A survey also found some people admit re-wearing underwear — and a quarter say they’ve never washed items like gloves, trainers and slippers.Ellie Clibbens08:00, 24 May 2026New research of 2,000 adults revealed that 18% will wear the same pair of socks three times or more before changing them, while 11% said they do the same with underwear.‌But the items people are most likely to wear repeatedly before washing were found to be coats, jackets and scarves. What’s more, a quarter of respondents said they have never washed gloves, bags, slippers or trainers.‌Some items split opinion. While 35% said they wash T-shirts after every wear, 33% believed they can be worn three or more times before being thrown in the laundry basket.‌There was more agreement on household items, with people saying bedding should be washed every fortnight and towels should be washed after five showers.A spokesperson from Utilita, which commissioned the research as part of its award-winning High5 campaign, said: “While some are staunchly one-wear-washers, others take a more ad hoc approach and are happy to continue wearing clothes until they definitely can’t get away with it.“No matter where you fall in this debate, as long as you’re mindful of the amount of energy and water you use to keep your fabrics fresh, that’s all that really matters.”‌The poll found 35% wear an item of clothing for a set number of days before cleaning it. When it comes to T-shirts, 25% said they use a 'sniff and see' approach, happy to keep wearing them until there is an obvious smell.Whatever their routine, 42% said they take an eco- and energy-friendly approach by only putting on a wash with a full load. A third said they do the same unless there is an 'emergency' and something is badly stained.‌Between washes, 24% said they mask smells with perfume or cologne, 46% will hand-wash items to remove specific stains, and 20% rinse clothes in the sink to freshen them up.One of the key tips from Utilita’s High5 campaign is to wash laundry at 30C — something 50% said they do regularly. However, 35% still default to a hotter setting.Asked what would persuade them to use a lower temperature, 37% cited saving money on energy bills. Others said they would switch if they could see the same results as a hotter wash, or if it would help protect colours and preserve clothes for longer.Article continues belowThe Utilita spokesperson added: “It’s great to see most of the nation are already following best practice when it comes to their trusty washing machines.“Keeping this cooler when you’re putting a load on not only protects the quality of your clothes and household items, but can also save you money in the long run.“We know how important it is to keep energy bills down wherever possible, and this is just one small way of staying on top of them.”