Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — It seems that the number of times a person wears his clothes without washing them depends more on tradition, or the way a person was raised than the advice of an expert.
TikTok user Alison Delberdange sparked a heated discussion online when she posted a video on January 10 in which she said she wore the same pajamas multiple times.
“When I was younger, my parents would always tell me to wear pajamas … several nights in a row because they weren’t dirty, and I still do as an adult,” Dilberdang said, then wondered if she should consider those clothes dirty every night.
According to experts, the answer depends on personal aspects such as perspiration level, lifestyle, and many other factors can play a role as well.
Our beliefs regarding clothing hygiene are largely “societal and cultural,” says Dr. Anthony Rossi, assistant dermatologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, and fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology.
“People tend to over-shower,” Rossi said, “because especially in America, we have the luxury of being able to do all that stuff all the time.”
Manal Mohamed, Senior Lecturer in Medical Microbiology at the University of Westminster in London, said that re-wearing the same clothes for consecutive days “is associated with avoiding fatigue resulting from decision-making, and therefore wearing the same clothes requires fewer decisions and less stress every morning.”
Not knowing the right time to wash your clothes can lead to some consequences, as lack of washing may lead to skin problems or infections, while excessive washing will harm your clothes.
Here are some guidelines to help you decide:
The general rule: what you should wash
Experts pointed out that there are some pieces of clothing that must be washed following each use, namely underwear, socks, tight pants, and sportswear.
Mohamed explained that this advice also applies to any other items that are covered in stains, sweat, visible dirt, or have an unpleasant odor.
Rossi pointed out that these types of clothing “are over a part of our body that has a lot of natural bacteria,” adding that “we sweat during daily activities. This creates moisture, an environment in which bacteria can multiply.”
Bacterial overgrowth can lead to infections, fungus, and other skin problems.
In addition to the bacteria produced by sweat, the clothes we wear in the gym may come into contact with bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, which leads to common infections in community settings and hospitals.
These infections may become dangerous if they enter the internal tissues or bloodstream.
And it’s important to avoid wearing socks once more without washing them due to the spread of “fungal infections of the feet and toes,” according to dermatologist, Dr. Jeremy Fenton.
Fenton, who is the medical director of the Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City and a clinical instructor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, said, “In our shoes, there is an ideal environment for fungus to multiply, especially when it is warm, humid and dark.”
Clothes you can wear once more
And when it comes to pajamas, outerwear, jeans, and other items of clothing, the number of times you can wear them without washing them depends on the same principles as for underwear or sportswear.
“In terms of pants and shirts, I think it depends on what makes you comfortable and how much you’re sweating throughout the day,” Rossi said. “A lot of people wear undershirts. The undershirt will need to be washed, while the top really doesn’t need to be washed.” .
And if you usually take a shower before bed, wear underwear, and sweat a little when you put on your pajamas, you can wear these clothes for a week without washing them.
But you will need to wash it every time if you don’t do these things.
Usually, outerwear, such as coats or jackets, don’t need to be washed more than once a month because they don’t touch your skin, but Rossi suggests washing them every two weeks if you wear them daily.
The issue of washing jeans can be controversial, as many people want to preserve the structure of the fabric, which is usually more durable than others.
Rossi believed that there is no need to wash the “jeans” pants a lot if they are not full of sweat, dirt, or stains.
Mohamad recommended that she wash it monthly, but admitted that it depends on your lifestyle and the environment that surrounds you.
