Ask E. Jean - Tormented? Driven Witless? Whipsawed by confusion?

Advice Vixens


K
DIRTY, DIRTY GIRL...So I was reading some obscure article in a magazine where they were interviewing Jessica Simpson and they called her gross because she didn't wash her jeans after every time she wore them.

I was like, whah?! Who has the time and patience to wash jeans after EVERY time you wear them?
Do you guys? Honestly I'm a very clean person, haha! I mean I wear them a couple times then throw them in the wash every week.

This got me thinking, with dresses, do you guys dry clean/wash a dress after every time you wear it?

  • Cast your vote
    for Best Advice
  • give K advice
    send this question to a friend


    Nope! I seriously wear dresses about 3 times before washing or dry-cleaning them assuming they're still in good shape to wear again! I also wear jeans UP (not always) to 4x if they don't stretch out too much... hahaha, I'm human and don't always have time or a full load to wash them, what can I say?! I don't personally like Jessica Simpson, but I don't think she's gross for waiting a couple washes to get clean jeans! Crazy crazy.

    reply to Ellie
    send this answer to a friend




    K
    THANK YOU! bah i was sitting here like, wait.... is there something I missed? (yeah i'm not a huge fan of her either... but i guess if there was anyone who could pay someone to wash everything a million times it'd be her...) But honestly I would think it'd be bad for the fabric, like scrubbing your hair twice a day...

    reply to K
    send this answer to a friend



    Dude!

    Not only do I loveeeee the way worn in jeans feel after the second or third time of wearing them without being washed...but I also totally enjoy that look!

    That magazine obviously didn't..and doesn't know whats up!!

    reply to Amanda
    send this answer to a friend



    Hell no! I hate laundry with a passion. Anyways, the good thing about jeans is that they don’t require that sort of attention and maintenance in terms of washing since they are less prone to getting dirty then, say khakis or something. However, I do agree that Jessica Simpson’s fairly gross.

    reply to Sania
    send this answer to a friend



    The only thing I hate about wearing my jeans more than once before washing them is that they get too stretched out and baggy after the first wear...I guess that's what I get for buying jeans with "stretch", huh?

    reply to saturn8
    send this answer to a friend



    My clothes have to stink very very bad (I don't wear deodorantnor antiperspirant) or have bad stains before I wash them.I LOVE cleaning my house...love it (go to flylady.com) I garden and keep up,but car and clothes I just can't. I did my first load of laundry when I was 14 then didn't do it untilI was around 38? Ijust' cant. My CaR, i clean the engine spotless but the inside of the car is a mess...

    reply to Ua
    send this answer to a friend



    Don't let them make you feel gross for repeatedly wearing jeans without washing. I suspect they've got a whole host of reasons to call J. Simpson gross that have little to do with her denim washing habits.

    It's interesting that you ask this because just the other day I passed an Express and they've got this huge poster up in the front of their store that says something to the effect of, "I am Stella. I've worn these jeans five days in a row." No joke.

    I thought to myself hmmm, that's an odd marketing ploy, but I suppose it's relatable.

    reply to John
    send this answer to a friend



    Jeans are meant to be worn extensively. They ease into the perfect fit after they've been on for a while. Ever take a pair off and they sit on your floor in the exact shape of your rump? Over-washed jeans will never love you like that. Plus they'll fade to a horrendous early-nineties acid wash in no time. Ick!

    As for dresses; I honestly don't have enough or wear them enough, but I kinda wash things when I think they need washing. There doesn't have to be rules. Well, ok, undies always wash after one wear, but come on.

    reply to Laura
    send this answer to a friend



    Whomever wrote that article was grasping at straws in order to offend an adorable celebrity. Jeans can definitely be worn a few times before washing... isn't that the whole point? Casual comfort?

    With dresses it depends. Formal dresses should be dry cleaned every once in a while but you shouldn't over-do it and end up damaging the item. If you spill on it, take it directly to the cleaner. If it looks and smells lovely, it's ready for another night out on the town.

    reply to Jenny
    send this answer to a friend



    We all know that jeans and the wash machine do not mix. If I washed my jeans after every wear, they would all be spandex with a button that dug into my crotch. How unpleasant.

    I definitely wash my dresses more often, but that is do to the armpit factor. Dresses worn to weddings and "slacks" are the only things in my closet that take a trip to the dry cleaners.

    reply to Bonnie
    send this answer to a friend



    Heck no.

