If you want to kick up a real stink, tell people how often they should be washing their clothes. A French government-backed organisation has learned this the hard way after releasing a guide outlining exactly how frequently certain garments need to be cleaned. According to the Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME), the dirty truth is that many of us are probably doing far more laundry than we actually need to. T-shirts, they say, can be worn five times before being consigned to the wash basket. Jeans can last for 30 days (that means about a month of use).
Most controversial, though, is the verdict on gym clothes. If you assumed that sweaty exercise gear would be granted immunity from these rewearing recommendations, you’re wrong. Instead, the guidance suggests that workout attire can in fact be worn three times before being thrown in the washing machine, advice that might raise a few eyebrows (and prompt a few disgruntled sniffs). These new rules haven’t gone down particularly well in France, partly thanks to concerns that they play into old-fashioned stereotypes about the nation’s attitude to hygiene. Right-wing politicians have also jumped at the chance to slam the guidance as the epitome of resource-draining, nanny state bureaucracy.
