6 Everyday Items You're Probably Not Washing as Often as You Should

by Lisa Lozano

How often do you wash your jeans? Your mattress? Your purse? You’d be surprised that you’re probably not doing it enough. Interior Designer Nicole Gibbons is here to set the record straight.

Jeans -- Every 4-5 Wears

While some say you should never wash your jeans, Nicole disagrees. She recommends washing them every four-five wears, and making sure to turn them inside out, wash on cold and never put them in the dryer.

Bras -- Every 3-4 Wears

To start with, Nicole says that you shouldn’t wear a bra more than two days in a row, to help it keep its shape. In terms of washing Nicole says to wash your bras by hand in the sink with a little gentle detergent every three-four wears. If you’re too busy to wash your bras by hand, Nicole says you should put them inside a mesh bag in the washer. And bras should never go in the dryer, they should dry flat.

Sheets -- Once per Week

Nicole says you should wash your sheets once a week in hot water to kill any germs that have accumulated, and recommends putting a tennis ball in the dryer with sheets to keep them fluffy.

Mattress -- Once Every Six Months

Now this is one you probably haven’t done. Nicole recommends vacuuming the top of your mattress once every six months to suck up all the dust mites and any other living organisms. If your mattress has any stains, just use a cloth and an upholstery shampoo to clean.

Your Purse -- Once a Week

Nicole says that bacteria can be found on your purse -- ew! She recommends wiping down the lining and the exterior of your purse with a disinfectant wipe once per week.

Your Dishwasher -- Once a Month

A dishwasher doesn’t seem like an obvious item that needs cleaning, but Nicole says that mold and fungus can grow inside that moist environment. She recommends putting a dishwasher-safe cup filled with vinegar on the top rack, and running a cycle on hot.

Which one of these recommendations surprised you most? Tell us in the comments.