Common household item that 1 in 5 never wash as experts say 'do it monthly'
If you're a parent you may well find yourself tripping over toys and cuddly toys strewn across the house. But as well as being your child's comfort, teddy bears and soft toys are something a staggering amount of people admit to never washing.
That's despite them being a breeding ground for germs, bacteria, allergens and dust mites. They may be well loved but new research has found that parents avoid washing teddy bears and cuddly companions for a number of reasons.
However, experts at AO.com say they should be washed monthly to ensure they're aren't passing on anything nasty.
Parents admit there are many reasons they avoid washing these snuggly bedtime buddies, travel companions, and comforters in times of need.
A survey of 2,000 Brits uncovered this surprising hygiene blind spot in UK households.
It found that more than one in five people (21 per cent) admit they've never washed their children's teddy bears or cuddly toys, despite 83% knowing they can carry germs.
And that's despite 83 per cent admitting they know they can be harbouring all sorts of germs.
Almost a third of Brits (32 per cent) say there's simply 'no reason' they haven't done it, whilst 15.6 per cent worry they'll get damaged in the machine.
A further 6 per cent fear they'll lose their familiar scent.
Katy Roberts, AO's washing machine expert, said that mums and dads should be washing these constant companions every month.
She said: "As a rule of thumb, try to wash your teddy bear every month – particularly if they're regularly handled.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
"Blankets you should pop in the washing machine once every fortnight to help keep them fresh. Your teddies and blankets can easily harbour dust mites and allergens so err on the side of caution and stick them in your washing machine when they're dirty."
If you're worried about destroying them, she has some advice.
She added: "It's completely understandable that many of us are worried about washing our teddies at home, however with a few handy tips, there's no need to stress.
"If your furry companion is looking a bit worse for wear, there's nothing finer for it than popping your teddy bear into your washing machine.
To clean them properly, check your care label and if this has worn away over the years, then put on a gentle, cold wash with a mild detergent to be on the safe side.
'If your teddy has seen better days and is more on the delicate side, then use a soft cloth or sponge with shampoo and dab away at any dirty areas. Leave this to air dry naturally and you can even give this a quick fluff with a soft brush for a magic touch to finish."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
Food safety expert reveals how to keep your food edible for longer
With the annual rate of food and drink price inflation in the UK reaching 4.5% in June 20251, it's no surprise that many Brits are trying to keep their food fresh for longer to avoid trips to the shop to buy replacements. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... To help Brits keep their food fresh for longer and store it in the safest possible way, Sarah King, food hygiene expert at High Speed Training, has shared her advice on how to keep some particularly tricky types of food stored safely. Many fresh foods can be tricky to keep fresh and safe to eat for long periods of time, and people are understandably concerned about eating food that is past its best in case it causes harm. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Bananas Avocado storage Sarah states: 'Bananas are a household staple in most UK homes, but they can be tricky to store properly and often the timeframe between them being under-ripe to over-ripe is short-lived. So, how should you store them to keep them fresher for longer? 'The first step to keep bananas fresh for longer is to buy them when they're still green, helping to give you the longest window when they're at their best. You should remove them from their plastic packaging, which traps the moisture released by the fruit as they ripen, making them ripen even faster. You should also separate them from other fruit, as being in close proximity to other ripening fruits will speed up the process for both. Instead, keep them in an open bowl on the countertop, away from other fruits. 'You should avoid refrigerating bananas whilst they're ripening, as this can prolong the process, but you can store them in the fridge when they're ripe. They should be good to eat for a week or more. You can also freeze bananas, but this is best when making smoothies or baking, as frozen bananas won't make the nicest snack.' Avocados Cheese and bread storage Sarah explains: 'Avocados are a popular, healthy breakfast treat, but they can be difficult to keep ripe. When purchasing the fruit, make sure you're buying them at the right stage of ripening. An unripe avocado will feel firm to the touch and will last for roughly a week, whilst a ripe fruit will feel slightly soft and will last for roughly three days. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Similar to bananas, you should avoid storing avocados near other fruits to slow down the ripening process. They can also be stored in the fridge, but only once they're ripe, where they will last for three days to a week. Avocados are also safe to be frozen, where they can be stored for up to six months. ' Bread Sarah says: 'It's the age-old question, should you bin or keep bread with spots of mould? Banana storage 'Mouldy bread is generally best thrown away, as the mould will likely have spread much further through the loaf than is actually visible. Buying sliced bread is a good, cheaper option for keeping your bread fresh for longer, as mould takes longer to spread throughout the loaf. 'To keep your bread fresh for longer, it's best to keep it covered, either in a bread bin or bread bag, and try to keep the packaging intact and covering as much of the bread as possible. You should also keep the loaf away from water, which can speed up the development of mould. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'If you tend to go through your bread slowly, a good option is to freeze it. This keeps the loaf edible and prevents the spread of mould. To thaw the bread, simply use the defrost setting on your toaster to avoid a soggy slice.' Cheese Fridge and freezer food storage Sarah shares: 'Storing cheese can be tricky, and the best method often depends on the particular type of cheese. Hard cheeses can be wrapped in clingfilm to be kept fresh for longer, whilst doing the same to soft cheeses will cause them to 'sweat'. Instead, keep your soft cheese wrapped in baking paper or a waxed cheese cloth to allow them to 'breathe', and then place them in an airtight container. 'A consistent temperature is important to keep cheese fresh, so it's important to place your cheese in the back of the fridge. This will prevent bacterial growth. 'Soft cheeses should be consumed quickly after opening, as their high moisture content means mould spreads quickly. Whilst some cheeses, like Stilton, intentionally include mould to add to the flavour, others, like Cheddar, do not benefit from mould, which can in some cases cause illness if consumed. Keep your cheese in an airtight container, and unless it's a particular type of cheese, dispose of it when you see large amounts of mould.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Potatoes Sarah says: 'Potatoes benefit from being stored in a cool, dark place, which will slow down the sprouting process. Avoid storing them in the fridge, as the cold will turn the starch into sugar and will taint the flavour. 'You should remove them from their plastic bags and refrain from washing them until you're ready to use them. Keep them separate from other veg, and keep them out of sunlight, which will reduce sprouting. Finally, you can cut off smaller green shoots, and potatoes in the early stages of sprouting are perfectly safe to eat.' Onions Sarah comments: 'Onions are a staple of many food dishes and are always useful to have in the house. For this reason, it's beneficial to keep them for as long as possible to avoid unnecessary extra purchases. 'Onions are best stored in a dry, dark place and should not be kept in the fridge. Remove them from their plastic bag to allow the air to circulate around them, and keep them separate from potatoes, as the two together may impact the lifespan of both items.
