According to Mumsnet, it's normal now to wash every garment after it's been worn once and towels are washed (on a very hot programme) every time they're used.
Apart from the waste of water and power, I don't know how busy working parents keep up with these mountains of laundry.
When I was a child we changed our clothes twice a week and my mother washed once weekly. My school skirt and cardigan got washed in the holidays. My own children wore a clean cotton frock every day but winter clothes were worn several times before washing. Pyjamas and towels once a week, bedding fortnightly.
I don't think we were any dirtier then, we all bathed daily, which children don't do any more. Nor did we ever get the threadworms, headlice and constant infections which are endemic now.
