According to a study published in the Daily Express, we ruin 540 million items of clothing every year because we are so bad at doing our laundry.  An alarming study found nearly nine out of 10 of us (87 per cent) don't know how to wash our clothes correctly.

The research by domestic appliance firm Bosch also found Londoners and men are the worst at doing the laundry.  Those living in the capital ruin 18 pieces of clothing a year while men waste 20 per cent more than women, losing an average of £167 compared to £133 for women. And because of our poor laundry habits, we ruin an average of 10 pieces of clothing each year, costing us £147.60 each. 

The new research reveals how clueless we are when it comes to doing the laundry.    Almost two thirds, 63 per cent, don't always bother to read labels before cleaning clothes and 38 per cent have no idea how much detergent they should use.  Over a third, 34 per cent, use too much detergent and 16 per cent don't use enough.

More than two thirds, 69 per cent, have confessed to re-washing clothes, 20 per cent find washing instructions too confusing and 28 per cent don't think they are important.

Over a third of women, 35 per cent, read labels on clothes before washing however only 27 per cent of men do.TY

Each of the 72 percent of people in the UK who say they have ruined clothes in the wash will ruin on average in a year: 

2 pairs of socks 

2 pairs of underwear 

2 jumpers 

2 t-shirts 

1 pair of pyjamas 

1 pair of jeans

1 shirt

1 dress 

2 tops

The top 5 most common types of damage to clothing in the wash: 

1. Discolouration (27 per cent) 

2. Stains (23 per cent) 

3. Bobbling (21 per cent) 

4. Stretching (14 per cent) 

5. Holes (12 per cent)