Quick summary: Recent findings reveal a significant disparity between British laundry habits and hygiene standards, with both men and women wearing items like underwear and socks for three days despite expert recommendations for daily changes. This lapse in sanitation increases the risk of bacterial infections and skin irritation, highlighting a critical need for public health awareness regarding regular laundering to maintain personal well being. Adopting professional advice on washing frequencies and gentle cleaning techniques not only supports better healthcare outcomes but also improves garment longevity and reduces environmental impact through more efficient home maintenance.
A new report from clothing retailer Jacamo has examined how often British adults wash their clothes, bedding and towels, highlighting gaps between everyday habits and expert hygiene advice. The study, which surveyed 1,006 UK adults in March 2026, follows up on a similar Jacamo survey conducted a decade ago to see whether habits have improved.
How long brits wear or use items before washing
The average number of days before washing, compared to expert recommendations
- Underwear: Men and women, 3 days. Experts recommend after 1 wear.
- Socks: Men and women, 3 days. Experts recommend after 1 wear.
- T-shirts: Men, 6 days; women, 4 days. Experts recommend after 1–2 wears.
- Pyjamas: Men, 6 days; women, 5 days. Experts recommend after 3–4 wears.
- Towels: Men, 7 days; women, 5 days. Experts recommend after 3–4 uses.
- Sweatshirts or hoodies: Men, 9 days; women, 6 days. Experts recommend after 5–7 wears.
- Sportswear: Men, 5 days; women, 11 days. Experts recommend after 1 wear.
- Trousers: Men, 11 days; women, 8 days. Experts recommend after 4–6 wears.
- Bedding: Men, 14 days; women, 13 days. Experts recommend every 7–14 days.
- Jeans: Men, 15 days; women, 14 days. Experts recommend after 5–10 wears.
- Vests: Men, 17 days; women, 13 days. Experts recommend after 1–2 wears.
- Bath mat: Men, 34 days; women, 30 days. Experts recommend every 1–2 weeks.
- Dressing gown: Men, 52 days; women, 35 days. Experts recommend every 1–2 weeks if worn regularly.
- Suits: Men, 97 days; women, 60 days. Experts recommend every 4–6 wears, dry cleaned only when needed.
- Jackets or coats: Men, 121 days; women, 115 days. Experts recommend once or twice per season, or when visibly dirty.
Underwear and socks changed far less than recommended
Just over half of men surveyed (56.2%) say they usually stay on top of their laundry, while 34.4% admit they sometimes let it pile up and 8.2% confess to avoiding it for as long as possible. However, the data tells a different story on hygiene.
British men now change their underwear every three days on average, an improvement on the 2016 findings but still well below the recommended daily change needed to prevent bacteria build-up and conditions such as thrush and UTIs. Women reported the same pattern, also averaging three days between changes. In extreme cases, women said they have gone up to five days without changing socks, compared to seven days for men.
Pyjamas are changed every six days on average by men, with some admitting to going as long as 13 days. Dressing gowns fare worse, washed just once every 52 days by men on average.
Gym wear and everyday clothing
Sportswear habits show a notable gender gap. Women wash gym wear after 11 wears on average, compared to five for men, despite advice to wash it after every sweaty workout.
Quality expert Carole advises: “Ideally, gym clothes should be washed after every wear, but that does not mean using a hot or intensive cycle. A 30°C wash is usually enough to keep them fresh. It is also best to avoid fabric softener with activewear, as it can affect how breathable and moisture-wicking the fabric is. Likewise, air drying makes a real difference, as high heat can damage stretch fabrics and cause them to lose shape more quickly. Making small changes like this helps your kit last longer and reduces overall energy use.”
Among everyday items, men wear jeans for around 15 days before washing, with some going as long as 30 days. T-shirts stay in rotation for six wears on average for men and four for women. Vests are particularly overlooked, cleaned just every 17 days on average by men. Hoodies and sweatshirts are washed roughly every nine days.
