THE UNDERWEAR HABITS REPORT

Ten years ago, all the way back in 2016, we led a study that looked into the everyday underwear and hygiene habits of British men. And some of the results were pretty surprising…

One in ten men admitted to wearing the same pair of pants for an entire week before washing them. That’s seven straight days of sweat, bacteria and grime building up where you really don’t want it.

A decade has passed, and we were keen to see if these dirty habits are still going strong. So we surveyed 1,006 UK adults to find out how often British men and women actually change their underwear. We even asked about a few extra items that might not be washed as often as they should.

To understand what’s normal and what’s unhygienic, we also spoke with Carole Wilson, Quality & Fit Manager at Jacamo. She shared expert advice on how long you should wear or use each item before washing, to keep them fresh, clean and longer lasting.

Keep reading to discover some of the surprising habits our latest study uncovered.

KEY FINDINGS

• On average, British men change or wash their underwear and socks every three days, two days longer than hygienically recommended.

• Men will change their gymwear on average every five wears, but women will wear theirs for up to 11 days before refreshing it.

• When asked about the longest they had ever gone without washing their bedding, the average response from men was 31 days.

• Overall, over a quarter (26.3%) of men said someone else other than themselves was responsible for managing the laundry, versus just one in ten (10.7%) women.

• Over two-fifths (45.9%) said they rely on the “smell test” to determine when they will wash an item of clothing.

• More than one in five men (23.2%) say they sleep in the same pair of underwear or socks they have worn all day, every day.

The new research suggests many men believe they are keeping on top of their laundry. Just over half (56.2%) say they usually stay on top of washing their clothes, while 34.4% admit they sometimes let it pile up. A further 8.2% confess they avoid doing laundry for as long as possible before finally dealing with it.

ON AVERAGE, MEN CHANGE THEIR SOCKS AND UNDERWEAR ONCE EVERY THREE DAYS

Despite this relaxed approach, some habits have improved since our last study. On average, British men now change or wash their underwear every three days. That is a noticeable improvement from ten years ago, but it still falls short of what hygiene experts recommend. Ideally, underwear should be changed and washed daily to prevent the build-up of sweat, bacteria and germs. [1] This means that Brits are 200% under the recommended amount of time between changes and not changing them regularly enough could lead to uncomfortable health issues including thrush and UTIs. [2] [3]

Socks follow a very similar pattern. British men admitted they typically change or wash them every three days on average, meaning many pairs are being worn far longer than they probably should be. Not changing socks enough could lead to athlete’s foot, which is said to grow in sweaty socks. [4]

Despite the widespread belief that women are generally cleaner than men, the women in our study showed a similar pattern. On average, they also reported changing their underwear and socks every three days. Alongside this, when asked what the longest they had ever gone before washing or changing their socks, women admitted this was as long as five days on average and seven for men.

MEN ADMIT THEY’VE GONE AS LONG AS TWO WEEKS BEFORE CHANGING INTO CLEAN PYJAMAS

Nightwear is not treated much better. The average British man changes his pyjamas every six days, and the longest they had ever gone before washing it was 13 days on average. Although it’s generally recommended to wash them after around 3-4 days of wear at most. [5]

Dressing gowns also receive very little attention, with British men washing them just once every 52 days on average.

Alongside this, sportswear follows an alarming pattern. On average women said they wash or change their gym clothes every 11 wears, compared to just five for men. Although some sports wear uses fabrics that contain antibacterial properties, it’s still generally advised to wash them after every sweaty workout to prevent bacteria, sweat and body oils from building up in the material. Quality expert, Carole comments,

“Ideally, gym clothes should be washed after every wear, but that does not mean using a hot or intensive cycle. A 30°C wash is usually enough to keep them fresh. It is also best to avoid fabric softener with activewear, as it can affect how breathable and moisture-wicking the fabric is.

“Likewise, air drying makes a real difference, as high heat can damage stretch fabrics and cause them to lose shape more quickly. Making small changes like this helps your kit last longer and reduces overall energy use.”

