I know theoretically there are certain clothing pieces we should be able to wear multiple times before washing (jeans for example) but in today’s world of low quality, thin, largely synthetic fiber fast-fashion clothes I just don’t feel like that’s always the case. Too often they bag/stretch out, smell or need a proper wash to remove a stains (as opposed to spot treatment).
At 35 I remember even clothing from my childhood holding up better than many of the pieces I own today. And while hygiene standards have changed the yesteryears of my parents, grandparents and great grandparents didn’t launder their clothes after one wear of a few hours and they didn’t smell like stinky messes or look sloppy in bagged out clothing.
So where can I find products like what clothing used to be – that was durable, quality made and held up to a normal day of wear without needing to be immediately washed? What fabrics should I look for in pieces that will accomplish this? What retailers sell actual high quality items and not just luxury brand name? I’m willing to pay a bit more for real quality but find I’m often suspicious of brand claims of quality.
Clothes/brands/fabrics that can stand multiple wears before washing
byu/IllyriaCervarro inFrugal
Posted by IllyriaCervarro
11 Comments
Uh, I guess it’s cheating but I find if you shop thrift stores you’re already getting clothes that have made it through multiple washes (with the exception of the obviously cheap crap that you can usually feel). I hold stuff up to the light all the time, too, and look for thicker material.
ETA: the reason your ‘grandparents generation didn’t stink’ is because they washed themselves up all the time – hands, face, pits and bits were getting washed each morning and nightly and often before meals/when they came home/after any physical activity/just because it was hot AF and there was no AC/etc. And it’s not so much that they didn’t have to immediately launder their clothes it’s that they wore a layer underneath their clothes that would be washed and changed daily, and changed their clothes for activities – so an undergarment to absorb sweat, a housedress that was easily cleaned, maybe an apron to protect that while cleaning and cooking, then changing to a dress that was dry clean only to buy groceries or go out, then completely undressing, washing up and putting on sleeping clothes. It’s easier to keep your clothes clean for longer if you only wear them 3-6 hours at a clip – they air out between wears and their nicer clothes like ‘sunday best’ or ‘office wear’ weren’t subjected to a lot of daily wear and tear risk.
Wool is great for this. Canvas and linen as well. Stick to natural fibers as much as possible, synthetics often cause people to sweat more *and* retain body odor. I like Yala’s merino wool collection for plain shirts and base layers.
The real cheap stuff-is not even washing helps.
Stains many times are from fabric softener.
Clothing also used to be starched and that repels stains and makes them able to be worn several times easily.
With the exception of underwear, socks, gym clothes, and anything visibly dirty/sweaty/smelly/stained, most of my clothes are worn 3-5 times before washing.
Not answering your question, so sorry in advance, but consider hanging your clothes to dry instead of using a dryer (if you aren’t already). It will make the clothing last longer.
Idk what gender of clothes you wear, but I’ve been enjoying Everlane pants personally. They don’t have as much stretch in them so they don’t get too baggy by the end of the day. A lot of their pants are also made with natural fibers (cotton, wool) so they don’t get overly stinky quickly.
They have regular sales and I always shop the sale section. Any pants made with natural fibers and no elastic/spandex will serve you well.
I’ve been wearing this one pair of tan wide leg pants from them since like 2018 at least once per week. I’ve worn them rock climbing, I’ve worn them to the office, I’ve worn them gardening. They take it all just fine. Even my cats nails barely phase it (there’s only one snag after all this time!) I wash them maybe monthly, or as needed if I do something extra filthy in them (gardening or camping usually). They still look pretty great and haven’t even started to get thin between the thighs, and I am a chub rub sufferer.
As for general advice, I think other have said this but wash the items that are against your smelly bits every wear (underwear and an under shirt), other things can be washed as needed if you get lasting material items. I have a few washable silk shell shirts I wear under my sweaters and button downs to let them go longer (silk because I think it lays nicer under clothes, but cotton should be fine too). My shirts are made from silks, linens, wool, and cotton. Sweaters are merino and cashmere. I might still have a wool wool one, but I never wear it due to its itchiness. My pants are cotton, linen, and wool.
Wool is my go-to for this. I have a Smartwool 250 merino wool top that I can wear multiple times without it needing a wash. Same goes for my items from Woolx.
First, hang everything up to dry on a rack, that you care about at all. It will last much longer. Things will keep their shape, printed graphics won’t crack, and fabrics also pill less. Elastic, which is so many things now, won’t lose its elasticity. Socks will stay tight.
Anything that was just sweated in or has a stain should be washed in cold or warm water – never hot.
Wash very heavy items, or ones with zippers, separately from anything you want to take care of. I wash jeans, and hoodies with zippers, in their own, separate wash. I might throw pajamas in there, or towels, because i don’t care about them. But t-shirts, and other thin items I’d like to take some care of, go into their own load.
Only things you don’t really care about, or that need to be fluffed in the dryer – like towels – should go in the dryer.
Using this one simple trick (sorry!) I have t-shirts from H&M and the dollar store that look great after many wears.
I don’t have any fancy machine – top loader with an agitator – but these tips make all the difference!
Invest in powerful deodorant and xl cloth napkins, and you won’t need to wash most stuff after one wear
I wear my fall/winter fleece vests more than one day, as long as they are visibly clean. The one I am wearing right now is at least 12 years old and while looking a little worn, the zipper works fine, etc. My vests are from LL Bean, the Canadian brand Northern Reflections,etc. I rotate them as I wash them so any one vest is only getting worn every 10 days or so.
I don’t have clothing recommendations, but I can recommend my old fashioned tip for laundering clothing less. I bought very light cotton slips to go under my linen and cotton dresses, as a barrier between my skin/underwear and the dress. I do have some stretchy, silkier ones I got from Target (Australia) which are necessary when I’m wearing a dress that clings to cotton slips and undies. I have half slips/petticoats for skirts but find I pretty much never wear them, I prefer my Snag brand chub rub shorts (they’re just tights cut to the size of bike pants, very cool for our disgusting Aussie summers).
While wearing an extra layer isn’t what I want to do, the slips are so light, it’s not a problem.
As soon as I get home, I turn my dresses etc inside out and hang them up at my sliding door to air out, and if the dress is newly washed, I just squirt some Febreeze on the armpits, which unfortunately the slip doesn’t protect. An undershirt would protect the armpit of your shirts and dresses though, if you felt like wearing one. A proper undergarment one is very breathable, as opposed to just putting a t-shirt on.
You could wear camisoles if you’re wearing pants, so you can protect your shirts.
You must get the most breathable barrier garments you can or it defeats the purpose.
My linen dresses are an absolute bastard to iron, so thankfully, the slips mean I only wash them roughly every five to six wears, depending how hot it’s been. I am very sure others could go for many more wears before washing, it just depends on climate and personal preference.