How many days do you make clothes last?

tabitha67

When we started school (40 years ago, so in the Dark Ages LOL), we had one clean shirt a week, 2 clean vests a week, undies and socks changed every couple of days, and school skirts washed every couple of weeks. This was when we had a bath once a week.

My dad, in the police, had 2 clean shirts a week (and separate collars), used to press his trousers once a week - they'd be dry cleaned occasionally.

Now we bath/shower every day and have clean undies every day. Must admit to wearing a pair of jeans for 4-5 days and t-shirts for a couple of days, but as discussed, do shower daily and use anti perspirant. Wash heavy jumpers every now and again.

Do you think we wash stuff more now because it's easier - more man made fibres, auto washing machines and dryers instead of twin tubs, mangles and clothes horses etc.

Reading some of the posts on here, I think we're becoming as obsessed with hygiene as the Americans and I'm not sure it's a healthy obsession.

camelot1001

Pretty much the same as you all - undies every day and tops and bottoms usually get two wears depending on what I've done at work. Never wear things two days in a row though, people might notice and think I am a bit clatty!

Re the chair in the bedroom, we had one of those which quickly disappeared from view and then fell over with the weight of the clothes!! It is now hung on a hanger on the back of the door to air.

BitterAndTwisted

tabitha67 wrote: »

When we started school (40 years ago, so in the Dark Ages LOL), we had one clean shirt a week, 2 clean vests a week, undies and socks changed every couple of days, and school skirts washed every couple of weeks. This was when we had a bath once a week.

My dad, in the police, had 2 clean shirts a week (and separate collars), used to press his trousers once a week - they'd be dry cleaned occasionally.

Now we bath/shower every day and have clean undies every day. Must admit to wearing a pair of jeans for 4-5 days and t-shirts for a couple of days, but as discussed, do shower daily and use anti perspirant. Wash heavy jumpers every now and again.

Do you think we wash stuff more now because it's easier - more man made fibres, auto washing machines and dryers instead of twin tubs, mangles and clothes horses etc.

Reading some of the posts on here, I think we're becoming as obsessed with hygiene as the Americans and I'm not sure it's a healthy obsession.

I'm even older than you Tabitha and when my sister and I were packed off to boarding-school at primary-school age (not a "good" or a posh one, alas) we were issued with two pairs of knickers (one white pair of "linings" and a navy-blue pair worn over them), one pair of socks, one vest and one striped cotton shirt every Friday evening. The top sheet on the bed was moved to the bottom and a clean sheet went on top with a clean pillow-case, so the bed-linen was only ever completely clean and fresh for the first week of term. All other clothing (tunics, blazers and coats) were clothes-brushed and dabbed with ammonia to remove stains and I have no reason to believe those items were ever actually laundered or dry-cleaned. We took the wool blankets off the beds out into the garden and beat them once a term.

Thank goodness some things have changed.

boliston

I'm not sure I like the idea of not putting on a fresh shirt or tshirt, as even if it is not yet "smelly" it doesn't have the same feel as a shirt that's been washed.

Also I walk & cycle a fair bit during each day so all the more reason not to recycle shirts.

It's not like it takes much effort to fling a few shirts in the machine a couple of times a week! I always air-dry rather than tumble dry so it's not like I'll be running up much of an electric bill either.

flissh

I used to wash clothes after one 'wearing'. Must say I have stopped doing that in the last few months in an attempt to save money. I now rotate two to three jumpers/tops during the week, hanging them over a towel stand in my bedroom when not wearing them. Trousers and skirts have three to four wearings, maybe more. Underwear daily.

I can't bear the thought of putting worn clothes back in my wardrobe. My partner does that and it always smells a bit whiffy in his cupboards.

BitterAndTwisted, loved reading about your school days. My Partner also went to boarding school and often talks about the frugal laundry system. They had two pair of pants for the week, two pairs of socks, one shirt, one towel and clean sheets. They went to Matron each week to get their 'Bundle'. A highlight of the week apparently. His school trousers, jumper and blazer had to last the whole term. God knows what happened if the poor little blighters had an accident!

Paulie'sGirl

Hi all,

I'm a very warm person, and despite the daily shower and anti-perspirant exercise, close tops are one wear only. Jumpers etc, are sniff tested. OH laughs and says "just like a student", but then he doesn't do the washing....

Trousers and skirts as needed. I rotate through my suits, so I'm not really sure how often. Glad I don't have to dryclean them LOL

Undies, socks, one wear. Towels, as needed. Bras are rotated.

Sequeena

When I was working I had to wash my uniform everyday because it would get covered in grease/bleach/blood and everything else in between.

Now I can make trousers go for around 3-4 days. Pajamas about the same but knickers, tight tops etc are only worn once. I can wear bras for 2 days