Most couples find themselves doing between 3 and 6 loads of laundry per week. That’s the quick answer. But the real number depends on your lifestyle, how often you rewear clothes, and whether you outsource big-ticket items like bedding or towels.

Laundry isn’t just about dirty socks—it’s about routine, habits, and the invisible mental load of keeping life fresh and presentable. Anyone who’s ever stared at an overflowing basket on a Sunday night knows the feeling.

How many loads do two people actually need?

On average, two adults create:

• Clothing: 2–4 loads per week (work clothes, gym gear, casual wear)

• Towels: 1 load per week (more if you hit the gym or swim often)

• Bedding: 1 load every 1–2 weeks

• Odd extras: kitchen cloths, tea towels, maybe a doona cover in winter

So while the textbook answer is 3–6 loads, in practice you might find yourself closer to 7–8 loads in certain weeks if you’re active or live in a humid climate.

What factors change the number of loads?

Laundry isn’t a fixed equation—it’s influenced by behaviour and environment.

• Workwear vs casual: Tradies in dusty worksites will go through more shirts than someone working from home in trackies.

• Fitness habits: Gym-goers often double their weekly washing.

• Seasonality: In winter, heavier clothes mean bulkier loads. In summer, it’s sweat-soaked shirts needing frequent washes.

• Rewear tolerance: Some people happily rewear jeans three times. Others won’t touch them twice.

Behavioural science calls this the framing effect—we judge laundry “burden” not by the actual hours but how it feels compared to our expectations. If your mates only do three loads, suddenly your six feels excessive.

Is it better to do small loads or save for a big wash?

This is where the trade-off between efficiency and convenience kicks in.

• Small loads: Use more water and energy per kilo but give you fresh clothes more often.

• Big loads: Save resources but mean longer drying times and more folding in one sitting.

Many Aussies compromise with “category loads”—one for towels, one for clothes, one for bedding. That taps into Cialdini’s principle of consistency: when the system feels predictable, the habit sticks.

What about laundromats?

Here’s a cultural quirk: while most Australians have a washing machine at home, laundromats are making a comeback in inner suburbs. Not just for renters without machines, but for time-poor couples who’d rather smash out six loads in an hour using commercial dryers.

In fact, laundromats can be more energy-efficient. According to Choice, commercial washers often use less water per kilo of clothes than older home machines.

Anyone who’s washed a king-size doona in a front-loader at home knows the pain—half an hour of trying to stuff it in before giving up and heading down the street.

FAQs

How many loads of laundry does the average person do per week?
Roughly 3–4 loads for one person, so about 6–8 for two if you’re active or wash bedding weekly.

Should I wash towels every time I use them?
Not necessary. Every 3–4 uses is fine, unless it’s humid and they don’t dry properly.

What’s the best day to do laundry?
Most Aussies batch it on weekends, but behavioural research suggests weekday “micro-loads” reduce overwhelm and procrastination.

Final thoughts

Laundry may never feel glamorous, but understanding the true number of loads per week for two people helps you set realistic routines—and maybe even negotiate who’s on folding duty. For couples living in smaller apartments, or anyone without a dryer, a quick trip to a laundromat near me can make the whole process faster and less frustrating.