    1. I'm lazy.
    2. I refuse to actually dry clean anything.
    3. Most of my clothes are cheap and can't withstand many washings.
    4. Frankly, my ass just doesn't smell that bad.

    reply to Gina
    send this answer to a friend



    Hell no. It actually ruins your clothes.

    reply to Daphne
    send this answer to a friend



    Washing and dry cleaning breaks down the fibers in your clothes

    I only dry clean my suits and dresses if they actually need to be cleaned- which is about once per year. Baby wipes take care of minor spills and marks. My jeans I probably wash after I've worn them 8 times?

    reply to Blondie
    send this answer to a friend



    Thats ridiculous. Color me gross, then , I don't wash t shirts that often, either, because I dont pit them out ( lucky genetics) . Undies are the only insty wash item in my laundry basket-- the rest gets it as it needs it, ie if I drop a pizza in my lap.

    reply to Les
    send this answer to a friend



    Les wrote: Thats ridiculous. Color me gross, then , I don't wash t shirts that often, either, because I dont pit them out ( lucky genetics) . Undies are the only insty wash item in my laundry basket-- the rest gets it as it needs it, ie if I drop a pizza in my lap.

    That is a terrible waste of a pizza, Les. I'm disappointed. :)

    reply to Gina
    send this answer to a friend



    Gina wrote: That is a terrible waste of a pizza, Les. I'm disappointed. :)

    It was only the cheese, dear.

    reply to Les
    send this answer to a friend



    In 8th grade I wore a pair of pants for 30 days straight. My cleanliness has gotten better, but not to the point of washing them everytime I wear them, that's just a waste of water.

    reply to Beni
    send this answer to a friend



    I'm' still in college...please...I wash not so often (scary face).

    Yeah I read somewhere that women own up to 8 bras that they wear each up to five times before washing, ha I don't fit in that category either...

    reply to Ms P
    send this answer to a friend



    Obvs this wasn't a french mag.


    reply to Sonia
    send this answer to a friend



    I only wash when I have to. Most of my jeans are a little baggy on me lately and when I wear them they stretch even more.

    Truly the only reason I wash them is to shrink them up again. Dirty jeans are waaaayyyyyy more comfortable, if it were up to me I'd hardly wash them at all.

    I rarely dry clean and I HATE to handwash, so I try not to buy things that aren't wash-n-wear.

    The few things I do own that require special care are only taken to the dry cleaners if I sweat profusely in them or I spill something.

    reply to Paige
    send this answer to a friend



    Washing your jeans every time, geez! I love the way they feel after a couple times being worn anyway.
    I think that depends on the type of dress. If it's cotton and something that can be tossed in the washer, yes I wash it every time. If it's something that I have to have dry cleaned, forget about it! I try to go as long as possible without washing them.

    reply to Carey
    send this answer to a friend



    Some people are so uptight...and apparently so insecure that they have to pick on someone else to make themselves feel better.
    It's sad...especially considering they're doing this for a living.
    We should all send them a hug so they're not so insecure.

    reply to Maria
    send this answer to a friend



    ha! if i had to squeeze into my jeans post-wash every day i think i'd end up wallowing in self-pitty watching lifetime with my six cats.

    reply to Lauren
    send this answer to a friend



    I do believe that J-Sim is a dirty girl...but for a very different reason.

    reply to MJ
    send this answer to a friend



    Definitly, I usually wear dresses and jeans 2-3 times before I was it unless I spill something on it or it's actually dirty.

    reply to Kyza
    send this answer to a friend



    I actually feel sick reading this. How can you NOT wash your clothes after they have been worn. Not only do jeans bounce back into there sexy shape after you wear them, but they then feel crisp, clean and look great on your body-because they do not look dirty and worn. Yes this goes for dresses, shirts ect. And if they look worse after you've washed them , then Im sorry to say but it only means -Bad Quality.

    reply to Ms Blasé
    send this answer to a friend



    Yeah, because before washing machines people were like, so totally disgusting, doing their wash in fresh streams and hanging things up to dry once they got dirty enough to warrant cleaning. Jeez J Sim, you're a nasty, nasty girl and so are all the rest of you. Meanwhile, I'll be doing my laundry in the sink with hemp soap and letting it air dry and get faded in the sun.

