Deciding whether or not it’s the right time to wash certain articles of clothing can be tricky at times. On one hand, the clothes you’re wearing for the day might still be okay. Your pajamas, for example, may not smell of sweat or have any noticeable stains that require immediate washing. On the other, there’s the very real possibility that you’ve grown used to the scent of your own body that you hardly notice it anymore, no matter how strong it is. Then, there are also outside factors that can impact this decision. Whether or not you live and work alone is a consideration, as well as the minimum degree of cleanliness that the people you live and work with expect from you, if any.

Let’s face it: doing one’s laundry takes time and effort, two things that most people have in short supply. If there’s a way to make this task more efficient—such as washing clothes only when they need to be washed—many people would undoubtedly take this option. So, when should you wash your clothes?

The truth is that there is no universal answer. Hygiene standards vary from one person to another, so what may be perfectly acceptable to one may seem downright filthy to another. There are, however, a few widely accepted and recommended instances when certain articles of clothing should be washed and replaced with fresh ones regularly.

Face Masks

No matter if you’re wearing an antimicrobial face mask that goes around the neck or a cloth face mask that is held in place by ear loops, as long as your face mask of choice is reusable and washable, you need to wash it after every use. Washing the mask you wore at the end of the day and putting on a clean mask at the start of every day is good practice. Remember that these accessories are worn for your protection so washing them prevents bacteria from accumulating in the fabric. Additionally, masks stay in contact with your face for long periods, so you want them to be clean and free from sweat and oils when you put them on your freshly-washed face.

Underwear

Intimate garments like panties, briefs, and boxers are in contact with your skin all day, and as such, they should be changed at least once a day and washed after every use. Also, you’re not supposed to throw your used underwear along with the rest of your clothes in the washing machine. Ideally, they’re washed separately using a milder setting meant for delicate fabrics. More fragile pairs of underwear may require hand washing to preserve their form.

Socks

Just like underwear, socks should be washed after every use. These can be hand washed if you want to preserve their color for a long time and if you want to reduce the chances of ending up with an orphaned sock, but they can also be tossed in with your regular laundry. However, washing them on their own can help you prevent lint from accumulating in your other clothes.

Whites and Silks

Articles of clothing that are made of delicate fabric and white clothes that easily show stains and discolorations should be washed after every use as well. This way, you can immediately address any stains that the fabric may have incurred and preserve its clean appearance, thus ensuring that you’ll get to use it for a long time.

T-shirts

Some people wash their shirts once they start giving off a weird smell, others wash theirs after using the same shirt for an entire day. The safe answer would be to wash your shirt after every use. Again, people tend to become immune to their own odors, and this can make it difficult to determine if the shirt you’re wearing smells offensive to others. If you want to look and feel fresh and perhaps not worry if your scent is becoming too strong, then changing your shirt after every use is recommended.

Jeans

Some people seem to vacillate between washing their jeans after every use and never washing their jeans at all. There are even tips to put used jeans in a plastic bag and then freezing them to kill the germs. A good compromise would be to wash your jeans after 5 uses. There are plenty of reasons for this. Wearing your jeans for consecutive days can wear out the fabric and make them too loose. The fabric can also absorb plenty of sweat during this period and start to smell funky. Washing your favorite pair after 5 uses allows you to preserve the color of the jeans while preventing the buildup of dirt and odor.

Pajamas

Pajamas can be worn multiple times before washing. However, this also depends on a few factors such as the weather in your area, how sweaty you can get at night, and if you have sensitive skin. Some people are fine with wearing their pajamas 3 times before washing them, while others in colder places think that it’s perfectly fine to change their pajamas weekly. If you’re prone to body acne, however, it’s a good idea to minimize your wear time as they may contribute to your breakouts.

Use this guide to determine when to wash your clothes or how many times you can wear them before washing them. When in doubt, however, opt to wear fresh clothes whenever possible. Feeling clean and smelling fresh can boost your mood and confidence, no matter if you’re on your own or in the company of others.