Using Fabric Softeners, Drying and Ironing in Germany A non-representative Census of Consumer Behaviour

作者：Braun V^*; Stamminger R

来源：Tenside Surfactants Detergents, 2011, 48(3): 210-220.

DOI：10.3139/113.110124

• Drying
• ironing
• fabric softener
• laundry treatment
• consumer behaviour
• Germany

During the annually arranged Action Day Sustainable Washing on May 10(th), 5284 questionnaires about laundry treatment were collected from private people in Germany with the aim of obtaining information about consumer behaviour and attitudes towards sustainability. This is a non-representative census as only 15% of all respondents were male. Nevertheless, relative distribution and correlation provide a relevant insight into consumers' behaviour towards washing, drying and ironing. The most important results of the analysis can be summed up as follows:
Nearly 50% of the respondents own a laundry-dryer.
Nearly one third of all respondents never use fabric softeners. The prevention of ecological damage was the reason for not using fabric softeners for 30% of the respondents.
About one fourth of all respondents always use fabric softeners, with younger people having a significantly higher attitude towards using them.
Under good weather conditions, about 90% of the respondents choose energy-saving alternatives to dry their laundry.
The average weekly time spent on ironing is about two hours on average of all respondents who gave information.
The analysis shows that laundry treatment beyond the pure washing process is a multi-faceted process with several starting points of improvement in favour of sustainable handling.

• 出版日期2011-6