Hate Washing Clothes? Then This Growing Movement Might Be For You!

There are probably a few of you reading this who look forward to laundry day each week, but for the rest of us it’s a chore that we’d prefer putting off as long as possible … if not forever.

Well, that might not be a pipe dream after all, at least if you agree with a growing number of folks in the so-called “no wash” — or less extreme “low wash” — movement.

What is it?

It’s nothing new for fashionistas and eco-friendly activists to discourage unnecessarily running a washing machine. In fact, when it comes to denim specifically, there’s a school of thought that argues it’s better if you don’t wash the fabric.

The Indigo Invitational is a competition in which participants abstain from washing their jeans for an entire year!

But the position has expanded recently to include clothing of all sorts, and adherents of this strategy say it’s worth consideration.

Stella McCartney is a fashion designer who encourages others not to clean their clothes unless they “absolutely have to.”

In her own life, she says: “I am incredibly hygienic myself, but I’m not a fan of dry cleaning or any cleaning, really.”

Making the case

At this point, some of you might be turning up your nose at the idea of wearing clothes multiple times without tossing them in the wash. But there are a few points that disciples make that could make you reconsider.

• Reducing laundry cycles can save a lot of money as electricity prices increase
• Certain brands emphasize sustainability and are built for multiple consecutive wears
• Frequently washing garments causes them to wear out much more quickly

So whether you’re concerned about the environment or you just dislike spending hours on laundry, perhaps the “no wash” bandwagon is right for you.

Chris Agee May 31st, 2023

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