    reply to Luciferia
    send this answer to a friend



    Before washing machines, washing machines didn't exist.
    But its all a matter of opinion, and its not to be taken personally. After all it could just as easily be said that I am an obsessive compulsive perfectionist. This makes you normal. Voila!

    p.s Hemp is great! I wish they would legalize it... and make MORE products from it! But if you are wondering, they have made a spray, for organic jeans, whereby you can 'spray' your jeans clean. They are jean disinfectants. And then you never have to wash them!!

    reply to Ms Blasé
    send this answer to a friend





    You should never wash jeans after every time you wear them. They will break down and then you get those awkward crotch holes. Unless they are so dirty that they are able to stand up on their own or stretched out from constant wear, there is no need!

    As far as dresses, I give myself a couple of wears before they need to be cleaned. For fancy dresses, I usually do it right before I need to wear it that way I know it isn't being washed too much.

    If you do want to wash your jeans, a handy little trick is to turn them inside out making sure to button and zip them out. They will be clean and you don't have to worry about weird shrinking.

    reply to Talia
    send this answer to a friend



    febreze is all i have to say about this....

    reply to hannah
    send this answer to a friend



    um i dont wash my jeans. only if i sweat in it. which is rare. but then again i dont really wear my jeans. even if there's a stain, i would spot clean it, thats it.

    reply to Nana
    send this answer to a friend



    Only wash jeans when they are visibly stained or the knees are too baggy, else they don't fade well. They fade even better if you wipe your (greasy/dusty...whatever) hands on them. If you wash them all of the time, they fade into one same colour. Don't hem them either, let them drag and fray.

    reply to Sandra
    send this answer to a friend







    Ms Blasé wrote: I actually feel sick reading this. How can you NOT wash your clothes after they have been worn. Not only do jeans bounce back into there sexy shape after you wear them, but they then feel crisp, clean and look great on your body-because they do not look dirty and worn. Yes this goes for dresses, shirts ect. And if they look worse after you've washed them , then Im sorry to say but it only means -Bad Quality.

    Thats not TRUE THERE ARE STYLES DEDICATED TO THE WORN IN LOOK!
    ITS GREAT!
    I'm from LA its clean here (in west la areas) i can wear white pants twice without washing them

    reply to Valedia
    send this answer to a friend



    Sorry girls, I am with Ms. Blase on this. The best thing about jeans is also the worst thing about jeans. Those wonderful cotton fibers that conform to your exact curves also pick up disgusting smells from wherever you may pass. Simply walk past a restaurant that serves any fried item and you will smell eau de eggroll.

    reply to Shan
    send this answer to a friend



    About the dresses.. do skirts count? I've worn skirts atleast a dozen times before washing them (especially if they are lined and wool). Press them as needed, spot treat if theres a spot- I really only send them to wash if they look worn, to freshen them. ... has anyone noticed though, if you wear pants 2 or three times and then press them, they smell really weird-- like the body oil ( or skin flecks?) left on them is burning. it's kind of disgusting. I'll send them to wash at that point regardless how they look.

    reply to lola
    send this answer to a friend



    when did society decide we have to change and wash an outfit after every individual use? if its not dirty - i'm going to wear it!

    reply to Maree
    send this answer to a friend



    I don't wash my jeans each time.

    Most manufacturers recommend one NOT wash every time, ostensibly because this extends the life of the wash and the stretch.

    In any case, who the heck has time to wash every time?

    reply to Elizabeth
    send this answer to a friend



    When I was single I used the "sniff" test before putting it in the laundry basket. I thought this was just a guy thing, but I was obviously incorrect after reading these posts. Post marriage, everything goes in the wash after 1 day of use (my wife is obsessively clean). My one good suit still gets the sniff test after a marriage and a funeral or so, before going to the dry cleaners.

    reply to Joel
    send this answer to a friend



    No! I normally wear it twice before i was it but it also depends on the material. And with jeans i wear them up to 7 times before i was unless they're losing their shape or are very dirty. But make sure you dont wait too long, i knew a girl who got a rash all over her legs from the pair of jeans that she hadnt washed in months! Not ok.

    reply to Nicola
    send this answer to a friend



    Nobody has mentioned the obvious: If you go commando, you must wash your jeans every time you wear them, just as the rest of us do our underpants -- I hope!

    reply to Dianne
    send this answer to a friend



    I live in a very humid tropical country and thus wash my clothes after every wear. But when vacationing in colder climates, I wear jeans and skirts twice, coats and blazers up to 4-5 times.

