Created: 05/12/2009 7:46 AM KSTP.com | Print Story By: Art Barron

BARRON: Sweaters, jeans, and hoodies... do they really need to be washed daily?

I'm venting again. every time I go through the laundry room there is a mound of clothes. No, they're not mine. I usually have a load every week. Yes, you're right, the pile belongs to my daughter. I'm wondering if she doesn't want to fold them, then they end up back in the proverbial pile. I get stressed out. I tell her, she needs to fold them, and when it comes to jeans and sweaters, she should wear them two or three times. Unless she's wrestling with a bull in the mud, there is no reason she has to wash these things each time she wears them.

If you're a parent I'm sure you can relate. I tell her repeatedly it's wasting energy and money... not to mention the wear and tear on the machines. Also, laundry detergent is expensive. It's one of those things where you can say it til you're blue in the face. I get her response, "it's getting warmer outside and I sweat" Hey, it's not that warm. and sweaters need not be washed every time.(Sweaters should be dry cleaned maybe every couple of months) One time, she piled jeans, sweatshirts, sweatpants, and a couple of sweaters on top of the washer. Oh my God!!! I had personally washed those same items the day before. I simply folded them, put them in her room. I don't think she noticed, because they were already clean!

I'm thinking of charging her two dollar fee for every load from now on... and enforcing it. That would take care of the cost of the detergent, and energy. I also tell her it wears out her clothes. Oops, I forgot, teens love that faded look.

Wow, if you have any thoughts, e-mail me. abarron@kstp.com