A new study has revealed that 83 per cent of Brits regularly sniff their clothes to decide whether they need washing.

The research by Philips found that the vast majority of people use the 'sniff test' to determine how fresh their clothes are.

Most people do not put their clothes away after washing, with 86 per cent leaving them out.

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A third of Brits said that they let clothes pile up for a month or more.

Chairs and other furniture often get buried in piles of clothes, with 24 per cent of people leaving clothes on the stairs, 13 per cent on the floor, and 12 per cent on desks.

Those aged 18 to 24 are the worst offenders, according to the study.

In a bid to avoid washing, more than one in 10 Brits wear t-shirts up to four times before cleaning them.

Almost a third use their underwear twice before changing it, and five per cent wear their underwear six times before putting it in the wash.

Nearly a third of the population (31 per cent) regularly leave the house in unironed clothes, and a quarter would attend a job interview in creased attire.

Philips' in-house product expert, Lamprini Fameli, said: "It’s clear that Brits are falling out of love with their laundry routine, leaving clothes unironed and stacked around the house for weeks or months at a time.

“Our findings show that ironing can be time consuming, so if you’re looking to avoid the dreaded tower of terror in your home, why not invest in a steam generator iron, which can dramatically cut the time it takes for you to iron large batches of clothes."

Ms Fameli added: "If ironing isn’t for you, no problem.

"A handheld steamer is the best way to freshen up individual items.

"What’s more, a steamer like the 3000 series is compact and quick to use, heating up in just 30 seconds."