I used to be one who would consider something dirty if I wore it -- regardless of the amount of time. Threw on some jeans to walk outside and get the mail? Those go in the hamper. Put on a sweatshirt over my T-shirt b/c I was cold while I watched a couple episodes of NCIS? Dirty clothes!
A semester in Italy changed all that. First -- doing laundry was freaking expensive! Second -- I discovered that it was completely normal among my friends to wear something (particularly jeans) more than once before washing them (barring stains, smells, etc.).
Now, I vacillate. Sometimes I'll wear an item a couple times before washing, and other times if it touches my skin I feel like I need to toss it in the hamper.
And re: the towel thing -- I, too, will often use a towel twice (esp. b/c I use one for hair and one for body) before washing it. But I remember a Dilbert comic where the characters talked about that, and one said, "I'm the cleanest thing in the house when I get out of the shower, so the towel actually gets cleaner each time I use it." Then in the last frame, he says, "Are towels supposed to bend?"
Hee!
DS does the same thing because he HATES folding.
), and it is for the rest of us in the summer as well. In winter DH or I may wear jeans up to 5 or so times and tops 2 or 3 times. PJs tend to last a week. Outer layers (cardigans, sports jackets) can go for ages. Not only does this require less work and less water and energy usage, but the clothes last a lot longer too.
