The bizarre truth about how astronauts deal with dirty clothes on the International Space Station will blow your mind

Economic Times

2 days ago

TIL Creatives Astronauts aboard the International Space Station don't do laundry—instead, they wear clothes until they're too soiled, then eject them to burn up in Earth's atmosphere.
When you imagine life aboard the International Space Station, you probably picture zero-gravity acrobatics, awe-inspiring views of Earth, and high-tech gear floating through futuristic modules. What you might not picture, however, is the simple, yet startling question: how do astronauts do their laundry? The answer is as bizarre as space travel itself—and it's turning heads online. Contrary to what Earthlings might expect, astronauts don't have access to washing machines or even manual laundry buckets. There's no rinse cycle in orbit. In fact, worn clothes aboard the ISS are never washed at all. Once garments become too filthy to endure, astronauts do what only astronauts can—they throw them out. Quite literally.
Used clothing is packed into cargo spacecrafts which are eventually directed to burn up during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. That's right—astronaut underwear and sweat-stained polos become shooting stars in the sky. It's an unconventional solution, but given the precious water supply and the impracticality of hauling detergent into orbit, it's the only viable option—at least for now. Fortunately, conditions aboard the ISS help mitigate the grime. The station is temperature-controlled, limiting how much astronauts actually sweat. It's a sterile, sealed environment—no dirt, rain, or backyard chores to ruin an outfit. That said, astronauts still have to make every item count. Typically, each crew member brings just one polo shirt for every 15 days and one pair of underwear for every three.
To stretch cleanliness further, NASA partners with apparel companies to develop space-grade garments. These aren't your everyday clothes—they're antibacterial, absorbent, quick-drying, and odor-resistant. In one case, Japanese brand BEAMS designed specially engineered garments for astronaut Soichi Noguchi's extended mission in 2020. These outfits are built to fight odor and bacteria, helping astronauts avoid infections and stay as fresh as possible without a single rinse.
When Redditors caught wind of the ISS laundry routine, reactions ranged from fascination to disbelief. Some questioned the hygiene implications, while others simply shuddered at the lifestyle. 'I was wondering how they didn't get UTIs and boils,' one user commented, relieved to learn about the antibacterial clothing requirement. Another added humorously, 'When I was a kid I wanted to be an astronaut so badly. Now? Not so much.' Some were more curious: 'How many outfits do they bring?' one person asked. 'Can you identify an astronaut who's been up there too long by whether or not they're naked?' As absurd as burning clothes may sound, NASA and Tide are working on a cleaner, more sustainable solution. In 2022, the detergent giant joined forces with the space agency to develop a fully degradable laundry detergent—formulated specifically for space. Their goal? To make laundry in microgravity a real possibility, even with minimal water use. If successful, future astronauts could enjoy the luxury of clean clothes without having to incinerate them in Earth's atmosphere. So, the next time you toss your laundry into the washer, be grateful. Up in space, even that humble chore requires rocket science.