A survey has uncovered that an alarming number of people wash their bedsheets only once a year or less.
There's no better sensation than slipping into bed after a long day to unwind and get the rest you need. Clean and freshly scented bedsheets enhance this experience, yet a survey has shown that not everyone realizes this. Specifically, Hammonds Furniture asked 2,000 Brits about their laundry habits, and the results were quite astonishing. Up to 30 percent admitted they wash their bedding once a year or less, and 38 percent said the same for their coats.
Experts warn that such poor hygiene practices can increase the risk of infections, acne, and body odor.
Hammonds Furniture's survey found that a third of British adults confess to washing their bedsheets only once annually.
Dr. Aragona Giuseppe, a General Practitioner and Medical Advisor at Prescription Doctor, stated:
If you do not wash clothing items often you could be at risk of infection or just feeling and smelling unclean. Bedsheets and pillowcases should be washed because 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.
The survey revealed that poor hygiene practices extend beyond just bedding. More than a quarter of respondents reported washing their cushions and blankets only once a year, and 18 percent said the same for their jeans.
Regarding underwear, the majority of women indicated they wash their undergarments after each wear, whereas a quarter of men confessed to doing so every five wears.
It was determined that these inadequate hygiene habits are not limited solely to bedding.
Interestingly, the survey also showed that millennials are the cleanest generation, with 17 percent laundering their clothing after each wear. Conversely, individuals aged 65 and above have the lowest percentage, with only 13 percent doing so.
Kirsty Oakes, Head of Product and Marketing at Hammonds Furniture, stated:
“We all have those items on our life laundry to-do lists that we put off, and for some people that can literally be the washing! Especially now that so many of us are working from home and can go for days without seeing people outside our own household, it can be tempting to put the washing off even more.However, keeping clean is now more important than ever, and that also goes for our clothes, blankets, and bedsheets.If you’ve found yourself washing things less often than is recommended then set aside time each week to do your washing and try to always stick to it. Make the effort to wear clean, fresh clothes each day (even if you are working from home) and just remember how amazing fresh sheets feel when you climb into bed!”
