How Often Should I Wash . . . Everything? {Printable Chart For Both Clothes & Household Items Laundry}

Here is a free printable chart with explanations and rules of thumbs to answer the laundry question, "how often should I wash just about everything in my home?" The chart includes both common clothing and household items.

Before I provide my suggested timeline for washing various items though, I want to discuss the pros and cons of using the suggested time frames below.

First, for the pros, there is something good about having rules of thumb. They are a general guide that help you make decisions, and make plans for how you'll get everything washed and cleaned within a reasonable time.

On the other hand, the cons of this list is that someone will always disagree with something I say, believing I'm not suggesting you clean something often enough, or too frequently. I've learned as a blogger, you can't completely win with these types of things, and that's OK. It's a guideline, but you don't have to follow them if you don't want.

I will say there are probably times I would disagree with the suggested time frames listed below as well, depending on various circumstances. Two that come to mind include:

1. Always wash items more frequently if they've been spilled on, or you've sweated excessively with them on. When I suggest, for example, that you can wear jeans several times before washing them, your common sense will still need to kick in and you'll want to wash them sooner if you fall in the mud the second time you've worn them.

2. While not everything needs to be washed after every single wear, normally, you shouldn't wait too long to wash anything, even if it's only been lightly worn the one time. For example, when I say below that you can wear a coat for several weeks before washing, that doesn't mean you shouldn't wash the coat once the winter season is over, in preparation for storing it, even if you'd washed it just two weeks before.

The reason for this is that body oils and sweat can harm and stain materials with time, and storage. Therefore, a good rule of thumb is not to wait more than a week, and maximum two, to wash something that's been worn, even if you've not worn it the number of times below I suggest you can normally wear something before it's washed again.

And one final caveat for this chart below. It assumes each of these items is washable. Obviously, any items that should not be washed, but instead dry cleaned, should not be washed at all. So, for example, when I discuss the frequency of washing dresses, this applies only to washable dresses, not those which must be dry cleaned.

Clothing Items

Here is the list of how often to wash clothing items in your home.

• Bathrobe - 2 weeks
• Bras - 3-4 wears
• Camisoles - each wear
• Coats - 2 months (1 month for kids)
• Dresses - 1-2 wears
• Hosiery, stockings and tights - each wear
• Jackets and blazers - 5-6 wears
• Jeans - 4-5 wears
• Leggings - 1-2 wears
• Pajamas - 3-4 wears
• Pants and shorts - 3-4 wears
• Shapewear - 1-3 wears
• Skirts - 3-4 wears
• Socks - each wear
• Sportswear and exercise clothes - each wear
• Sweaters (that are cotton, silk or cashmere) - 2 wears
• Sweaters (that are wool or synthetic) - 5 wears
• Sweatshirts - 5-6 wears
• Swimwear - each wear
• Tops and dress shirts - 1-2 wears
• T-shirts and tank tops - each wear
• Underwear - each wear
• Winter gear (such as hats, gloves and scarves) - 1 month

Household Items

Here is the list of the household items that should be washed, and how frequently.

• Aprons - 2-3 wears
• Bath mats - 2 weeks
• Bath towels - 3 uses (maximum)
• Bed sheets and pillowcases - weekly (some people prefer to change their pillowcases and wash them twice a week) (check out tips for washing all types of bedding here)
• Blankets - monthly
• Comforters and bedspreads - if sleep with them on bed each night, monthly, but if remove them from bed before sleep then 3 months
• Crib bedding (including mattress pad) - twice a week
• Curtains and drapes - 6 months
• Dust ruffles - 3 months
• Hand towels - daily
• Kitchen towels - daily
• Mattress pad - monthly
• Pillows - 3 months
• Potholders and oven mitts - 1 month
• Shower curtain - 3 months
• Sleeping bag - end of each trip
• Throw rugs - 3 months
• Wash cloths - each use

Free Printable Chart With How Often To Wash Everything

Here's a free printable chart that you can use as a cheat sheet, to help you remember how often to wash all the various types of items in your home. You can post it in your laundry room, keep it as a handy reference in your household notebook, and/or you can use it when planning your laundry schedule or routine for your home.

Click here to get your printable
(opens into new window as a PDF)

I hope this chart has helped you! You can get lots more laundry tips here for your clothes and home.

In addition, don't miss the {A-Z} Stain Removal Guide, which provides 100s of pages of free directions for removing specific stains from clothing, upholstery and carpet.

Related Pages You May Enjoy

Laundry Tips & Tricks For Busy Mom's {And Everyone Else Too!}

10 Monthly Cleaning & Laundering Tasks

Go From Printable Chart For How Often Should I Wash Everything To Home Page

CAUTION: This website is provided for informational purposes only. It is provided as is, without warranties or guarantees. Some stains and messes just won't come out, and are permanent. Further, some cleaning methods can harm your item, so if what you want to clean or launder is sentimental or expensive call a professional. See disclaimer of liability for more information.