The No Wash Movement

[Isabeau]

The no-wash movement: would you wear underpants for a week without cleaning them?

Some might go to extremes, of course, but I do agree that we don’t need to clean lots of items as often as we think. I haven’t ever washed any of my wool sweaters. I brush and air them them our, dab out spills, etc. but never put them in water. I wear my jeans at least 4 or 5 times before washing them but I wouldn’t wait 6 months or never wash them as some do according to the Guardian article. If they’re made of 100% cotton, I suppose you could just keep on airing them out after each wearing as long as you showered…

I also only use half the detergent that is suggested on the bottle, or only vinegar, depending on the fabric. I used to air dry most things, but since I live in aa apartment building and we had bedbugs a few years ago (traumatized for life, me) I use the dryer now. I’ve swapped out static sheets for a balled up aluminium sheet.

As for underpants, euh, I wear once then wash.

Some say they are trying to use the washing machine/detergents less for environmental reasons, others because they want to save time and money, and some simply admit to having become lazy working from home.

Anyway, are you a clean freak, or a Pig-Pen?
Or somewhat in between.

 

[Free]

Are we running out of forum topics?

 

[Noodles]

I will pass. The only thing I really wear more than once are jeans for 2 days

I do have a couple of special t-shirts, like concert shirts, I don't want to wear out, so I wear them infrequently and usually don't wash, just air them.

I don't like being dirty. Hell there are days I have showered more than twice through the day from working outside or whatever.

 

[Isabeau]

Are we running out of forum topics?

Ones that I’m interested in, yes.

 

[Khamon]

I generally wear the pants for two days and will recycle yard working clothes for a week because yard working. Bath towels are also good for a dual run in my book, hang it over the rod one day, put it in the hamper the next (or after the yard working later that day). Everything else is washed after use but using less than designated plain without much added perfumes and such soap. The real topic is bath soaps made by local vendors using herbs and lavender that they grow in their gardens. Some include a bit of olive oil and that's kind of quirky but nice.

 

[Soen Eber]

In the nursing home I am still technically bed-bound so I may wear the same clothes for four or five days including underwear. I'm just not abusing clothes as much is one reason, and the other is the long wait for clothes to get laundered.

In real life, I keep the pants for 3 or 4 days, shirts two days (wear day one, hang day two and wear another, wear and wash day three, wear and wash the other shirt day four). Underpants always get washed, socks get two uses same as shirts. When it's hot and humid out, one use only except for pants which get two days.

I'm mostly an indoor guy, especially in summer. I can't bear heat. In winter I rarely wear anything beyond gloves and a hat, but my whole family is that way.

I try to be low-impact and low-maintenance, but I'm not an evangelist.

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

No wash movement? Ah, I do understand, those people have got one of those at home:

 

[Sid]

/me tiptoes in, sees Trump and tiptoes out again.
What has been seen, never can be unseen again.

 

[Rose Karuna]

I think that how frequently you wash might depend a lot on where you live, the time of year, your personal preferences and where you work.

In Florida, during the summer, I bathe everyday and wash whatever I was wearing after I am done wearing it most of the time. Particularly if I have been working in the garden. Unfortunately, even walking from the car to the grocery store can render a person dripping wet from sweat in the heat we are experiencing now. Also, when my husband was going through chemo, I had to keep all the towels, bedding, my clothing and his clothing almost sterile because his immune system was so compromised. Consequently, I was doing a couple of loads of laundry a day for just two people.

I also think that if people are going to be in enclosed areas with other people (like airplanes) that they should consider how strong odors can affect others that they are sharing the space with. (There are some strong perfumes that actually gag me and I have a difficult time just walking past perfume stores in the airport). Sitting next to someone or working in a cube next to someone who uses strong perfume is really difficult for me. I also know there are some people with asthma that can be triggered by strong scents.

 

[Kalel]

both of my parents are seniors and don't get out much aside from the occasional doctor visit or food outing.. so we re-use clothing all the time and run the washing machine bi weekly to save on money since we have limited funds. finding the energy to do things after work is a struggle, my mom still does it tho. i will commonly wear the same pants 2-3 times alternating when i wear them. on weekends when i'm not going out i might reuse a shirt in my room.

we have to use non fragrant or no scent soaps cause my mom is super sensitive to everything.

i'm usually the go to person check for smells cause "My nose still works". My dad who has early stage Alzheimers forgets sometimes and i help him change before i take him to the doctor.

 

[Isabeau]

/me tiptoes in, sees Trump and tiptoes out again.
What has been seen, never can be unseen again.

Well, Trump must be included in every thread, of course… those are the VV1 rules.

 

[Soen Eber]

Well, Trump must be included in every thread, of course… those are the VV1 rules.

Didn't it used to be cats?

 

[Isabeau]

Didn't it used to be cats?

Alas, those days are gone unfortunately.

 

[Free]

Alas, those days are gone unfortunately.

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Trumpy cat approved.

 

[Jopsy Pendragon]

I have wear once clothes for exercise, socks and underwear are wear once. Shirts can be a wear 1-3 use item before going through the wash, depending. Jeans and shorts usually get worn 2-5 times between washes. I have casual old indoor clothes and nicer newer outdoor clothes, I rarely wear the same thing for a full day.

 

[Sid]

I have wear once clothes for exercise, socks and underwear are wear once. Shirts can be a wear 1-3 use item before going through the wash, depending. Jeans and shorts usually get worn 2-5 times between washes. I have casual old indoor clothes and nicer newer outdoor clothes, I rarely wear the same thing for a full day.

I could have written that myself. Exactly how I handle my laundry too.

Returning home, always means change into something comfy and old.
And when I don't have to leave the house, occasionally a pajama day happens too, like today. An advantage of living alone and no longer being employed.

 

[Casey Pelous]

I'm part of a movement? Wow! I thought I just had a character flaw.

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

I SAVE A LOT OF WATER AND ENERGY!!!! lol. That's one excuse to go goblin mode much of the time. I clean up if I'm going somewhere or going to have company over. I usually shower about 2-3 times a week post COVID when it used to be a religious every day thing and even more during the summer.

But seriously, there are good reasons why it's just not at all necessary to wash everything always all the time. Being clean is good for you, but soaps are not. They dry out your skin and hair a lot. I bet there is an optimal amount of washing for health that is much less than once a day. My skin has been a lot less dry and cracked since COVID.

I also do a lot less laundry post COVID. I'll put on clean cloths if I'm going out or whatever but I'm doing about half the laundry or less than I used to. My friends and family don't know the difference since I'm clean around them. My skin is healthier, my hair is likely healthier, it's saving energy AND it saves a fair bit of time.

 

[Dakota Tebaldi]

I've worn shirts or jeans a couple of times before washing before - but, 6 months? That's nuts. Other people are absolutely going to smell that no matter how much Axe you douse yourself with.