How Often Do You Really Need To Wash Your Coats And Gloves?

We launder our indoor clothes daily, but outerwear gets neglected. Doctors weigh in on the health risks and suggest a washing frequency.

Before tossing on a beanie or layering up with your puffer jacket, think about how much of the outside world it has touched ― public transportation, shared seating and lots of other potentially gross surfaces. And for some weird reason, most of us don’t launder them nearly as often as our regular clothes, if at all.

If you’re part of the 38% of people who only wash their coats once a year or less — or the 28% who wash their scarves with that same frequency — there’s good news, according to Dr. Thomas A. Russo, chief of the University at Buffalo’s division of infectious diseases.