How often to wash everything

Honest intervals for the things nobody agrees on: sheets, towels, jeans, gym kit and the rest. Knowing the number is the easy part.

How often to wash common household items, with the symbol each is normally washed under
Item	How often
Bedsheets	WeeklyChange the pillowcase sooner; it does most of the work
Towels	Every 3 or 4 usesSpread it to dry, never bunched on a hook
Jeans	When they smell or sagDaily workwear far sooner; raw denim far later
Bras	Every 2 to 3 wearsRotate them; the elastic needs a day to recover
Gym kit	Every wearNever leave it damp in the bag
Pillows	Twice a year, if it can be washedMemory foam and latex cannot be; spot clean and air those instead

Intervals are a sensible default, not a rule. Sooner is right after illness, in high summer, or whenever it simply feels time. Half of these turn out to be decided by what happens between washes, which is worth ten minutes if the numbers are not doing it for you.