Top of the grots: 20% of men in the UK admit to only washing their underwear after a WEEK of wearing them
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A new study revealed how often Brits wash their clothes & underwear and came up with some unexpected results.
Contrary to women, who change their underwear after every wear, 20% of UK men change their underwear after wearing them for a week!
If cleanliness is next to godliness, then the UK is living in sin as a new study into the laundry habits of the nation reveals that 20 % of men will wear their underwear for a week before washing it.
The study, by white goods and electrical retailer Currys, asked how often Brits wash certain items of clothing. The survey of over 2000 UK residents revealed that although the majority (54%) said they wash their underwear after each wear, a shocking 1 in 5 men admit to washing their undies after wearing them for a week and 5% will stretch this to 2 to 3 weeks of wear. This in stark contrast to the women who answered, with 81% washing after every wear and only 9% after a week of wearing.
Luckily the same study revealed that most (49%) wash themselves daily, minimising the bacteria build up on their clothing, however in the case of underwear, it is always recommended that it is washed after each wear.
As for PJs, 44% will wear the same pair for a week before throwing them in the wash, while over a quarter (26%) prefer a fresh pair after just two wears.
To help Brits stay fresh when it comes to their laundry, Currys have built a tool which analyses lifestyle habits in order to give the recommended wash frequency of certain items, such as bras, towels, pillowcases and jeans. You can try the tool for yourself here: https://www.currys.co.uk/techtalk/kitchen-and-home/laundry-advice/oops-i-wore-it-again.html
Cost of washing crisis: Energy price rises are forcing Brits to cut costs of laundry
As gross as it may seem, the low frequency of washing may be due to trying to cut costs amid the cost-of-living crisis and energy price hike in the UK. The survey showed that 36% of people in the UK have had to change their washing habits due to rising costs, with 50% now consciously washing at a lower temperature and generally using the washing machine less to help cut costs. Plus, 32% have resorted to switching to cheaper washing products over their typical brands.
However, the data revealed that there are more savings to be had. Over half of respondents could save 40% of the energy used by their washing machine each year just by lowering their washing machine temperature, as 54% admit to using temperatures over 30C to do their laundry.
You can see the full study and the washing frequency tool here: https://www.currys.co.uk/techtalk/kitchen-and-home/laundry-advice/oops-i-wore-it-again.html
