How often should you wash your sheets?

Do you wash your bath towels after every use? How often do you wash your sheets? 

The American Cleaning Institute has these recommendations for your laundry routine:

• Sheets. At least every two weeks, more often if you sweat a lot.

• Pajamas. After 3 or 4 wearings. If you shower before bed, you may get a few more.

• Towels. After 3 or 4 normal uses or more frequently if you play sports.

• Socks and underwear. After each wearing.

• Bras. After 2 to 3 wearings.

• T-shirts, tank tops and camisoles. After each wearing.

• Dress shirts and khakis. Can be worn a few times before washing unless you are sweating or they are visibly dirty.

• Jeans. Can typically be worn 3 times before washing.

• Leggings. After every wearing to get rid of the baggy knees.

• Bathing suits. After every wearing.

• Whites and silks. After every wearing because they’re prone to discoloration.

Dresses and suits can be worn several times during normal use before dry cleaning, 3-4 times for wool and 4-5 times for synthetics. Depending on your lifestyle or environment you may need to dry clean more often. Smoky bars, smog or smelly environments or if your suit gets stained may mean that you need to clean them more often.