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by KozmoNau7 1975 days ago
Depending on how often you wear them, washing jeans once a month is probably about right. Remember that washing in itself is not actually that hard on clothes (provided you select the right temperature and program and don't use an old-fashioned top loader with an agitator), it's the dryer that really kills clothes, with all the dry heat and agitation. Line dry your clothes and they'll last much longer.

Another factor that may not be as relevant when working from home* is that general dust and dirt settles in and between the cotton fibers and act as abrasives. You can get a lot of that out by giving your jeans a vigorous shake out the window, but cotton is very absorbent and will hold on to dirt and grime, so it's a losing battle. If you never wash them, the wear will accelerate and ruin the fabric, especially in folds and creases.

As an aside, some of the "common knowledge" around jeans actually does apply to wool clothes since unlike cotton, the wool fibers have a hydrophobic outer layer, so they will repel dirt. Hanging wool clothes overnight and giving them a shake the next morning is often more than enough to refresh them, cabin luggage-only travelers love merino wool t-shirts for this reason, they can be worn for several days before needing a wash, without developing odors.

* Are people wearing jeans when working from home? As long as I'm staying inside, I'm wearing comfy cotton pajama pants and a hoodie or a robe all day, it's so comfortable. The real pants or jeans are only worn for going outside.

1 comments

> Are people wearing jeans when working from home?

Yes. All of my jeans are part elastane and are very comfy.

My jeans are part elastane too, but I honestly feel more comfortable in properly sized straight cut 100% cotton twill or wool(-blend) pants with no stretch, preferably with pleats. Elastane lets you get away with a fit that's really too tight.

But none those are even close to being as comfortable as pajama pants or sweatpants. When I'm lounging at home, I want nothing to bind or sit tightly, comfort is king.

Wearing a belt while sitting down puts a lot of pressure on your midsection, but even wearing suspenders (which I highly recommend), you still feel the waistband. Of course you get used to it, but why not just go straight for comfort?

I second your suspender recommendation (They're called braces in the UK). I find them much more comfortable than belts, and they work better than belts if you have developed a bit of middle-age spread.