A recent study found that the typical school uniform endures four tears, loses five buttons, and accumulates 25 tough stains annually. Parents of school-age children reported that their kids also break four zippers on their uniforms within the same timeframe.
Children often return home twice a week with muddy trousers and frequently sport food stains on their white shirts, leading to nine percent of parents doing laundry every day to keep their kids’ uniforms clean. Many parents are puzzled by the grass stains their kids acquire while playing, with over half of children coming home with unexplained damage multiple times a month.
According to a spokesperson from Utilita, parents spend an average of 48 minutes per month repairing and cleaning damaged items, costing them £81 yearly in replacing irreparable uniforms. School shoes were identified as the most problematic items, with 37 percent of parents stating their kids go through two pairs per academic year.
Cleaning approaches vary based on the level of damage, with 51 percent opting to sponge clean a single stain and 46 percent preferring to machine wash when dealing with multiple stains. A survey revealed that 57 percent rely on the washing machine to save time, with many believing they could lower their bills by reducing the frequency of washing their kids’ school clothes.
Utilita’s spokesperson further explained that washing uniforms costs around 20p per cycle and 50p per tumble dryer cycle. By sponge cleaning instead of machine washing, households could save significantly on utility costs. Utilizing a kitchen sponge for quick spot cleaning can be more efficient than running full washing cycles each time a stain appears.
Next time your child comes home with unexplained stains, consider using a kitchen sponge for quick cleaning instead of immediately resorting to the washing machine.