You Shouldn’t Wash These 10 Things So Frequently

7. Your hands

Most of us are obsessed with antibacterial soaps, washes, and sanitizers. This can cause other issues like dry skin, cracks in your hands, or even resistance to certain bacteria. Piedmont Healthcare says “While it is still crucial to always wash your hands with soap and water after using the restroom and before eating or preparing food, excessive hand washing, and hand sanitizer may do more harm than good. Some researchers believe hand sanitizer overuse may be causing children to lose the ability to build up resistance to bacteria.”

8. Jeans

Jeans should be washed as little as possible. And when you do wash them, they should ideally be taken to the local cleaners to be dry-cleaned. Rhodes says “This will ensure a longer life in those designer fit jeans, and you won’t have to struggle quite so much to get them on your second and third wear! adding that “If you regularly steam this article you should be able to get three wears out of them before sending the old standby in for freshening up.” Freezing your jeans to de-stink them is a great way to use your freezer for non-food items.

9. Wood furniture

It is possible that you care and clean your wood furniture too much, Jones says. “Spraying your furniture too often with a wax-based solution can result in a buildup which will attract more dust and dirt. A thin coat of polisher will do the trick—apply it once or twice a month. Still, you can wipe down your furniture with a cloth between the polishes.”

10. Kitchen towels

It is recommended that you only wash a kitchen towel that has experienced a lot of use around the house. “Before tossing your towel in the washer, check its condition,” she says. “If there is an unpleasant odor or you notice a stain, wash it. Otherwise, leave it for a few more days. This way you will cut down the washing a bit and save some time.”