What NASA Astronauts Do With Dirty Clothes On The ISS Is Shocking People

Dirty laundry aboard the ISS is one of those things that sounds like a prank until you realize it’s real. And when Redditors dug into NASA’s actual rules, the comments went from “that makes sense” to “I can’t un-know this.”

Here’s the twist, astronauts are not casually tossing sweaty shirts back on. The station is tightly controlled, but washing clothes is still a nightmare because of limited water and the way droplets behave in microgravity. So instead of scrubbing everything like you would at home, NASA relies on strict wear timelines and specialized gear to keep odor and bacteria from taking over.

It’s the kind of space detail that makes your brain pause, then immediately start imagining the “laundry day” that never happens.

Laundry is a tricky task for astronauts aboard the ISS

Now, before you cringe, it's worth noting that life aboard the ISS isn’t exactly like spending a week at a music festival. The station is a temperature-controlled, relatively clean environment.

Astronauts don’t sweat much, and dust and debris are tightly managed. So, while the idea of re-wearing clothes without washing might sound gross on Earth, it’s a little less intense up there.

Still, it’s not a free-for-all. NASA has guidelines for how long each item should last. Typically, one polo shirt is expected to survive about 15 days of use. Underwear? Three days. After that, it's headed for atmospheric incineration.

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That’s when the whole “they don’t wash, so what do they do” panic started, after Redditors compared polo shirts and underwear timelines to what we’re used to on Earth.

To help extend the wear time and reduce odor and bacterial growth, some companies have developed special clothes just for space. Japanese brand BEAMS, for example, designed garments for astronaut Soichi Noguchi’s mission in 2020. These weren’t just stylish; more importantly, they were made with quick-drying, antibacterial, and deodorizing materials.

Even with these innovations, space fashion is still governed by utility. Everyday wear like shirts and socks is disposable, but more complex or expensive gear, like spacesuits, is sent back to Earth for cleaning, repairs, or further testing.

Then the story got even weirder, because NASA’s guidelines are oddly specific, underwear gets about three days before it’s headed for atmospheric incineration.

The Reality of Space Hygiene

Living in microgravity presents unique challenges, including hygiene management. Astronauts must adapt to limited resources, where washing clothes isn't feasible due to water scarcity and the complexities of floating water droplets in space.

Instead, astronauts use special garments designed for long-term wear and odour management. These insights underline the importance of innovation in materials science to create sustainable clothing for space missions, contributing to both astronaut health and the environment.

And if you’re wondering about “fairness,” this is similar to the sibling fight over asking a sister to pay more rent for property taxes.

They just don’t do it.

The topic recently made waves online after curious Redditors discovered the reality of astronaut laundry. The reactions ranged from impressed to horrified.

“I was wondering how they didn't get UTIs and boils and whatnot this way,” one user wrote. “Makes sense that they have a special antibacterial requirement for their clothes.”

Another added, “When I was a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut so badly, but the more I learn about their lives, the more I'm glad I didn’t pursue that career. Well, that, and I’m pretty stupid.”

A third asked the question we’re all thinking: “Alright, but how many outfits do they bring? I mean, can you identify an astronaut who’s been in space for too long by whether or not they’re naked?”

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And just when people thought it was all gross re-wearing, the article brought up BEAMS gear for astronaut Soichi Noguchi in 2020, designed to dry fast and fight odor.

In recent years, NASA has been looking into more sustainable ways to manage clothing hygiene in space. In 2022, they teamed up with Tide to explore the possibility of washing clothes onboard. Tide responded by creating a fully biodegradable detergent designed to work in low-water environments like the ISS.

While the solution is still being tested, it could eventually allow astronauts to wash and reuse their clothes, cutting down on waste, launch weight, and those flaming loads of dirty laundry.

Until then, space hygiene will continue to be one of those weird-but-necessary compromises astronauts have to make. Every part of daily life in space, down to how you wash your socks, gets more complicated when you’re 250 miles above Earth.

Finally, the shock landed harder than expected, because the expensive stuff like spacesuits does not stay up there, it gets shipped back for cleaning, repairs, and testing.</p>

This method prevents the buildup of bacteria and other contaminants, which could pose health risks.

The complexities of managing laundry aboard the International Space Station highlight the often-overlooked challenges astronauts encounter daily. The article sheds light on the innovative solutions required when traditional hygiene methods become impractical in a zero-gravity environment. Astronauts are forced to adapt their routines, relying on creative approaches to cleanliness that would seem shocking to those accustomed to Earthly comforts.

Looking ahead, the ongoing research into materials science and waste management takes on critical importance. The article suggests that advancements in biodegradable fabrics and efficient recycling systems could not only enhance astronauts' quality of life in space but also establish valuable sustainable practices that could benefit life on Earth. This dual focus on innovation in space could pave the way for a more sustainable future, both in orbit and on our home planet.

Nobody expects ISS laundry to be a schedule, but once you know the rules, you can’t unsee the countdown.

Still cringing at the ISS laundry rules? See why one person refused their reckless-driving sister’s car.