    It really depends on the climate and your body chemistry. At the end of the day, you be the judge. After all, you're wearing it.

    reply to Lady
    send this answer to a friend



    Haha! Oh man, no I wear jeans at least twice, and at most four times before I wash them. There's something about having them rest comfortably on the hips while walking and doing daily things that gives me an extra confidence boost. Admittedly after washing them, I get another confidence boost when I realize that even though they've shrunk a little in the wash, I can still slip them on without having to undo the button.

    I think Jeans are the higher powers that be's way of saying "Yeah you're hot, now realize how hot you are! Oh, and don't worry about washing them, seriously, the lads/lasses will be too busy looking at your rear to notice. In a good way of course."

    We're all human here, and we do things the way we do them, and we all expect that everyone will let us be. But there will always be that one group/person who will be snide and try to give others a bad name simply because they observe that other people just don't do things the way they do. Silly snides.

    :) Just my two cents on it.

    -Jean

    reply to Jean
    send this answer to a friend



    Oops, double posted by accident :/ sorry! <3

    -Jean

    reply to Jean
    send this answer to a friend



    Well.

    I love worn in Jeans--I wear them more than once before I wash them.. there's nothing wrong with that!

    Dresses however, unless I've mucked them up with food, I wash them straight after, otherwise I wear it about twice before washing them.
    Who has time to wash jeans everytime?

    *shakes head*

    reply to Diana
    send this answer to a friend



    I wear jeans many times before i was them. Movie stars are expected to be superficial. Its boring.
    Dresses I either dont wash or just wash them at home. things I don't work hard in (sweat, dirt, etc.) typically don't require a good washing.

    reply to hannah
    send this answer to a friend



    I used to wash everything after every time I wore it. Know where that got me? Worn out shirts, faded jeans, holes in delicate fabrics and pills on knits. Washing clothes does a number on them as much as wearing them, or more.

    Now I wash jeans when there is visible dirt or smellable nastiness only. This was often when I worked at a daycare, but since then, barely ever. The only clothing that needs to be washed whenever I wear it are running clothes.

    I often wear camisoles under shirts, which keeps them longer between washes - and they look brand new long after they used to.

    Why let them criticize you? Criticize them - that decadent culture of sterility, terrified of the opinions of even crazier sterility snobs! Don't be stupid. Humans didn't evolve in clothing that was washed every time it was worn.

    reply to Queenie
    send this answer to a friend



    Ua wrote: My clothes have to stink very very bad (I don't wear deodorantnor antiperspirant) or have bad stains before I wash them.I LOVE cleaning my house...love it (go to flylady.com) I garden and keep up,but car and clothes I just can't. I did my first load of laundry when I was 14 then didn't do it untilI was around 38? Ijust' cant. My CaR, i clean the engine spotless but the inside of the car is a mess...

    Start using deodorant. I can't imagine why you think it is ok not to

    reply to Erika
    send this answer to a friend



    Erika wrote: Start using deodorant. I can't imagine why you think it is ok not to

    Wow Erika, that's a very judgmental opinion. A lot of people don't wear deodorant because of the chemicals in it.

    But to answer the original topic question: I definitely do not dry clean or wash a dress every time and I will usually wear my jeans at least 5 days in a row before wearing them. I don't know why everyone likes to hate on Jessica Simpson so much. She's not the brightest crayon in the box but she works hard and I respect that.

    reply to Whistlebait
    send this answer to a friend



    I usally wash after 3 days theres really no point in just taking it off and washing it after 1 day and always try to wear deodiarnt it not only helps you but the people around you too :)

    reply to Leah
    send this answer to a friend



    Ellie wrote: Nope! I seriously wear dresses about 3 times before washing or dry-cleaning them assuming they're still in good shape to wear again! I also wear jeans UP (not always) to 4x if they don't stretch out too much... hahaha, I'm human and don't always have time or a full load to wash them, what can I say?! I don't personally like Jessica Simpson, but I don't think she's gross for waiting a couple washes to get clean jeans! Crazy crazy.

    Thats what i said but in diffrent words

    reply to Leah
    send this answer to a friend



    They always feel better the second or third time you wear them and, the fewer times you wash them, the longer they last!

    reply to Sonja
    send this answer to a friend


    Give advice or add a comment: