Brits are living out of their laundry pile, with nearly a third (29%) of people letting their clothes pile up for a month or more before putting them away, while a staggering 83% admit a ‘sniff test’ is enough to decide if an item is fresh enough to wear. A new study by garment care specialists Philips has revealed that over eight in ten (86%) don’t put clothes in the wardrobe after washing, with many resorting to what garment care experts have dubbed the tower of terror - a chair buried in a mountain of clothes.
As well as the chair, Brits dump their clothes on the stairs (24%), floor (13%) and desk (12%), with those aged between 18-24 being the most likely to forgo the wardrobe. And as well as clogging up the house with stacks of laundry, Brits are doing anything they can to avoid putting a wash on.
Over one in 10 Brits (12%), confess to wearing a T-shirt up to four times before washing it. Almost a third (28%) believe underwear is good for two wears before needing a wash, and a shocking five percent admit they will wear their underwear SIX times before tossing it in the laundry basket.
It seems Brits have become so oblivious to their clothing habits that as much as a third (31%) of the nation regularly steps out in unironed clothes. In fact, 25% say they would happily attend a job interview in creased attire.
Ironing apathy appears to be a significant factor in Brits’ laundry routine with over a quarter (26%) opting to hang clothes in the bathroom to allow the steam to remove creases. Other quick fixes include using a garment spray (80%) to freshen up clothes or hanging them outside (30%).
Philips’ in-house product expert Lamprini Fameli says: "It’s clear that Brits are falling out of love with their laundry routine, leaving clothes unironed and stacked around the house for weeks or months at a time.
"Our findings show that ironing can be time consuming, so if you’re looking to avoid the dreaded tower of terror in your home, why not invest in a steam generator iron, which can dramatically cut the time it takes for you to iron large batches of clothes."
"If ironing isn’t for you, no problem. A handheld steamer is the best way to freshen up individual items."
She added that steaming was the best way to bring creased or stale clothes back to life by relaxing the fibres in the garment and eliminating up to 99.9% of bacteria. After a quick steam, your clothes will be de-wrinkled and refreshed, without the hassle of setting up an ironing board, she said.
