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1 in 3 People Only Wash These Once a Year, Survey Says

How often do you wash these frequently used items in your home?

laundry basket with dark background
iStock

When it comes to cleaning, organization, and hygiene habits, you'd think it would be safe to say that most of us fall somewhere in the middle on a wide spectrum between obsessive and utterly unsanitary. But after seeing the results of a recent survey, we're not so sure. Hammonds, a U.K.-based furniture company, asked 2,000 adults about how often they washed various clothing and household items. Among the number of shocking revelations, arguably the biggest jaw-dropper was that 30 percent of respondents—or, one in three people—said they wash their bedsheets once a year or less. In other words, far less than the once a week that's recommended for "optimal cleanliness," as Aragona Giuseppe, MD, GP and medical advisor at Prescription Doctor, told Hammonds.


Curious to know what else people aren't washing enough? Read on to discover more items, including the most common one of all, people admit to washing once a year or less. And for some other shocking secrets people recently revealed about themselves, 50 Percent of People Prefer This Over Sex, Survey Says.

12 | Hoodies

Man wearing a yellow hoodieShutterstock

People who wash once a year or less: 13 percent

11 | Hats

Winter Hat with a Pom PomShutterstock

People who wash once a year or less: 14 percent

And for one thing you really shouldn't be washing, check out The One Body Part You Should Never Clean, According to Doctors

10 | Pants

man wearing plaid blazer black pants and brown shoesShutterstock

People who wash once a year or less: 14 percent

9 | Sweaters

Close up on hands choosing from rack of sweatersIra Shpiller/Shutterstock

People who wash once a year or less: 15 percent

8 | Suits

a man buttoning up his suit cuff before going into workiStock

People who wash once a year or less: 17 percent

7 | Jeans

Line drying jeans outsideShutterstock

People who wash once a year or less: 18 percent

And to find out how frequently you should be cleaning your denim, This Is How Often You Should Really Be Washing Your Jeans, Experts Say.

6 | Gloves

gray winter gloves with black snowflake patternShutterstock/Jinga

People who wash once a year or less: 25 percent

5 | Scarves

Shutterstock

People who wash once a year or less: 28 percent

4 | Bedsheets

sheets on bed things in your house attracting pestsShutterstock

People who wash once a year or less: 30 percent

And for more on what you should wash or toss more often than you do, here are 17 Gross Household Items You Should Replace More Often.

3 | Cushion covers

Woman Cleaning an Upholstery Stain on the Couch Cleaning HacksShutterstock

People who wash once a year or less: 33 percent

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2 | Blankets

sick woman under the blanketsShutterstock

People who wash once a year or less: 36 percent

1 | Coats

coats on a rackShutterstock/omiksovsky

People who wash once a year or less: 38 percent

And speaking of gross things in your house, If You See This Bug in Your Home, Don't Step on It, Experts Warn.

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