an investigation of domestic laundry in europe - habits ... - SIFO

28An investigation into the domestic laundry habits in Europeare garments of different materials that are worn more or less close to thebody.2.4.1 Bed sheetsFigure 2-4 shows that the Greek respondents change bed sheets most oftenand the Norwegian respondents most seldom. 22 % of the Greek respondentschange bedclothes several times a week, compared to only 2 % of the Norwegianrespondents. The figure also shows that the respondents from Greece,Spain and the Netherlands most commonly change bed sheets once a week,while in Norway it is most common to change them every second week.10080604020011016217356757745622264 2 7Greece Netherlands Norway SpainEvery third week or more seldomEvery second weekOnce a weekSeveral times a weekFigure 2-4. Frequency of changing bed sheets in different countries. Per cent.Figure 2-5 shows that the respondents from Spain wash their bed sheets atmuch lower temperatures than respondents from the other countries (35 %stating that they use cold water, and 40 % using 30 °C). The Greek and Norwegianrespondents wash their bed sheets at considerably higher temperatures.The most usual temperature among the Norwegian respondents is 60°C, while 20 % of the respondents wash their bed sheets at 90 °C. This patternis quite similar to the Greek respondents, where we find that a somewhat largerpercentage wash their bed sheets at 70 °C and a smaller percentage at 60°C. Boiling or washing at 90 °C are not so common, but about 20 % of therespondents in Norway and Greece do this. The temperature used by the respondentsin the Netherlands is somewhere in the middle. A larger share washtheir bed sheets at 40 °C than in the other countries, but 60 °C is the mostusual temperature.