Clueless youngsters are relying on a range of tactics to avoid putting a wash on as a new polls reveals one in five don’t know how to use a washing machine.
A poll of 1,000 18-30-year-olds who have flown the nest found 69% avoided doing washing after moving out. To avoid any mishaps, 33% didn’t do any laundry in the first few weeks or even months after leaving home, with 16% wearing their entire wardrobe before finally putting a wash load on.
Instead of washing their clothes, nearly one in five (19%) attempted to freshen them up with body spray or deodorant, and 10% even avoided social plans because they had nothing clean to wear.
The survey revealed that 33% of young adults had little to no experience using a washing machine, with 32% worried they would ruin their clothes. It found, 28% struggled to choose the right setting, feeling unsure about what temperature to choose and how much detergent to use.
The research was commissioned by Dr Beckmann, who is launching the Sheets & Beats Launderette pop-up foam party in an East London laundrette on 20th October featuring DJ Louis Bekk.
Chloe Baker from the laundry expert company, said: “Moving out is both exciting and overwhelming.
“Suddenly, you’re expected to know how to do all the things that used to just happen in the background.
“But putting off washing for two to three weeks isn’t the answer, and can lead to stains setting and smells brewing, which are harder to shift and can damage clothes if left untreated.
“With the right tools, you can take the worry out of washing.”
Nine in 10 of those polled have experienced some kind of washing mishap since moving out, including leaving tissues in pockets, colours running, or having to rewash a load because their clothes weren’t cleaned properly.
As a result, youngsters rely on advice from family members to get it right. In fact, 43% have called a family member at least once a week after first moving out for advice on household tasks, including cooking (30%), laundry (29%), and budgeting (27%).
A separate poll of 1,000 parents of children aged 18-30 who have moved out or are planning to, found 24% were worried about how their child would look after themselves.
With 62% of those with grown-up kids at home admitting they still do their child’s laundry and 45% willing to wash their adult child’s clothes for them when they visit home.
Clem Wade, a university preparation expert, who has teamed with Dr Beckmann, said: “Leaving home for the first time marks a huge shift from being managed to managing yourself, and it catches even the most academically able students off guard.
“Most young people have very little experience of laundry, cooking, or basic life admin, and I’ve helped people through everything from how to empty a black bin, to laundry lessons about separating whites and colours.
“If I could give one piece of advice to parents, it would be to help their kids prepare for moving out by doing run-throughs before they leave.
“One wash, one shop, one meal cooked start to finish, and send them off with the essentials they need to thrive.”
TOP 10 THINGS YOUNG ADULTS WOULD DO TO AVOID USING THE WASHING MACHINE:
- Worn clothes they’ve already worn
- Hand-washed items in a sink
- Used deodorant or body spray on clothes to make them seem fresher
- Taken laundry back to their parents’ house
- Tried to remove stains with wipes or a damp cloth rather than washing the item
- Worn their entire wardrobe
- Bought new clothes instead
- Ran out of clean clothes completely
- Worn clothes that smelled less than fresh
- Waited until visiting family to do washing