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Jul 03, 2023

Underwear and socks are top school uniform items parents most often have to replace

Children will go through 945 school uniform items during their schooling years - including 58 shirts, 42 jumpers, and 40 ties, research has found Sign up to email alerts from our Money Saving Club

Children will go through 945 school uniform items during their schooling years - including 58 shirts, 42 jumpers, and 40 ties, research has found

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Underwear, socks, and tights are the top items parents most commonly have to replace as part of their child's school uniform – with the average mum or dad buying a whopping 945 uniform items over the course of their youngster's school life, a study has found.

From starting school at four years old, through to the age of 16, the average child will go through 58 shirts, 55 blouses, and 55 polo tops – as well as 49 pairs of trousers, and 42 jumpers.

This sets parents back £149.70 each academic year – adding up to a whopping £1,796.40 over the 14 years their child attends school.

But the costs don't stop there, as mums and dads also spend an additional £924.70 during their child's school years – on washing and drying these uniform items.

The research of 1,300 parents, of kids who are in school, found that they put on 1,248 washes, and 1,147 tumble dryer cycles, during their youngster's schooling career.

And this amounts to £20.60 each academic year in energy bills for washing machine use – and an additional £45.45 a year for those who use the tumble dryer, based on current energy costs.

The research was commissioned by Utilita, whose spokesman said: “Back to school is an expensive time for parents, but it doesn’t just stop once the new term has begun.

“Kids are constantly growing, and are also extremely good at wear and tear, so buying or replacing uniform is a constant cycle throughout the entire year – which takes a toll on finances and washing machines.”

It emerged 36% always buy their child a complete new uniform before the start of each school year – with 49% using high-street brands or supermarkets to do so, while 36% say they buy the majority of their kid’s clothes from the designated school uniform shop.

Exactly one in three are often having to replace these items during term time – which is a struggle for 33%, as they admit buying new uniform is difficult to afford.

The main reasons for parents having to replace school clothes include outgrowing them (74%), wear and tear (71%), and losing them (30%).

When these items no longer fit, 39% will donate them to charity, while 35% will give them to the school, and 31% hand them down to a sibling.

And when it comes to branded school uniform, the OnePoll.com study found 87% agree these versions are more expensive than non-branded.

Unluckily for 57%, their child’s school requests that they wear this – which makes it difficult to recycle or reuse once the child no longer needs these items, according to 34%.

To ensure their little one’s uniform lasts as long as possible, 43% buy a few sizes up, so there is more room for them to grow, and 39% will always use family hand-me-downs.

More than four in ten reckon the time to buy new school uniform comes around far too quickly, with only 18% looking forward to this occasion.

And nearly four in ten have a relaxed approach about this, as they will start thinking about it a few weeks before school starts – although 28% prefer to get organised a month in advance.

Utilita has launched its “Smart for School” project, which looks at how families can make small changes to their school uniform habits to save big, while having a positive impact on the planet.

Commenting on the initiative, Archie Lasseter, head of sustainability, said: “Supplementing half of the new items we plan to buy, with pre-worn clothes from the school shop, will chop the school uniform bill in half.

“By doing one uniform wash and dry cycle a week, instead of the average 2.4, this could save parents £168 a year in energy.

“This could be reduced even further by washing at 30 degrees Celsius instead of higher temperatures, and even more if swapping the tumble dryer for a clothes airer. Even having a smart display somewhere visible in the home can effectively contribute to this.”

UTILITA’S TOP FIVE UNIFORM WASHING TIPS:

TOTAL NUMBER OF UNIFORM ITEMS A CHILD WILL GO THROUGH DURING THEIR SCHOOL YEARS: