Just a sniff won’t be enough to tell you if you need to wash your clothes. It depends on the fabric, the wear and the weather. The American Cleaning Institute offers these tips to help determine if it’s time:

Sweatier people should wash their bed sheets more often, although a bed sheet is generally a thing you should wash every 2 weeks.

When you wear your clothes to bed, wash the following day. If you don’t shower before bed, after 3 or 4 wears, it’s time for a laundry day.

Make sure you hang up your towels after each use so they can dry. You should wash them after 3 to 5 uses if you want to keep them clean.

How often should I wash my clothes?

A bra can be worn 2-3 times before washing, with a day break in between to let elastic recover.

Learn how more clothes should be washed

Outer clothes, such as dress shirts and khakis, should not be washed after every wear because they can still be worn several more times without getting visibly dirty or stained.

Jeans can typically be worn 3 times before washing.

Leggings should be washed after every wear to avoid baggy knees.

Suits must be cleaned less often than the usual 3-4 times for wool and 4-5 times for synthetics.

How often should you wash your bathing suit?

How to wash all clothes

Are whites and silks prone to discoloration?

Clothing with stains should be treated as soon as possible; otherwise, this will contribute to a shorter lifespan. Washing clothes is the best of the three methods stated consequently reducing your need for dry cleaning in the long run.