-of-cleaning-them/306116/13 "2005-05-31T00:15:12Z")
> [@Portia](#): > > By jumper, you mean…? Is that like coveralls? I think that’s what we’d know as a vest. ---
**Author:** ![Delly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Delly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delly)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2005, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-you-can-rewear-dirty-clothes-instead-of-cleaning-them/306116/14 "2005-05-31T00:47:01Z")
A jumper is the same thing as a sweater/pullover. At least it is here. As for the topic of the thread, whats the deal with hoodies? Do you only wear them once then wash them? I wear my hoodies as outerwear, with t-shirts & tops underneath, and I usually only wear them for a couple of hours so why would I wash it everytime I wear them? It would be like wahsing a coat everytime its worn. Unless its dirty/smells it doesnt make sense (to me). ---
**Author:** ![inkleberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@inkleberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inkleberry)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-you-can-rewear-dirty-clothes-instead-of-cleaning-them/306116/15 "2005-05-31T00:52:46Z")
> [@Wesley Clark](#): > > This realization has opened new doors for me. I only have 4 pairs of good pants and I was under the impression that I had to wash them every 4-5 days. Apparently not, all I have to do is check to see if htey smell bad, spray some febreeze on them and wear them again. I’ll be damned. I learned this trick from a woman in school who told me she hasn’t washed her pants in several months. I have no desire to take it that far but wow, talk about eye opening experiences. That’s absolutely foul. What about sweat, shed skin cells, bacteria, body soil, mites, etc? Seriously, that’s just bloody foul. Febreeze only masks your nastiness. It doesn’t actually remove the funk. This isn’t the way to please the ladies. Knock it off. Or I will tell every date you have about your yucky secret. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2005, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-you-can-rewear-dirty-clothes-instead-of-cleaning-them/306116/16 "2005-05-31T01:06:09Z")
Oil and dirt aren’t always visible, and they damage clothes. Putting already-worn clothes in a dryer will set the dirt in. Don’t do it. Bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2005, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-you-can-rewear-dirty-clothes-instead-of-cleaning-them/306116/17 "2005-05-31T01:23:15Z")
I rewear shorts and pants, but that’s it. The exception is whatever I wear to work, that gets thrown in the laundry as soon as I get home. Course, I work in a hospital so I’m a leetle paranoid about germs. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-you-can-rewear-dirty-clothes-instead-of-cleaning-them/306116/18 "2005-05-31T03:54:53Z")
I will wear my pants up to 3 times before washing them. However, since I’m lazy and a slob, they usually end up on the floor and must be washed. But, in dire circumstances, I will wear something twice if it ends up on the top of the floor pile. This only happens if I forget to throw the clean clothes in the dryer and wake up too late to get something dry before work. Hoodies are a completely different breed of clothing and don’t need to be washed after every wear. ---
**Author:** ![Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bites_when_provoked/32/18073_2.png) [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2005, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-you-can-rewear-dirty-clothes-instead-of-cleaning-them/306116/19 "2005-05-31T06:25:45Z")
> [@inkleberry](#): > > Seriously, that’s just bloody foul. > > Febreeze only masks your nastiness. It doesn’t actually remove the funk. Seconded. Gross. ---
**Author:** ![beckwall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2005, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-you-can-rewear-dirty-clothes-instead-of-cleaning-them/306116/20 "2005-05-31T14:51:55Z")
Reminds me of that Molly Shannon character on SNL. She plays a 50-ish lady in a track suit who “kicks and jumps and kicks some more”, then all she has to do is spray with Febreeze and she’s good to go. I like some of the other brands. For some reason, Febreeze is imbedded in my smell center as a reminder of the year I lived in Salt Lake City and had to spray everyday cuz my apartment smelled so bad. I use Fresh Care by Clorox, it seems lighter and less syrupy. Another great invention - Downy wrinkle release spray! Great for freshening up sweaters or even jeans and such. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-you-can-rewear-dirty-clothes-instead-of-cleaning-them/306116.md?page=2)