Have you ever wondered how many times you should wear your clothes before cleaning them? Wouldn’t it be nice if clothing manufacturers included this information on the care label? Look around, we are instructed all the time by different industries of how to care for our investments to extend their useful life. We are told to change our oil every 3,000 miles, paint the house every 5 years and even how often to charge your iPhone battery. But no one ever tells you how to properly care for your wardrobe.

Coming from a dry cleaner and a businessman, you probably think I am going to tell you to clean your clothes after every time they are worn. My advice might surprise you. Everyone is different and there are many factors that should be considered including weather conditions, physical activity level, and whether the item gets stained.

The most common methods used to determine when to clean your garments are great rules of thumb, but are not fool-proof. Most of us use some combination of these different methods when deciding if an item should be cleaned. To best protect your wardrobe, use this information daily as you undress because it will help you choose on whether to rehang your outfit or toss it into the hamper.

The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute developed the following guidelines based in part on a survey of consumers. They asked people, “how often they wore specific garments before having them professionally cleaned.” It is important to note that this is simply a guide, garments may need to be cleaned more frequently depending on heat and activity level during the garment’s use and how much the wearer perspires or if the item gets stained. Obviously, since we live in Oklahoma, items worn during the summer months will need to be cleaned more frequently than the chart suggests.

I offer these additional recommendations for cleaning clothes. Matching sets such as 2 piece suits should be cleaned together or at the least every other cleaning to avoid color and finish differences. Dry clean only garments should be cleaned just as often as your laundered garments. Finally, if you sweat in the garment, it should be cleaned right away.

If you apply the same rationale to your clothing as you do your car, cell phone or other possessions, it just makes sense. Taking proper care of your clothing will prolong the life of your investment, ensure you always look your best, and save you money.