JEANS ARE WASHED EVERY 15 DAYS ON AVERAGE, BUT EXPERTS WARN THIS COULD BE A BIG MISTAKE

When it comes to everyday clothing, the gaps between washes start to stretch even further. Men reported wearing jeans for around 15 days before washing them, while trousers last about 11 days on average. When asked about the longest they had ever gone without washing their jeans, men said as long as 30 days on average. According to Carole, when it comes to washing jeans, less is often best. Unless there is visible dirt, Carole suggests washing around every 5-10 wears.

In addition, letting them air out between wears can help keep them fresh without needing a full wash, but it’s best to avoid spot cleaning as this can cause uneven fading. Where possible, skip tumble drying too, as line drying helps denim maintain its shape.

When you do wash your jeans, Carole recommends turning them inside out and using a cold cycle to help protect the colour and fabric, to keep your jeans in good condition.

T-shirts also spend longer in rotation than many people might expect. British men said they wash their T-shirts roughly every six wears on average, even though these are often items worn directly against the skin and exposed to sweat and body oils throughout the day. Women were more likely to wash this item of clothing after less wear, averaging at four before washing.

Jumpers and hoodies are washed around every nine days on average for men. Vests, however, appear to be largely forgotten about, with British men admitting they wash them only every 17 days on average.

Some of the longest gaps between washes were found with more formal clothing too. Shockingly, men admitted to washing their suits just once every 97 days on average. Carole comments,

“Suits don’t need frequent cleaning, as over-cleaning can actually shorten their lifespan. Dry cleaning is best kept occasional, for example after several wears or when there is a visible mark. In between, simply airing your suit and brushing it down will help keep it looking smart. Using a steamer is an effective way to refresh the fabric and remove creases without relying on dry cleaning, while storing suits properly on good hangers and in suit bags helps them maintain their shape and last longer.”

Coats and jackets last even longer between washes. British men said they typically clean them every 121 days on average, which works out at roughly four months of wear.

The survey also asked men to reveal how often they wash some of the most commonly used household items, including towels and bedding.

BEDDING IS CHANGED ON AVERAGE EVERY 2 WEEKS, BUT SOME WAIT AS LONG AS A MONTH

On average, men said they change their towels once a week, roughly every seven days, whereas women typically wash this item every five days. Bedding lasts even longer, with most men admitting they wash their sheets around once every two weeks, or every 14 days. Considering how much time we spend in bed and how quickly sweat, skin cells and bacteria can build up, these items can become far less fresh than people realise. Carole says to keep your bedding fresh you should ideally be washing it every one to two weeks, depending on your personal preference, to help it stay fresh.

Likewise, towels can be used around three to four times before they need washing.

Carole comments,

“Avoid overloading the washing machine when washing bedding and towels, as this can prevent them from being washed properly and cause the fabrics to wear out more quickly. Using too much detergent or softener may also leave residue on fibres and reduce their softness over time, while air drying where possible is gentler on fabrics and helps to cut down on energy use.”

But for many men, even two weeks between washes is not the worst of it. When asked about the longest they had ever gone without washing their bedding, the average response was 31 days. Even more surprisingly, 7.5% of men admitted they had left it for as long as three to five months before changing their sheets.

MEN ADMIT THEY’VE GONE NEARLY TWO MONTHS WITHOUT CHANGING THEIR BATH MAT

Bath mats are cleaned even less frequently. On average, men admitted to washing them just once every 34 days, meaning they can sit damp and collect bacteria for over a month before being thrown in the wash. Women were slightly better in this department, but not by much, admitting to changing their bathmat every 30 days on average. When asked about the longest they had ever gone without washing a bath mat, men said the average was 57 days - that’s almost two whole months of using the same bath mat without refreshing it.

The survey also delved into who is typically responsible for managing the laundry in UK households.

ONE IN FIVE (21.5%) MEN SAID THE LAUNDRY IS STRICTLY THEIR PARTNERS JOB

Although almost three quarters (73.5%) of men said the responsibility of keeping up with the laundry laid with them, over one in five (21.5%) said the responsibility fell onto their partner and 3% said it was their mum's job. In contrast, 89.3% of women said they were responsible for the laundry and just 4.8% said it was for their partner to do.

Overall, over a quarter (26.3%) of men said someone else other than themselves was responsible for managing the laundry, versus just one in ten (10.7%) women.

Over one in six (17.3%) male participants said that if they sweat while wearing a pair of underwear, it won’t change the number of times they wear it before swapping it out for a clean pair. Bizarrely, a further one in ten (9.6%) said that sweating will actually make them change their underwear or socks even less frequently.

