Laundry is a chore that never ends. Clothes, towels, bedclothes, blankets, cushion covers, the list of things that need to be washed is never-ending. So we wanted to find out how the people of Ireland use their washing machines.

How often should you wash your sheets?

When you feel like it isn’t the right answer. From stripping the bed to washing, drying and making the bed, cleaning your sheets definitely feels like the biggest chore. We found that 70% of people wash their sheets every 1-2 weeks, which is the correct the answer. Why? Sweat and dead skin cells build up in your sheets and can reduce airflow making you sweat more and affect your skin health.

How many washes do you do?

Do you feel like your washing machine never gets a day off? We’ve found that the majority of people do on average 2-3 washes per week but have changed their habits to reflect the cost of living. In fact, 58% of Irish people have started washing their clothes at lower temperatures to save on energy and protect their clothes.

If you like to get all your washing done in one go, you may be guilty of overfilling your machine. You’re not alone as just over half of people admit to overfilling their machine. While it can be hard to figure out what the difference is between 8kg and 10kg worth of clothes, a handy trick to see if you’re overfilling your machine is to place your hand sideways between your clothes and the top of the drum. If you’re struggling to turn your hand, you need to remove some clothes. Plenty of space is needed to create the friction for clothes to wash and for your detergent to be most effective.

Do you know your laundry symbols?

Thankfully only 5% of people don’t know the symbols on their washing machine. If you’re in this minority, it’s handy to have a photo of your washing machine manual saved on your phone for a quick reference. Two-thirds of people actively check the care labels before putting clothes into the wash. If you don’t know your ‘Do Not Bleach’ from your ‘Do Not Dry Clean’ and have an iPhone, take a photo of the label and the Info button will de-code it for you.

How often do you wash your washing machine?

Just over 60% of people clean their washing machine every 6-12 months. Think of all the different environments your clothes are in and what they come in contact with, now how often do you think you should clean your machine? The correct answer is every three months, but it’s no harm doing it a bit more frequently if you have particularly dirty items like dogs’ beds, work wear or sports gear going through your machine. A hot 70 degree wash will sanitise your drum, but you also need to get some white vinegar and a toothbrush to scrub your detergent drawer and your filter.

Looking for a new washing machine? From super energy-efficient to large capacity drums, we have a washing machine for every need.