How Often Should You Wash Your Clothes In Singapore?

Ever heard about people not washing their clothes for weeks in the US, or how you have managed to go with just one pair of jeans for the entire week during your backpacking trip in Europe?

Trying that back home in Singapore will often end in an embarrassing moment, with everyone around you wondering where that unbearable stench comes from.

Local Humidity

It is primarily hot in Singapore’s tropical climate. The killer is the high humidity, which makes us feel hot and warm.

This ever-present moisture in the air affects how we feel in our clothes and how we should care for them.

Humidity makes clothes retain moisture longer, which causes issues like mildew growth. Recall how your laundry gives a musty smell when it is not properly dried.

Understanding this local environmental factor is key to finding the best laundry practices for different types of clothing.

Types of Clothing

Innerwear

Innerwear, like your undergarments and socks, are in direct contact with your skin. They absorb your perspiration and body oils throughout the day.

Trapped in Singapore’s humid climate, please wash your inner-wear after every wear.

This not only helps to maintain personal hygiene, but it extends the life of your garments as well by preventing the buildup of bacteria and odours.

Pyjamas and Nightwear

Depending on whether you sleep in an air-conditioned room, you may want to consider washing your nightwear every time you wear it, especially if you did not wear any innerwear underneath.

Even if you always have your AC on, washing them after every 2 to 3 wears is still a good practice.

Choose light and breathable fabrics as they are better at keeping your skin fresh and are easier to wash and dry as well.

Daily wear

The bulk of your clothes would be the daily wear. In Singapore’s climate, your T-shirts, blouses, pants and work shirts should ideally be washed after each wear.

Unlike the innerwear, these garments are exposed to the external environment throughout the day. Not just your perspirations.

Washing your daily wears ensure that these clothes remain fresh and hygienic for your next adventure.

Jeans and Denim

How about denim? You would ask.

For hygienic purposes, probably treat them the same as daily wear.

However, denim is a robust material, and some denim fans would even suggest having minimum washing to preserve its colour and shape.

Some even go to the extent of not washing it for MONTHS! Try not to do that, but wash them after a maximum of 3-4 wears.

Try to hang them and allow them to air properly in between wears. This will keep the denim fresh and discourage bacteria growth at the ‘hot spot’ where the groin area is.

Outerwear and Jacket

Outerwear such as jackets and coats may not require frequent washing as they are not in direct contact with your skin.

Take note of spots still in direct contact with your skin, such as the collar or the end of sleeves. You may want to wipe these areas with a slightly damp cloth and air them after each wear.

Assumingly, you would have only worn these in an air-conditioned or cooling environment.

If you have been perspiring while wearing your jacket, chances are the perspiration would have soaked through your clothes and wet your jacket as well. If this is the case, turn the jacket inside out to dry as soon as possible. If necessary, send them to wash during your next laundry run.

Any outerwear worn before always harbours a chance for bacteria growth. As a rule of thumb, once worn, give it a maximum of one month - then back to the wash it goes, even if it has only been worn once.

Dressier and Delicate Items

Formal jackets, silk blouses, lace dresses and other delicate items often require special care. They should be washed according to their respective care label instructions. Most will involve dry cleaning or hand washing.

For those that happen to be machine-washable, make sure to put them in the laundry net before chugging them into the washers. This will prevent any delicate ornaments from tangling with other garments and, worse, dislodged.

A special mention to Brassiere - use one laundry net for each bra. It is very common for people to become lazy and stuff a few bras into a single laundry net. This can risk the bras rubbing onto one another and potentially leading to damage. The balancing of the wash during the spin cycle can also be off, resulting in sub-optimal washing efficacy.

Always use the “Delicate Cycle” of your washer whenever possible. This will greatly reduce the chance of your bra from getting out of shape at the end of the wash.

The Smell Test

The smell test is a quick and practical way to determine whether a piece of clothing needs washing. Please do not try to smell all your dirty laundry in the basket, but use it as a litmus test for items that do not require frequent laundering.

Anytime something no longer smells fresh or looks clean, it is time for a wash. Do not wait until a stench is formed, which would already be way too late.

Hot vs Rainy seasons

Although there are no four seasons in Singapore, we do experience a rotation between hot and rainy seasons. This will greatly affect how you deal with your laundry.

During the humid and hot season, your clothes will require more frequent washing as you perspire more.

Of course, during the rainy season, it will be cooler, and there will be fewer problems dealing with perspiration. However, the challenge would be thoroughly drying the clothes to prevent a musty smell or mildew growth.

Hygiene First

Regardless of the garment type or season, hygiene should always be the top priority.

Launder your clothes regularly, especially those in direct contact with your skin. This is essential to prevent skin irritations and infections, as Singapore has high humidity all year round.

Remember that wearing clean clothes also keeps the people around you comfortable. The last thing you want would be in the wrong centre of attention because your clothes smell.

The Benefit of Just Washing It

Peace of mind: Since Singapore is so humid, why not just make it a good habit to wash your clothes regularly? Enjoy that peace of mind, knowing that your garments are clean, fresh, hygienic, and all ready to be worn.

Enjoy fresh laundry: There is something incredibly satisfying about wearing freshly laundered clothes. The crisp folds, the clean feel and the fresh scent! It is an instant confidence booster, and your mood gets lifted while you go about your day.

Understanding and adapting to our unique climate is crucial in determining the best laundry practices for you.

By following the guidelines that we have provided, you can keep your clothes in top condition and prolong the life of your garments.

Keeping your wardrobe clean keeps you healthy both physically and mentally. It will also positively affect the people around you as well.