How often you should actually wash your bedding and underwear is revealed

The number of washes performed by households increased by almost ten percent between 2005 and 2014.

It means the average home now makes 260 charges per year, or five per week.

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Gwilym Snook, laundry expert from Ao.com, said: “Many of us tend to over-wash clothes that aren’t necessarily dirty after each wear.

“Jeans or sweaters can be worn several times before needing a wash, a habit that can extend their life.”

We ask four readers how often they wash their clothes.

Working mom Cassie Cooper

PRESS Cassie, 41, says she wears her bra for a week before washing it.

The married mother of two, from Darlington, Co Durham, does up to five loads of laundry a day.

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She said: “With children, the pile of laundry can seem endless.”

• Bed linen: weekly
• Sweaters: worn twice
• Occasion dresses: worn twice
• Day dress: wear once
• Shirt/T-shirt: wear once
• Pants: worn 4 times
• Bras: Worn 7 times
• Underwear: wear once
• Shirts: wear once
• Pants: worn 5 times
• Sweater: worn 4 times
• Socks: wear once
• Underwear: wear once

CHILDREN’S CLOTHING:

• Sweaters: worn 3 times
• Shirts: wear once
• Underwear: wear once
• Socks: wear once
• Dress: wear once
• Skirt: wear once
• Pants: worn 5 times

Single Paul Daniels

PAUL’S mother cleans his bedding every two weeks.

The 51-year-old painter and decorator from Wallsend, Tyne and Wear does his laundry by hand in the sink twice a week.

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He said: “It’s easier and cheaper to do it by hand. I save energy and money.

“I put about eight things in the sink at a time with some washing powder and fabric softener.

“I do this about twice a week. I like being clean.”

• Pants: worn 5 times
• Bedding: 2 weeks
• Wool sweater: worn 3 times
• Sweatshirt: worn twice
• Shirt: wear once
• T-shirt: wear once
• Socks: wear once
• Underwear: wear once
• Pajamas: Worn 4 times

OAP Susan Williams

RETIRED Susan will wear her clothes ten times before washing them.

The 72-year-old former nurse from Southport, Merseyside, changes her bed linen every three weeks.

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She rarely throws her bras in the laundry basket and uses one towel a week.

Susan said: ‘People wash clothes way too often these days. It’s a waste of money and energy. I just do the sniff test.

“If it doesn’t stink, it won’t be washed.”

• Bedding: every three weeks
• Sweaters: worn 7 times
• Dresses: Worn 4 times
• Shirts: Worn 6 times
• T-shirts: worn 6 times
• Pants: worn 6 times
• Skirts: worn 6 times
• Bras: Worn 10 times
• Socks: worn twice
• Underwear: wear once
• Nightwear: wear 7 times

Bakery supervisor Eve Percy

AVID washing machine Eve puts her work clothes in the machine after wearing it once.

The 21-year-old throws away two loads of laundry a day so she can wear a fresh uniform for every shift at a bakery.

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Eve, from Cramlington, Northumberland, also puts sportswear in the laundry basket after each wear, but puts a jumper on four times before putting it in the wash.

Eve said: “I wash a lot because I don’t have many uniforms and I like to wear a clean one every day.

“I would do less if I could and I understand that this is not good for the environment.

“It doesn’t surprise me that most people feel like they’re being judged for wearing clothes multiple times in a row.”

• Work uniform: wear once
• Pants: worn 3 times
• Shirt: worn twice
• T-shirts: worn twice
• Sweater: worn 4 times
• Bra: Worn twice
• Sportswear: wear once