If cleanliness is next to godliness, then the UK is living in sin as a recent study by Currys looked into the laundry habits of the nation reveals that 20% of men will wear their underwear for a week before washing it.
The study exposed that 62% of London residents diligently wash their underwear after each wear, while 1 in 6 individuals (16%) admit to extending this to a week, and 5% will further stretch this practice to 2 to 3 weeks of wear!
When it comes to washing undergarments in London, 28% of women prefer the weekly ritual of washing their bras, ensuring both cleanliness and longevity. When it came to PJs, 45% of respondents admit to comfortably wearing the same pair for an entire week before putting them in the washing machine. Surprisingly, a further 10% of individuals exhibit an even more leisurely approach, choosing to launder their PJs merely once a month.
Delving into personal hygiene habits 45% of residents in London proudly adhere to the daily ritual of cleansing themselves, making some less frequent washing habits acceptable- underwear aside. 15% wash 4-6 times a week, 26% wash themselves 2-3 times a week, while 5% admit to washing themselves only once per week.
How does this compare to the rest of the UK?
The study found that, for the UK as a whole, the majority (54%) said they wash their underwear after each wear, while 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 is 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.
A (gross) study found the average pair of adult underwear contains 0.1g of faeces in, with this building with each wear- washing machine temperatures of just 30°C and 40°C are not enough to get rid of this, which can cause this bacteria to spread across other laundry in the wash, such as tea towels, pillow cases and more. Nothing under 60°C will kill bacteria, which is why soiled items like bath towels, hand towels and underwear should be wash separately at 60°C.
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/