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
More parents are ditching Celtic baby names amid 'cultural identity' fears
The Record has listed the most popular Celtic baby names in 2024 but it seems they could be on the road out Scotland has a deep Celtic history and heritage, with strong ties to our Irish and Welsh counterparts. The culture and language, specifically Gaelic, have significantly shaped Scotland's identity and is part of its living culture today. When it comes to having children, parents may draw on this strong sense of identity when it comes to names. It is not uncommon to have an Isla or an Eilidh in your university class, or bump into a Harris or a Finlay down the pub. However, the latest data analysis by language learning marketplace Preply of birth records from the past 20 years reveals a steep drop of 37 per cent in Celtic-origin baby names. According to Preply, this shows that language endangerment has extended beyond spoken words, now affecting how people name their children. Celtic languages belong to two branches: Gaelic (including Irish, Manx, and Scottish Gaelic) and Brythonic (Welsh, Cornish, and Breton). UNESCO had classified all six as endangered to some degree. Irish is listed as "definitely endangered" and others as "vulnerable". The dominance of English is suggested to have gradually eroded native speaker communities, influencing how parents named their children, with fewer Celtic names being chosen as the languages themselves lost ground. Preply's analysis used the official UK birth records from 2003 to 2023. An interesting point to note, though is that Scottish girls' names have actually risen, despite the overall decline. Scottish girls' names have upped in use by 14 per cent - the only language to have jumped on the whole table alongside Cornish boys' names, which spiked by a huge 633 per cent. Anna Pyshna, spokesperson for Preply, said: "While some languages such as Cornish show signs of revival with an increase in names given to boys, the overall decline highlights the continuing impact of language erosion on cultural identity markers like personal names. "Names are intimate symbols of cultural identity. When Celtic names fade from birth records, it signals more than just shifting trends. It suggests a disconnect from ancestral languages and heritage. "Even with current revival programmes, many young parents may feel less connected to Celtic languages if their own identities were not shaped by them, potentially perpetuating a cycle of decline." The most common names for girls and boys in Scotland in 2024 included a host of Celtic names. Rory, Harris, Finlay, Brodie and Finn were all in the top 20 for boys. Isla, Bonnie, and Orla were in the top 20 for girls' names. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. So, all of this begs the question - will a Celtic language revival translate back into names? "The increasing visibility of Celtic languages in education and media offers hope," Anna assured. "But will this translate into more children receiving Celtic names? "Will future birth records reflect renewed pride and connection to these ancient tongues? "The next decade will be telling. The story of Celtic languages is still being written, and names, which is the first gift we give our children, could be a powerful sign of cultural resurgence or continued retreat." Numbers and percentage changes by language branch and gender Language Girls' Raw Changes % Change (Girls) Boys' Raw Changes % Change (Boys) Gaelic 1,758 → 1,441 −18% 7,107 → 2,159 −70% Irish 13,681 → 7,569 −45% 22,575 → 16,077 −29% Scottish 3,072 → 3,495 +14% 12,090 → 3,952 −67% Welsh 10,933 → 2,437 −78% 13,234 → 4,972 −62% Cornish 47 → 36 −23% 3 → 22 +633%
Daily Record
6 hours ago
- Daily Record
Phenomenal fundraising for Kirkcudbright Lifeboat station upgrade in line for an award
The appeal has raised an incredible £120,000 and has been nominated for the Scottish Fundraising Awards. The phenomenal fundraising towards a refurbished lifeboat station in Kirkcudbright is in line for an award. The project to raise £50,000 towards the upgrades to the Victorian boathouse at Torrs Point have been nominated for the best use of event or community fundraising initiative prize at the Scottish Fundraising Awards. The station was built in 1892 and the appeal aims to bring it up to spec for the 21st century by upgrading toilets and changing areas and providing a dedicated workshop so the volunteer team can maintain the lifeboat. And the appeal has proven so successful that, 12 months after it was launched, fundraisers at Kirkcudbright RNLI had raised an incredible £120,000. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. President of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright RNLI fundraising group, May Brown, said: 'We are absolutely thrilled to have been shortlisted for best use of event or community fundraising initiative at the Scottish Fundraising Awards, an annual event to recognise and reward excellent in fundraising and celebrate the achievements of our amazing volunteer fundraiser. 'I would like to thank all of our fundraisers, as well as the local community, for their continued support for our new boathouse appeal.' Volunteers from Kirkcudbright RNLI will attend the awards gala evening on Tuesday, September 23.
