We are sad to bring you the grossest news you will likely hear today. A third of people in the UK only wash their bed sheets once a year.
One time. In a whole year.
The research, based on a survey of 2,000 conducted by Hammonds Furniture, found that Brits are falling behind when it comes to keeping up with washing. One in three (30%) admitted to washing their bedding just once a year, a habit which experts say can lead to bacteria build-ups, itchy skin, and mites.
And our gross habits don’t stop at the bed sheets. 36% of Brits only wash blankets once a year, and 18% admitted to only washing jeans annually.
Winter garments like scarves, gloves and hats were also rarely washed, even though gloves can very easily pick up germs, and dirt and oil can quickly get trapped in scarves and hats.
Really, they should be washed after every five to ten wears – particularly in this era of frequent hand washing and the emphasis on personal hygiene.
People are cleaner when it comes to their towels – 40% of people wash these after each use, with 45% ensuring they are washed after five uses.
Dr Aragona Giuseppe, GP and Medical Advisor at Prescription Doctor claims that changing your bed sheets once a week is best for optimum cleanliness.
‘Washing your clothing items and bedsheets regularly is important for overall cleanliness and ensuring your body remains clean and healthy,’ says Dr Guiseppe. ‘If you do not wash clothing items often you could be at risk of infection or just feeling and smelling unclean.
‘Bed sheets and pillowcases should be washed as if they are dirty this could promote acne, spots and other skin issues due to the dirty bacteria on the sheets transferring to your skin.’
When it comes to underwear, thankfully most of us are not quite as disgusting – 80% wash garments after every wear, but there are significant gender differences.
A quarter of men admitted to washing their underwear after every five washes, compared to just 13% of women.
Worryingly, one in ten men (10%) of men claimed to wash their underwear after every 10 washes, compared to just 3% of women.
But women tend to be less vigilant with their bras. Most women (55%) claim to wash their bra after five wears, with 17% claiming to wash it after every wear. A further 6% clean their bra after 10 wears or more.
According to Persil, washing a bra after every use can actually weaken the elastic and shorten the lifespan. They recommend washing an everyday bras after three to four wears.
Frankly, we can’t get over the fact that only 80% of people wash their pants after every wear… why isn’t that number 100%?
So, whether it’s bedding, underwear or your winter gloves – which camp do you fall in to?
Do you have a story to share? We want to hear from you.
Get in touch: metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/10/16/a-third-of-people-only-wash-their-bed-sheets-once-a-year-13431864/
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