How many T-shirts cover a week

Short answer: Five to seven T-shirts cover a week with a weekly wash. With fewer, you have to wash twice a week, and they wear out faster because each shirt goes through the machine more often.

Count days, not mood

Count the days between two washes and add two for safety. If you wash every Sunday, that gives seven to nine. If you wear a shirt with a collar on some days, subtract those. The same goes for base layers such as bamboo undershirts for men, where you use a fresh one daily.

More pieces mean fewer washes per piece

With seven T-shirts, each is washed only once a week, and they last almost twice as long as with three. It is the washing more than the wearing that strains fabric and seams. Spread it over more pieces and each one lasts longer. The same rule applies to bamboo joggers for men.

Two base colours make choosing easy

Black and white, or two other colours that go with everything, make mornings quick. You do not need to think about what matches, and every T-shirt works with every pair of trousers. They are also easy to wash together in a few loads. See the range in clothing for men.

Think about your week

A week of office, training and weekend does not need the same as a week on a building site. With physical work or frequent training, you may change twice a day. Then you need more. Consider what a typical week looks like for you and work from that rather than a fixed number.

Fit matters more than quantity

Five T-shirts that fit well get worn. Ten that pull or are too long stay in the drawer. Find one model you like and buy several of it. Then you know they all fit the same, and you do not have to guess when you buy more. It also makes rotation easier, because every one gets used.

Wash gently and inside out

T-shirts last longest when washed at a low temperature, turned inside out. The outer side is spared friction in the machine, and the colour keeps better. Use a mild dose of detergent and skip the tumble dryer if you can. Hang them on a hanger to dry, and they fall neatly and rarely need ironing.

Replace gradually

When a T-shirt starts to thin or loses its shape at the neck, it is time to replace it. Take one out and put a new one in, rather than swapping the whole stack at once. They then do not wear out together, and you always have a few that look new. The cost is spread more evenly too.

Keep them visible

In a tall stack, the top T-shirt gets worn again and again. Lay them side by side or rolled in the drawer instead, so you see them all. You then naturally take the next in line. Rotation stays even, and all your T-shirts wear at the same rate over the year.

Frequently asked questions

Is seven too many

No, as long as they are worn in turn. Above ten, the bottom ones tend to sit unused, and then you get nothing out of them.

How long does a T-shirt last

Two to four years with weekly wear and cold washing, depending on how often it goes in the machine and how it is dried.

Do you need more in summer

Yes, in warm spells people often change daily and sometimes twice a day, so a few extra is a good idea.