From middle school students to grown men and women, hoodies are all the rage. They’re warm, comfy, and convenient to pull on and off. However, if you’re a fan of wearing them, then you may be wondering about hoodie etiquette; for example, is it okay to wear one for two days straight?
You can wear your hoodie two days in a row. In fact, you can wear it even more often. Ideally, you should only wash your hoodie after wearing it five to seven times. Since hoodies are outerwear, they don’t come in direct contact with your skin. As such, they don’t get dirty or smelly quickly.
While you can wear your hoodie for a prolonged time, it should be on a case-to-case basis. Below, I’ll discuss when (and how) to wash your hoodie, as well. Keep reading to learn more.
What You Need To Know About Your Hoodies
Hoodies – also known as hooded sweatshirts – are reliable pieces of outerwear. Thanks to the hood, they can ably protect you from the elements – be it rain, cold winds, etc.
Hoodies are believed to have been launched by Champion in the 1930s. They were created to help keep employees in cold New York warehouses warm.
From being protective outerwear, hoodies have transformed into a symbol of hip hop for some. For others, they’re a skateboarding trademark.
Fabrics Used in Hoodies
Just like most clothes, hoodies are made from various materials. For example, most hoodies are created with cotton, which is a relatively durable material. Others are manufactured with fleece, which is just as lightweight, durable, and breathable.
French terry is another popular option, for it doesn’t wrinkle easily.
Either way, It’s important to know what’s used in your hoodie, for it will significantly affect how you wash it.
Hoodie Maintenance
As a rule of thumb, you should wash your hoodies after five to seven wears. Wearing it for two days in a row is more or less the equivalent of the said recommendation.
In fact, it’s not good to wash your hoodie after every wear. The fabric can end up pilling, which occurs when threads break and ball up. As a result, your hoodie can lose both shape and color.
Likewise, the fabric doesn’t come into contact with your skin directly. As such, it won’t get dirty or smelly quickly, as, say, a shirt would do.
Despite these conditions, you will want to wash your hoodie once it gets visibly stained – even if you’ve just cleaned it. Leaving your hoodie with dirty marks for days will make the stain harder to remove.
How To Wash Your Hoodie
There are two ways to wash your hoodie: by hand or in the washing machine. Whatever procedure you prefer, you first need to turn your hoodie inside-out.
For one, it’s crucial to get the inside area thoroughly cleaned for it’s the part nearest you. If you don’t wear something underneath, this is the area that comes in contact with the skin.
Likewise, turning your hoodie inside out will prevent its color from bleeding. When you do this, though, make sure to pull the hood and sleeves out as well. More importantly, zip the zippers and tie up the laces right before you start.
How To Handwash Your Hoodie
Handwashing your hoodie will take considerably more time, but it’s highly effective. It’s cost-effective too since you won’t be using electricity.
If you prefer hand washing, you should follow these steps:
Fill a Bucket With Cold Water
It might not be comfy on your hands, but cold water is best for your hoodie. This can help it retain its shape, despite repeated washes. It can also prevent wrinkles, which means you won’t have to spend a lot of time ironing it.
Since water can splash whenever you wash your hoodie, make sure to do this in the bathroom, back porch, or garage.
Use Mild Soap, Body Wash, or Shampoo
If you’re using bar soap, wet it first before rubbing it on your hoodie. Make sure to apply it to various areas so that your entire hoodie is covered. As for shampoo or body wash, squeeze a small amount on a damp cloth before rubbing it on your hoodie.
If there aren’t apparent stains on your hoodie, you can just soak it for 20 minutes before rinsing it.
Rinse the Hoodie With Cold Water
Again, make sure to use cold water when rinsing your hoodie.
Rinsing your hoodie clean may take you several times, as you need to get all of the soap out before you dry your hoodie. If not, it may end up staining the fabric or leaving it feeling rough and uncomfortable.
How To Machine Wash Your Hoodie
Machine washing can help you save a lot of time – and energy too. You’ll be spending some power because of the electricity, but it’s a fair trade if you’re going to wash your hoodie with other garments.
Here’s how to do it:
Check the Label
First and foremost, you need to ensure that your hoodie is machine wash-friendly. Wool hoodies, for one, will get damaged in the washing machine. As such, you should take this type of hoodie to the dry cleaners if you need to wash it.
(Alternatively, you can revert to the hand-washing method instead.)
Group the Hoodie With Similar Items
You will want to wash your hoodie with items similar in fabric or color. For example, you may want to group your hoodie with your sweatpants, sweatshirts, or winter jackets.
It’s best to keep the load small so that your hoodie – and other thicker garments – get washed thoroughly.
Tip: It would help to keep your hoodie in a garment bag so that it won’t rub with the other clothes in the machine.
Wash the Hoodie With Cold Water and Mild Detergent
Although your hoodie is relatively durable, it needs some TLC when it comes to washing. As previously mentioned, you should use cold water – instead of hot – to help retain its shape. As for the detergent, a mild product can keep the fabrics safe from abrasive chemicals. Regarding the amount to use, make sure to refer to your hoodie’s tag.
Remember: Set your machine on a delicate cycle. This should help keep your hoodie threads from pilling.
Final Thoughts
There’s no issue with wearing your hoodie two days in a row. Given you’re wearing something underneath, it doesn’t touch much of your skin and shouldn’t get sweaty or dirty the way shirts would.
That said, you will need to wash your hoodie after five to seven uses. Whether you do it by hand or in the machine, make sure to use cold water and mild soap/detergent.
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