Define "clean" clothing
Q: Everyone likes clean clothes, but obsessive washing only adds to the planet's water woes. (The average washing machine uses 41 gallons of water per load—the equivalent of 2-4 showers.) How long can you wear your favorite shirt before your coworkers run from the water cooler when they see you coming?
A: Relax. Unless you work in the movie The Devil Wears Prada, chances are no one is keeping track of your cleaning regimen. That said, here are a few general guideline to keep make sure your laundry habits are green—and socially acceptable:
Rule #1: Outer items (sweaters, pants, skirts, and dresses) need only be washed when they look or smell dirty—unless you're prone to ketchup accidents, you can probably get away with washing your jeans once a month.
Rule #2: Stock up on undies. If your underwear drawer runneth over, you won't have to do laundry as frequently. If you sweat a lot, same goes for shirts, but resist the temptation to buy cheap crap—it'll just disintegrate and you'll end up buying more. That's not very green either, now is it?
Rule #3: Out damned spots. Spilled something? Instead of throwing the whole shirt in the wash, use a stain remover to treat the problem area.
