Brits have revealed the top laundry blunders they have been guilty of making – with more than a quarter (27%) accidentally discolouring white clothing by putting a brightly-coloured garment in the same wash.
The most common laundry “fail”, according to almost half of 2,000 Brits polled, is leaving a tissue in a pocket, causing it to shred all over the rest of the laundry load.
One in four struggle to sort their lights and their darks – while a fifth have overfilled the machine, and a quarter are left baffled about which temperature setting to use for their washing load.
And one in three are unsure about what is supposed to go into each section of the washing machine drawers – with 18% putting detergents in the wrong drawers.
Meanwhile, almost half (46%) often make mistakes because they have trouble understanding the care labels on their clothes.
The research was commissioned by laundry experts Dr. Beckmann, which worked with Troy the Magician to reveal the true magic of getting your laundry habits right first time, by using the brand’s Magic Leaves.
Susan Fermor, a spokeswoman for the cleaning and laundry brand, said: “Doing the washing can be a troublesome task, as revealed by our “laundry list” of mishaps befalling Brits each day.
“And this is for good reason – for what may seem a simple task, there can be a lot of information to consider, from the washing machine settings to the laundry products you use, to the needs of the garments themselves.’’
Troy von Scheibner, a.k.a Troy the magician, said: “As a magician, my job is to help people see the magic in everyday life – and that includes the household activities we may see as a chore.
“I’m sure we can all agree that it’s important now more than ever to make sure we’re getting more for our money – and ensuring every product purchase goes as far as possible.”
The study also found 44% almost always use the same setting on their washing machine – because they have no idea what the other programmes are for.
And one in five (21%) frequently stick to hot washes, because they’re worried a cold wash won’t kill bacteria properly.
As for clothing materials which cause chore-bearers a headache, correctly cleaning wool was an issue for 27%, while 24% balk at the thought of getting a stain out of silk.
Cashmere, leather, and suede were also identified as nightmare materials to launder.
Despite being a deceptively simple task, and a part of everyday life, 46% admitted they find keeping their clothes clean an ongoing challenge.
And 44% court catastrophe by rarely checking the labels on their clothes before they disappear into the drum.
As a result of a laundry blunder, more than half (53%) have had to wash the same load of washing multiple times to get the desired result.
And these washing machine mishaps aren’t without casualties – with 54% admitting the need to throw garments away which have been ruined in the wash.
In fact, 43% even resist wearing one or more of the items of clothing in their wardrobe – because they are unsure about how to wash it.
The study, carried out via OnePoll, found 41% have had an item of clothing sacrificed to the washing machine by a partner who laundered it incorrectly.
And only 37% would trust their other half to do a good job of washing their favourite outfit.
Susan Fermor added: “Doing the laundry is a part of everyday life – but so, it seems, is a laundry mishap.
“Choosing the right product really can take the guesswork out of the washing – coupled with some basic knowledge about your machine, and any specific requirements for your garments.”
TOP 15 MOST COMMON LAUNDRY FAILS:
- Leaving a tissue in a pocket, resulting in pesky white fluff on clean laundry
- Putting a coloured item of clothing in the wash, causing discolouration to any white laundry
- Leaving loose change in a pocket and hearing it rattle in the drum
- Leaving wet clothes in the drum for a long time after a wash, causing odours
- Colour running from a garment and staining others
- Over-filling the drum, leading to a poor wash
- Turning clothes pink from a red item of clothing in the wash
- Washing on the wrong setting, and shrinking or ruining a garment
- Over-filling the drum, causing the washing machine to make a worrying sound
- Putting laundry detergents or fabric conditioners in the wrong drawer of the machine
- Washing on the wrong setting, and ruining a garment's shape
- Staining your clothes due to a dirty washing machine
- Over-filling the drum, meaning the washing machine leaks
- Damaging the absorbency of items by using too much fabric softener
- Leaving tech items, such as phones or earbuds, in a pocket