For jeans, Carole recommends washing every 5–10 wears unless there is visible dirt, turning them inside out and using a cold cycle to protect colour and fabric. She also advises against spot cleaning, as it can cause uneven fading, and suggests skipping the tumble dryer in favour of line drying to help denim maintain its shape.
Suits and coats
Men wash their suits only once every 97 days on average. Carole cautions against over-cleaning: “Suits do not need frequent cleaning, as over-cleaning can actually shorten their lifespan. Dry cleaning is best kept occasional, for example after several wears or when there is a visible mark. In between, simply airing your suit and brushing it down will help keep it looking smart. Using a steamer is an effective way to refresh the fabric and remove creases without relying on dry cleaning, while storing suits properly on good hangers and in suit bags helps them maintain their shape and last longer.”
Coats and jackets go even longer between washes, with British men cleaning them every 121 days on average.
Bedding, towels and bath mats
Men change their towels around once a week on average, compared to every five days for women. Bedding is washed approximately every two weeks by most men, though some reported going up to 31 days without changing sheets and 7.5% admitted leaving it as long as 3–5 months.
Bath mats are cleaned even less frequently, with men averaging once every 34 days and women every 30 days. Men reported going as long as 57 days without washing a bath mat.
Carole recommends washing bedding every 1–2 weeks and using towels 3–4 times before laundering. She also cautions against overloading the machine: “This can prevent items from being washed properly and cause fabrics to wear out more quickly. Using too much detergent or softener may also leave residue on fibres and reduce their softness over time, while air drying where possible is gentler on fabrics and helps to cut down on energy use.”
Who does the laundry
Almost three-quarters of men (73.5%) said they handle laundry themselves, while 21.5% said it was their partner’s job and 3% said their mum did it. For women, 89.3% take care of their own laundry, with just 4.8% leaving it to a partner. Overall, more than a quarter of men (26.3%) rely on someone else for laundry, compared to just 1 in 10 women (10.7%).
How men decide when to wash
When asked what prompts them to do laundry, men cited the following
- Routine or habit: 59%
- Visible dirt or stains: 54.6%
- How sweaty they feel: 53.6%
- The smell test: 45.9%
- Running out of clean clothes: 19.4%
- Washing everything after one use: 11.9%
- Someone else comments on it: 9.1%
- Throwing clothes away instead of washing them: 1.4%
Despite these triggers, 17.3% of men said sweating in underwear does not change how often they wear it, and 9.6% said it actually makes them change underwear or socks less frequently. Meanwhile, 14.3% often worry others will notice they are wearing unwashed clothes, with a further 30.4% saying they sometimes worry about it.
Bedtime and bathing habits
Over 1 in 5 men (23.2%) say they regularly sleep in the same underwear or socks they wore during the day, and a further 20.1% do so a few times a week. Women are less likely to follow this habit, with 53.4% saying they never sleep in day-worn underwear or socks, compared to 43.6% of men.
On bathing, 35.4% of people prefer to shower in the morning, while 32.4% always wash in the evening before bed.
Suzanne Hayes, a bedding specialist at Headboards and Interiors, explains why timing matters: “Whether you shower in the morning or at night really depends on your day and your routine. Morning showers can help wake you up and get you ready for the day, especially if you exercise or need a bit of a boost. But showering at night can be even better for your bed because it washes away sweat, dirt, pollen, and all the stuff you pick up during the day before it ends up in your sheets. Otherwise, you are basically taking all that grime straight to bed with you.”
She adds: “Dust, pollen, and sweat can irritate your skin, trigger allergies, or make it harder to sleep comfortably. A night shower keeps your bedding cleaner and fresher, which makes getting into bed feel so much nicer. To keep your bed as clean as possible, washing your sheets and pillowcases regularly, ideally once a week, makes a huge difference. Using a mattress protector can help stop sweat, dust, and allergens from soaking in. And it is also worth swapping or washing your pyjamas often, especially if you have been active or sweating during the day.”
The Jacamo report finds that while some laundry habits have improved over the past decade, many UK adults could benefit from following expert guidance more closely on washing frequency to support both hygiene and garment longevity.