When Tim, like many others, transitioned to remote work during the Covid-19 pandemic, he adopted a more laid-back approach to his attire. This change in wardrobe made him think about the time and effort spent on washing his clothes. “With the arrival of our second child, I was overwhelmed, so I saw laundry as something I could eliminate from my life,” he explains. Although Tim had already been doing less laundry than most, averaging a load every one to two weeks, he took it a step further and went an entire year without washing his clothes in the machine.
Nowadays, Tim, a software engineer, only does laundry approximately every six months. “Since I don’t have to go to the office anymore, I don’t really see the need for clean clothes,” he states. “It’s not important.” During video calls, where only his upper half is visible, Tim doesn’t even bother turning on his camera most of the time. When we speak over such a call, he appears clean but stylishly scruffy. “If there’s a special social event, I’ll make sure to wear something nice, but on a day-to-day basis, it doesn’t really matter.”
He still uses the washing machine to clean his children’s clothes, while his wife takes care of her own laundry. However, he has also decreased the frequency of those washes. “There’s still a lot of laundry to do, which is why I avoid washing my own clothes.” Having a substantial amount of clothing helps him get through the year without washing. During his one-year clothing cleanse, he would wear the same outfit for approximately two weeks.
To reduce the need for socks, Tim started wearing sandals, even during the winter. “I no longer have to wash socks, which was always a hassle,” he exclaims. And as for underwear, does he change it every day? “You can make a pair of underwear last a week,” he casually remarks. When asked how he manages to wear the same underwear for a week, Tim simply replies, “I just have low standards.” Sometimes, he even wears swimming trunks as underwear, washing them in the shower and allowing them to dry quickly.
Tim does notice when his clothes start to emit an odor. “When I do, I change them immediately. But you really don’t need to wash them as often as most people do,” he insists. His wife occasionally comments on his scent, but it doesn’t bother her much.
The “no-wash” movement began with hair, where people embraced the idea of using less shampoo, and now there are indications that laundry could be the next target. As Vox noted in 2020, “laundry remains remarkably unaffected” by modern innovation. Rachel Sugar, the author of the article, highlighted the struggle to outsource laundry compared to other household chores. Expensive detergents and Instagrammable laundry rooms cannot change the fact that doing laundry is still a tedious task.
Perhaps the solution is to step away from laundry altogether or at least reduce the frequency. Denim enthusiasts were the first to embrace the “no-wash” trend. “I don’t wash my denim unless there’s a major incident, like spilling milk on them,” says Daniel, a teacher who washes his pants after each wear. “It helps achieve a better fade, prolongs the life of the jeans, and saves money. It’s also better for the environment.” Unwashed jeans don’t develop a smell, according to Daniel. “If there’s a slight smoky odor after a barbecue, I’ll hang them outside overnight.”
Cleanliness is often associated with visual appearance – does it look clean? Are your whites white? However, the climate crisis has prompted us to consider the environmental impact of hot washes, excessive water usage, and carbon-intensive detergents. Rising energy prices have also drawn attention to the cost of each laundry cycle.
Jenny, one of the readers responding to a call for experiences with reducing laundry, explains that she started washing her clothes less frequently in winter 2022 due to rising energy costs, environmental concerns, and the difficulty of drying clothes indoors. She realized that most of her clothes only needed to be refreshed, so she started using an odor-eliminating spray. “They’re as good as new, and it’s also gentler on the fabrics, so my clothes last longer.” Ken, a retired university lecturer, reduced his laundry frequency to once a week and switched to using soap nuts and washing at a lower temperature to save energy. His main motivation was the climate emergency.
Choosing environmentally conscious clothing is becoming more common, with many people opting to buy less, secondhand, or from supposedly ethical brands. However, Charlotte, who works in sustainability and fashion, emphasizes that post-purchase washing habits have a significant impact. Washing at lower temperatures, only when necessary, and wearing clothes for longer are equally if not more important choices to make as consumers. Charlotte spot-cleans marks and stains, airs out her clothes, and steams them when needed. She cooks in a sweatshirt to avoid staining her cherished clothes. Having grown up in New Zealand, Charlotte is accustomed to washing at low temperatures. She believes washing too frequently damages clothes.
Tom, a psychiatric nurse, owns four merino wool sweaters that he wears in rotation for work. He hasn’t washed them in at least a year, and two have never been washed. He occasionally rinses or sponges off stains. “They have some magical property that repels odors,” he explains. Tom hasn’t noticed any unpleasant smells, and no one has complained. He has become such a fan of merino wool that he now stocks up on shirts, socks, and underwear made from the material. The latter two items do get washed, although Tom admits he can go longer without washing them. He jokingly recalls the “double it” principle in his trade, where if someone claims to do something once, it’s more likely twice or three times. So, he can comfortably wear his woolen underwear for about a week.
Tom admits that his laundry habits stem from his past when he was financially strained and had limited clothing options. Doing less laundry is just a habit for him, and he finds a sense of asceticism in it.
Similarly, others have adopted low-wash lifestyles due to habit and circumstances. Michele, a graphic designer and drummer, didn’t have access to a washing machine for most of her adult life, so she relied on hand-washing and laundromats. “During that time, I didn’t have much money or spare time.” Despite having more convenient laundry options now, her previous experiences influenced her laundry habits.
Overall, it seems that people are slowly reevaluating the necessity and frequency of washing clothes. Instead of relying on excessive washing, they are exploring alternatives such as refreshing sprays, spot-cleaning, airing out garments, and choosing fabrics that resist odors. This shift towards reducing laundry aligns with the growing understanding of environmental impacts and the desire to make more sustainable choices in our daily lives.
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