To prevent the UK population becoming illiterate when they attempt to wash their clothes, Dr. Beckmann has developed the 'essential clothing label guide'
The guide illustrates what each care label symbol stands for. To download your copy simply click the link below:
80% of twentysomethings don't know how to wash clothes
The UK population is bordering on illiteracy when they attempt to wash clothes according to their cleaning instructions, a new study has revealed.
A shocking 8 out of 10 adults aged 18-25 admit they have absolutely no idea what washing instructions on clothing labels actually mean.
And 7 out of 10 26-39 year olds (68%) don't even bother to read washing directions before throwing their threads in the washing machine. It seems that the only age group who love labels are those over 40 with 81% regularly reading the instructions.
Its hardly surprising then, in light of the revelations revealed in research by laundry experts Dr. Beckmann*, that adults aged between 18-25 throw away three times as many clothes as those aged 40 or more.
They 'spoil' on average three garments per year washing them at the wrong temperature and in the same wash as other non colourfast clothes.
This lack of knowledge is also very costly as the 'twentysomethings' throw away over £400 million worth of clothes every year.**
But even though we happily admit we're a nation of dunces when it comes to our dirty laundry, we're also a country, which doesn't believe it has time to correct its errors either. 37% of women have admitted they would simply throw away a stained item of clothing rather than attempt to salvage it with a stain remover.
Cleaning guru Kim Woodburn from TV's 'How Clean is Your House' believes the UK's under-25s need washing machine lessons to bring them up to speed.
She said:
Under 25 year olds are label illiterate, they don't know how to care for their clothes and need educating via their parents. It's not good enough that adults can reach that age and not know how to read and understand simple washing instructions on clothes.
Young adults are too pampered these days and are used to their parents doing their washing while they are at University and even still living at home.
When they are dropped into the real world - they haven't a clue about washing so they buy new clothes instead of getting the stains out of the ones they already have. It's ridiculous that they can't use a washing machine properly at that age.
They could do with lessons on label reading - this would not only save them time and frustration at ruining their favourite clothes, but they could save lots of money too.
Dr. Beckmann's essential clothing label guide
* Reasearch carried out online on the DR. Beckmann wesbite - February 2010
** According to the Office of National Statistics (2008) there are 6.6 million people aged 18-25 in the UK.