Students to convey again 3,600 tonnes of soiled laundry from college this time period
Research found that seven in 10 students take their dirty clothes home
A student heading home with her new ‘re-fresher’ bag
A staggering 3,600 tonnes of dirty laundry will be carried home to parents via trains this term, a study has claimed.
Research by Trainline says seven in 10 (70%) students take their dirty clothes home to parents or guardians rather than washing it at their student digs.
They estimate 3,650 tonnes of dirty washing is set to hit the UK’s rail network in the first term alone, despite the academic year only starting last month.
Trainline has launched a limited-edition compressible laundry bag called the Re-fresher Bag aiming to help lighten the load.
They say it’s available for free to students in weekly drops that began on Tuesday September 22.
The train and coach travel platform’s study claims three quarters (75%) have already completely run out of clean clothes after putting off doing their laundry.
Nearly two-thirds (62%) have even resorted to buying new clothes to avoid doing their own washing.
So with 43% of students blaming their bank balance and 34% saying they just don’t have time to do it themselves, it seems the laundry is coming home.
Trainline believe the journey should be made in style with their The Re-fresher Bag features an original print by graduate designer Maria Goundry.
Their 80-litre bag is said to have compression straps and a roll-top design to help it fit in a train’s overhead luggage rack.
Seven in 10 students have been found to bring back their dirty washing
It also includes supportive carry straps and a hanging hook, a detachable machine-washable mesh insert to keep dirty items separate and an inner panel to absorb any less-than-sociable smells.
Its ‘one-of-a-kind design’ means the print’s positioning shifts with every fold, so no two bags look quite the same.
Lexi Hughes, who is a model, final-year university student and daughter of TV personality Amanda Holden, has worked with Trainline and the design team to help create The Re-fresher Bag.
Lexi said: “Any student who’s dragged a heavy laundry bag onto a train knows the struggle.
“It’s been so much fun to work on a bag that solves a problem we all face.
“It’s very roomy, with sections that separate the clothes that need washing from the ones that don’t.
“It’s also colourful enough that there is no chance of it getting lost or mixed up on the train.
“Bonus points for making laundry day a bit more fun.”
Mike Hyde, chief technology officer at Trainline, said: “Taking a bag of washing home is an essential part of student life.
“My daughter starts university this year and is already thinking about how she’ll fit her entire wardrobe, coursework and, inevitably, dirty washing into one bag every time she comes home.
“If the washing is coming home anyway – we thought students might as well do it in style.”
The Re-fresher Bag will be available in limited weekly drops every Tuesday for the next few weeks from October 6.
A select number of students who register each week will get a bag for free, delivered directly to their door. Students can enter here