Over two-fifths (45.9%) of men admit they rely on the “smell test” to know when it’s time to freshen up their clothes

When asked what indicators they usually rely on to know when it’s time to wash an item of clothing, 59% of men in the survey said it was usually out of routine or habit.

However, 54.6% said they wait until there is visible dirt or stains on their clothes and 53.6% said it depends on how sweaty they felt while wearing it.

Over two-fifths (45.9%) said they rely on the “smell test” to determine when they will wash an item of clothing. But sweat itself doesn’t actually have a smell, rather it’s the bacteria on your skin that causes the bad odour, [6] so this widely accepted method might not be as accurate as you think in identifying whether your clothes are clean or not.

Interestingly, despite 56.2% of men saying they usually stay on top of washing their clothes, 19.4% said they are usually prompted to put a wash load on when they run out of clean clothes to wear.

Almost one in ten (9.1%) men wait until someone comments on their clothes before washing them and even more shockingly, one in one hundred (1.4%) said they throw their clothes away instead of washing them.

Despite this, almost one in five men (14.3%) said they frequently worry that another person will notice they were wearing unwashed clothes. This is followed by almost a third (30.4%) who said they also sometimes worry about this.

A closer look at the nation’s bedtime habits has revealed some eye-opening attitudes towards nighttime cleanliness.

OVER A FIFTH OF MEN (23.2%) SAID THEY ALWAYS SLEEP IN THE SAME UNDERWEAR AND SOCKS THEY’VE WORN THAT DAY

When it comes to sleepwear, a surprising number of people admit they do not always opt for a fresh start. More than one in five men (23.2%) say they sleep in the same pair of underwear or socks they have worn all day, every day. A further 20.1% confess they still do this a few times a week.

Women, however, appear far less likely to turn in while still wearing the same clothes they wore during the day. Over half (53.4%) say they never sleep in the same underwear or socks they have worn throughout the day, compared with 43.6% of men.

Bathing habits also reveal a clear split in when people prefer to freshen up. The largest share of respondents (35.4%) say they typically shower or bathe in the morning, while just under a third (32.4%) say they always wash in the evening before getting into bed.

However, an expert has weighed in on the common mistakes you could be making with the timing of your bathing routine…

“Keeping good hygiene isn’t just about feeling fresh; it also makes a big difference to how clean and comfy your bed feels,” says Suzanne Hayes, bedding specialist at Headboards & Interiors. “Whether you shower in the morning or at night really depends on your day and your routine.”

“Morning showers can help wake you up and get you ready for the day, especially if you exercise or need a bit of a boost. But showering at night can be even better for your bed because it washes away sweat, dirt, pollen, and all the stuff you pick up during the day before it ends up in your sheets. Otherwise, you’re basically taking all that grime straight to bed with you.”

“Even little things matter,” Hayes adds. “Dust, pollen, and sweat can irritate your skin, trigger allergies, or make it harder to sleep comfortably. A night shower keeps your bedding cleaner and fresher, which makes getting into bed feel so much nicer. If you want to protect your skin and make your bed a healthier, more relaxing place, an evening shower is usually the way to go.”

“To keep your bed as clean as possible, there are a few easy things you can do,” she continues.

“Washing your sheets and pillowcases regularly, ideally once a week, makes a huge difference. Using a mattress protector can help stop sweat, dust, and allergens from soaking in. And it’s also worth swapping or washing your pyjamas often, especially if you’ve been active or sweating during the day.”

METHODOLOGY

The survey was conducted on behalf of Jacamo in March 2026. The survey asked a total of 1,006 UK adults about their laundry habits.

Respondents were recruited online and screened to ensure a broad mix of demographic backgrounds. The survey provider is ISO-certified and carries out 11 trust verifications.

 

SOURCES:

[1] Dr Bailey Skincare, ‘How Often Should You Wash Your Underwear?’

[2] NHS, ‘Thrush in men and women’

[3] NHS, ‘Urinary tract infections (UTIs)’

[4] Mayo Clinic, ‘Athlete’s Foot’

[5] Cleaning Institute, ‘Do I need to wash this?’

[6] Cleveland Clinic, ‘Body Odor’