Why Astronauts Never Wash Their Clothes

Astronauts have a pretty good reason for not washing their clothes – it's all about saving water! In space, every drop of water is precious, so they can't afford to waste it on laundry. Instead, they wear their clothes until they get too dirty or smelly, then simply discard them. These used clothes become part of the space junk orbiting Earth. To keep fresh, astronauts often wear multiple layers, sort of like a never-ending fashion show with undergarments. And when they're done with a piece of clothing, it's disposed of during reentry, where it burns up in the Earth's atmosphere. 🚀👕🌌 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices