‘Unlimited wears': Podcaster's gross laundry admission
In a TikTok video that quickly went viral, Andy Lee recalls a recent conversation with his partner, Rebecca Harding.
He says, 'Bec said to me this morning, didn't you wear those pants yesterday? I said yes?'
'PANTS?!' Hamish Blake replies in utter horror. 'Pants are unlimited'.
Feeling validated, Lee goes on to explain that he and Blake should establish some ground rules for how often people should wear certain items before washing them.
The pair then devised their own set of 're-wear rules'.
For T-shirts, they reckon you can get away with about 'a day and a half'.
When it comes to undies, they agree that one day is acceptable, and you can add a night if you sleep in them.
For shorts and jumpers, their advice is to wear them until they get 'soiled', with Blake saying that jumpers could last all winter without a wash.
Socks, according to them, can also be worn for a 'day and a half', and dirty ones can even be worn again when exercising, as they're going to get sweatier anyway.
But what do the experts say? We spoke to the laundry pros at OMO to get the real advice.
When it comes to how often people actually wash their shorts and pants, OMO insists 'there's no hard rule', and it really depends on your lifestyle and level of activity.
'Unless shorts and pants are visibly dirty or worn during exercise, many people find they can go a few wears before washing, especially in winter,' they noted.
To keep them fresh between washes, they advise you to air them out and spot clean as needed.
And what about T-shirts? Well, the podcasters were pretty spot on with this one.
'T-shirts worn directly against the skin, especially in warmer conditions or while sweating, should generally be washed after every wear,' the OMO expert said. 'Even if it's only been on for a few hours, body oils and bacteria build up quickly.'
When it comes to undies, they urge that they should be washed after every single wear, no exceptions, as 'they come into contact with bacteria and sweat, so daily laundering is a must'.
The same goes for socks – one wear, one wash.
'Re-wearing socks can lead to fungal infections, unpleasant odours, and general discomfort,' they advise, so best to err on the side of caution here.
Bras, on the other hand, can be worn two to three times between washes, depending on your level of activity and what the care label says.
Jumpers don't need the same wash frequency as base layers - think every five to seven wears, unless you're wearing them directly against the skin.
'However, winter means more time indoors, more couch naps, and more sneaky spills, so occasional washes are still a good idea,' they said. 'If your jumper is made of wool or other delicate fibres, be sure to use a detergent designed for woollens'.
The podcaster's didn't touch on activewear, but like undies and socks, they too should be washed after every wear.
'Sweat, bacteria, and body oils accumulate quickly in performance fabrics, even if they appear clean,' OMO's expert explained.
So there you have it! Do with this information what you will.
But what did Hamish and Andy's fans think?
Thankfully, they were with the expert on this one and were a bit grossed out by the boys' unhygienic admissions.
'UNTIL SOILED?' one person asked.
'If the socks come off, they ain't coming back on, one wear that's it,' another replied.
'Guys, a shoe is not a pristine environment,' someone else pointed out.
'As soon as something has been worn on public transport or in an environment that I don't control, it's time for a wash,' a different user shared.
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