I maintain six complete outfits, but for a different reason than your rule of 12 (I am in a 2 person household). Still being in the workplace, and working a 5 day week, if I have 6 complete outfits and wear them in a fixed sequence: it means I don’t wear the same thing twice each week, and I don’t get into the pattern of having a day specific outfit (e.g. a ‘monday’ outfit). In any given year, I work with about 2500 people, and most of them are seen only on a specific day of the week. I don’t want them to think I always wear the same outfit– not so much to be the fashion hound (clearly not me), but because I don’t want them to have doubts about my hygiene. I had a boss who wear the same clothes for about 2-3 weeks before changing– I had doubts about his hygiene. Also by using this system, when something wears out I know exactly what I need to buy as a replacement.

Sure, it’s rigid, OCD, and nerdy– but why be ashamed of who you are! I suspect that at least some people will read this and laugh, and that’s ok, a good laugh is good for you. Cheers.

I’ve never heard of washing clothes before you go to bed and letting them airdry through the night. Brilliant.

I like this idea but I advocate more socks if you have any foot health issues. It’s amazing how many nagging foot problems (fungus, athletes foot, eczema, etc.) are solved by having 3 or 4 weeks of socks available and wearing a clean dry pair every day and always changing them out if they get wet or too sweaty. I have a sock drawer stuffed with identical white cotton socks. No idea how many pairs.

One more thing: in my experience a night is not enough to airdry clothes, unless the weather helps out. I do this while travelling…

@Concojones – The precise number depends on the precise size of your washing machine. It was 12 for me when I was single. (I don’t own the exact number myself at all times but it’s the number I converge to.)

@Tyler – Storage space and the ability to follow “fashion” and perhaps more importantly age while still wearing the clothes out. But yes, as a blogger, the most important thing is to say “hah! I’m more minimalist than you!” 🙂

Just an idea. If you had three sets of clothes you could wear a set of clothes, wash them before you go to bed, and then air dry them over the course of the next two days while you wear the other sets of clothing (because, at least for me, it takes about two days to air dry clothes inside my apartment).

@Jacob: thanks for the reply.
@thatgeorge: brilliant – should’ve thought about that!

Hey, Jacob. What’s your philosophy on quality vs. quantity with clothing? I tend to buy my clothes at two extremes. I either buy the cheapest thing I can buy (we live near several great thrift stores, and I tend to shop there), or I pay a premium to get quality. So, for example, I own several expensive wool t-shirts. I LOVE THEM. LOVE LOVE LOVE. I’ve never loved clothing before, but my $50 wool t-shirts? They’re fantastic. They’re warm in the cold weather, but cool in the warm weather. And — best of all — I can wear them for days (or weeks!) without them stinking. Seriously. I figure my cost per wear on these expensive t-shirts is much lower than a standard cotton t-shirt purchased at, say, Costco (which is where I used to buy a lot of my clothes). I’m not sure if they’re cheaper than buying t-shirts at a thrift store, but they’re comparable probably. And did I mention I LOVE THEM? I’m willing to pay a little extra for that. (But, best of all, I got a bunch of them for $15 at a warehouse sale last autumn.)

Anyhow — I can’t make up my mind whether I’m just rationalizing or not…

I think that once I retire I will have a very minimal wardrobe–I suspect something along the line of 3 pairs of shorts, 5 T-shirts, 1 pair jeans, 1 pair sweatpants, underwear, bras, several bathing suits (plan to live very near a beach), sweatshirt, and one decent outfit for dress up. I have no problem wearing the same thing for several days if I’m not going to see people.

But right now I’m working, and I kind of go toward the other end. I have enough clothes and underwear to get me through three weeks of work. I don’t do laundry all that often. I think there’s an argument to be made that in some ways it makes sense to have more clothes and do laundry less often, from the perspective of costs for water and electricity, etc. as well as time spent doing laundry. (I loved it when my dryer conked out a few years ago… I just took my stuff to the Laundromat, and could run 3 or 4 washers at the same time and get it all done at once. Plus great people watching at the Laundromat!).

I’m not really sure I see the point. Most washing machines can be set for large loads or small ones. So how much you wants to do depends on how long you want to spend folding clothes. Or how much you like clothes. But if you really want to save money dispense with the washer and dryer and do them by hand. Some places still sell washboards. Or you can do it by foot. Get yourself a wash basin, fill it wit water half way, add clothes and detergent. Put it on the ground and step it with bare feet inside and start marching in place. Do this for about 20 – 30 minutes. Then empty the basin and fill it half way with fresh water. March in place again about 15 minutes. Then replace the water again and repeat. You may have to do the rinse cycle a third time but not usually. Then hang your clothes up to dry. It helps to listen to energetic music while you’re doing this.

Jacob – it could have been me writing previously, that rinses my clothing out in the bath or shower and then hangs in the shower. I even do this with jeans. The next day I move them to a warm, dry place, like whatever heater I am using, the line, or a sunny window. Now-a-days I live in a travel trailer and it is still easy.

When I traveled with babies in the 70s, I washed diapers out each night and strung across the room. It was no big deal. If I fed them enough oatmeal, they had firm poops that just rolled out of the diaper without soiling it.

Eating junky food increases body odor.

I use a silk camping sheet and a piece of muslin for a towel, because they wash and dry so easily, and I can scrunch up the muslin and do skin brushing while drying off, or skip the towel and air dry, even in the winter.

I keep working toward never having to actually “do laundry.” And I use less fossil fuel this way, and avoid people and all their chemical fragrances.