How often do you wash your clothes? For some, doing the laundry feels like a boring chore, and one best put off until it really needs it. For others, it’s a regular staple of household duties, woven into the routine of everyday life to ensure you and your home remain clean and fresh.
There’s no denying that there are few better feelings than stepping out of the shower and drying yourself with a newly washed towel. Combine that with climbing into a bed that’s just been made up with fresh sheets and you’re onto a winner.
But just how often do we wash our clothes and bedding? And how frequently should we be doing the laundry? Luckily, the answers are at hand thanks to Hammonds, providers of fitted wardrobes, storage solutions and bedroom and kitchen furniture. A survey of 2,000 people threw up some interesting results…
Good night, sleep tight, hope the bed bugs don’t bite…
As we’ve already mentioned, wrapping yourself in clean, fresh bedding can prove the perfect end to any day. But remarkably, 30% of respondents said they washed their bedsheets only once a year – a far cry from the recommended once a week. Quite a shocking statistic – and one that could mean many are sharing their bed with dust mites and bed bugs, not to mention running the risk of fungal infections and skin irritation.
Sweating the small stuff
Thankfully, the numbers look slightly better when it comes to washing our underwear, with 80% of people claiming they do so after every use, as advised. But it seems men are less picky about putting on clean undies – 25% admit to washing them every five wears and a staggering 10% said they do so after 10 wears! The respective numbers for women stood at 13% and 3%.
Keeping it clean on Tyneside
So, where are the UK’s cleanest cities? Newcastle-upon-Tyne can lay a claim to being the best of the bunch, with 17% of residents washing each garment after just one wear. Of those living in Belfast, however, 15% claimed to wash their gym gear only once a year! The survey also found that 17% of 25 to 34-year-olds washed their clothes after each use, compared to 13% of those aged 65 and over.
Doing the laundry: some basic tips
So, it seems there are quite a few people not washing their clothes and bedding as often as they should. Here are a few fundamental tips when it comes to doing the laundry:
- Separate your clothes. You can differentiate between lights and darks, various fabrics and those which have been soiled with tougher stains such as food or mud.
- Don’t put too many in the machine at once, as this can prevent all items from getting washed evenly.
- Pick your washing tablets and fabric conditioner carefully – especially in houses with children or those with allergies.
- Delicate materials like silk are best washed in cold water. Items such as bedding, however, should be washed at higher temperatures to remove any bacteria.
Image credit – shutterstock.com/VGstockstudio
