Frequent washing can cause your favorite clothes to lose their charm and appeal.
It’s obvious that all clothes need washing. However, some garments demand frequent cleaning, while others can be damaged by it. Always pay attention to the care labels on your clothes, as they explain what is safe for washing. These labels provide instructions about bleach use, recommended temperatures, and whether machine washing is appropriate.
In this article, we’ll highlight the types of items that should not be washed too often. If you notice small stains on these garments, it’s better to wash them by hand under running water with soap or detergent, rather than running a full machine cycle.
Woolen Clothing
Frequent washing of wool garments can cause shrinkage and damage the fabric’s texture. Hand-washing or using a delicate cycle on your machine is ideal. You can also soak your favorite woolen sweater in a basin with shampoo for gentle cleaning.
Wool remains popular because of its insulation, breathability, and durability. However, even though it retains its shape over time, excessive washing should still be avoided.
Leather Items
Washing leather clothing in a machine can ruin its structure and appearance. Instead, it’s better to use special leather care products and clean them occasionally with a damp cloth.
While high-quality leather garments are made to last, it’s best not to test their durability with machine washing. If deep cleaning is needed, opt for soaking in a basin and washing by hand.
Silk Garments
Silk is extremely delicate and can stain easily from water. Even quick rinsing can leave visible watermarks, making machine washing risky. Silk fabric can tear or lose its sheen if washed frequently.
For best results, wash silk items by hand with mild detergents, such as shampoo or soap, to protect the fabric.
Clothes with Metal Elements
Items with zippers, buckles, or metal buttons can corrode, damage the washing machine, or become discolored over time. To preserve these metal parts, avoid frequent washing and clean the garments separately from others.
If the metal elements are removable—like detachable chains or decorative features—remove them before washing to protect both the machine and the clothing.
Brightly Colored Clothes
Bright-colored clothing tends to bleed dye during the first few washes, which can ruin other garments. Lighter items may absorb the dye from darker clothes. You can use special color-capturing sheets during washing to prevent color transfer.
If you want to be extra cautious, soak the bright garment in shampoo for two hours before washing it. This will release excess dye, making it safer to wash with other items in the machine later.