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Bras -

Bras need to be washed every three to four wears, and you should never wear the same bra two days in a row. That's because the elastic needs time to reshape. If you have a rotation of a few bras, you'll get extra wears out of them in the long run.

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Pajamas -

This depends on if you shower before bed and if you're a sweaty sleeper, but generally pjs should be washed after around four wears. If they're silk, however, they need to be washed after each use since the material absorbs more body oils than cotton.

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Bath towels -

If you're not throwing your towel on the floor and you're ensuring it dries properly (preferably in the sun), you can go four uses before it needs a wash. Bath towels can become loaded with bacteria and dandruff-causing fungi, however, so it's best to wash them often.

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Pets' food bowls -

You eat your meals on a clean dish every time, and it turns out your pets need the same treatment. Scrape out that uneaten dog or cat food and wash the bowls in hot, soapy water. Water bowls can be left a little longer, but they should still be washed every other day.

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Suit jackets and blazers - Suit jackets and blazers can be worn five to six times before needing a good dry cleaning, since you're probably wearing clothes underneath them. But if you're going for the shirtless blazer look, maybe you'll have to wash them sooner.

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Purse -

Studies have shown that purses can sometimes carry traces of E. coli, usually on the bottom where purse owners know to be a dark, cluttered place. Use disinfecting wipes on materials that can't be hand-washed.

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Jeans -

It's actually preferable that you wear your heavy denim jeans four to five times before washing because over-washing can actually cause them to wear out prematurely. When you do wash them, turn the pants inside out and use cold water, then let them air dry.

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Kitchen towels -

Kitchen towels collect bacteria every time you handle food and wash your hands, so they're best to wash weekly. If you handled raw meat, you're going to want to wash that towel immediately.

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Shower curtains -

Most people don't know that they should be cleaning their shower curtains, but they're the perfect place for mildew to grow, which can cause skin, eye, and throat irritation. It's best to disinfect them once a month.

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Bed sheets -

We all know the struggle of putting on fitted sheets, but they should be washed once a week, or once every two weeks at the most, to remove a buildup of debris, dust, sweat, dirt, oil, and other icky things.

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Computers -

By now everyone has heard about the horrors of keyboard bacteria, so at the very least once every two weeks you should wipe down your keyboard and mouse using a rag or cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.

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Mattress -

Did you know you should be cleaning your mattress? You can extend its life by vacuuming and wiping it with a dampened cloth and upholstery shampoo just twice a year. You should also rotate it head to toe every six months so that it evens out the wear.

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Sponges -

A surprising notion to some is that sponges aren't cleaned with soap and water. The germy sponge should be dropped in boiling water for two minutes or put in the microwave for two minutes while damp every couple days to kill the bacteria.

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Skirts -

Skirts often go neglected from their proper wash because they're airy and you're likely not doing anything strenuous in them. You can wash them after four to five wears.

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Bed pillows -

Not the pillow covers, which should be washed once a week, but the actual pillows themselves! One study found that 16 species of fungi can live in an average pillow, and the stuffing loves to attract allergy-causing dust mites. Wash your pillows once every six months using the gentle cycle, rinsing twice, and drying them completely on low heat.

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Leggings and tights -

Leggings and tights should be washed after every wear because of the germs, yes, but also to get rid of the baggy knees.

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Winter scarves and gloves -

Because we're not sweating in the winter, we often forget to wash our warm accessories. But scarves and gloves should be washed at the very least three to five times in the season. Hand-wash knits to preserve their quality.

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Bathrobe -

Ideally, your bathrobe should be washed after every four wears. If you wait longer, you risk fungi and bacteria growing on it. If you make sure it air dries right after use, you can get an extra wear out of it!

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Your face -

Most people forget to wash their face at night, but it's essential to prevent clogged pores and breakouts. If you have particularly oily skin, you can wash again in the morning.

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Grout -

Many will be glad to hear that this is a once-a-year cleaning occasion, though even that frequency can be a challenge for some people. Tackle scrubbing the grout in your shower (or any tiled surface) annually with a simple, eco-friendly cleaner.

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Oven -

The inside of the oven gets neglected with all its blackened drippings, but cleaning it is easier than you think, and you only have to do it once every six months.

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Dishwasher -

Wash the thing that does the washing? Oh yes. Fungi and black yeast can grow in your dishwasher, so you'll want to disinfect it by pouring vinegar into a dishwasher-safe cup, placing the cup on the top rack, and running a full cycle on hot.

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Floors -

You should give your floors a good wash once every two weeks, says Jason Tetro, microbiologist and author of 'The Germ Code' and 'The Germ Files.' The kitchen floors may need to be washed more often due to food bacteria.

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Rugs -

Rugs should be vacuumed weekly (more often if you have pets) to remove dust, dirt, and allergens. A deep cleaning, however, should happen once every six months.

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Outerwear -

You should definitely be washing your outerwear, which is often the point of contact between you and the germy world. But since you wear clothes underneath them, you only need to give them a wash every three months.

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Caps -

If you want to avoid smells, aim to wash baseball-type caps at least two to three times every season. Some hats can't be washed, so instead you can use a microfiber cloth to get rid of any dirt. You can also use baking soda to get rid of smells.

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Door knobs -

Door knobs accumulate a lot of bacteria, particularly in the bathroom and kitchen, so they should be cleaned once a week.

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T-shirts/tank tops -

Treat the hugging fabric like underwear and wash after each use. You can, however, put a t-shirt back in the drawer if you only wore it briefly. A good rule of thumb for what classifies as one "use" is four hours and up.

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Dress pants -

If you're just wearing them to the office, you can go four to five wears before needing a wash. You can also extend their life by changing out of them as soon as you get home.

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Swimsuits -

Even if you don't go into the water, you must wash your swimsuit after every wear! Salt and chlorine can eat away at a swimsuit, and the fabric absorbs all your body oils, bacteria, and odors, so either way it needs a wash.

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Your washing machine -

Wash your washing machine once every couple months. Dirt, mold, and other grimy residue can build up inside and defeat the whole purpose. You can buy laundry sanitizer, or run an empty, regular cycle on hot with two cups of white vinegar, then scrub the machine down, and then run one more regular cycle.

Sources: (Real Simple) (Reader's Digest) (CNN) (NBC) (Good Housekeeping) (BBC)

See also: Everyday things you didn’t realize are harming your mental health

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