Think of all those clothes that can be saved with a little bit of expert help from Dr. Beckmann and our range of Stain Devils.

Stain Devils work harder because each one is specially tailored to a particular stain. This means your clothes end up back in your wardrobe. Not in the bin.

Our study told us that your top five nightmare stains were:

• Cooking Oil
• Grease
• Curry & Sauces
• Tea & Coffee
• Red Wine

To help us ensure we are constantly staying ahead of the game and delivering the best range possible we would like you to answer the following four questions as part of the ‘Stain Survey 2010′. Simply follow the links after each question and we thank you in advance for your participation.

Please click on the links below to view the articles:

• The Daily Telegraph: Click here
• The Daily Star: Click here
• OK Magazine: Click here

• Over half of men vote red as their least favourite underwear colour
• But almost two thirds of women think their men prefer red lingerie
• Black underwear is men’s favourite

It has long been considered the sexiest lingerie colour – the one women wear when they are feeling ‘flirty’ – but no longer, according to Britain’s men at least.

It’s official – red, a favourite for Valentine’s Day underwear is now considered the biggest bedroom turn-off by Brit males, our study has revealed.

An overwhelming 56% of men said that red is their least favourite lingerie colour, with a further 18% admitting they hate pink undies and 11% plumping for flesh-coloured as the biggest turn-off.

It’s clearly a blow for ladies everywhere because the 1,001 women* polled also revealed that when they are buying undies to impress their man, 61% choose red-coloured lingerie believing that is exactly what their man would choose.

But what colour should you buy?

According to the 1,016* men polled, women should opt for simple white or black lingerie if they want to impress their other half in the bedroom.

47% of blokes said black underwear was their favourite on their loved ones, while 34% selected white lingerie as their undie-colour-of-choice.

This is timely advice, as the week leading up to Valentine’s Day is traditionally the period when more underwear is sold in the UK than at any other period of the year.

Steven Simpson, Dr. Beckmann spokesman, said:

Traditionally men have bought red underwear for their girlfriend, wife or lover, in the belief it’s the most romantic and attractive of lingerie.

However, according to our research, the tastes of modern men have changed so ladies it’s now out with the red and in with the more demure black and white if you want to impress your partner.

* Research carried out online on the Dr. Beckmann website – January 2010

• The Daily Express: Click here
• The Daily Mirror: Click here

Brit men own almost twice as many pairs of jeans in a lifetime  (102 pairs on average) as their female counterparts (58 pairs), but this isn’t a fashion statement for designer denim.

Research by laundrycare expert Dr. Beckmann has revealed that it’s men’s dirty habbits and lack of washing that means they go through more jeans than women.

The online survey of 1,750 people* revealed that although men own more than 100 pairs of denims in a lifetime, they only wash their current pair, on average, once every month and wear them around 15 times in between washes.

Women, on the other hand, may own fewer pairs, but they wash them every two weeks (once every 6 wears) and keep jeans for an average of five years, but can hold onto favourite pairs for up to ten years – even if they don’t wear them anymore.

Men spend more than women on jeans too – at the average cost of £81, while women will spend £49. This means that in a lifetime men will spend £8,262 on jeans compared to £2,842 for women.

A hugh 79% of Brits admit they would feel “lost” without at least one pair of dependable denims in their wardrobe.

Brits in their 20s wear their jeans more often than any other age group, wearing jeans four times a week.

Steven Simpson, Dr. Beckmann spokesman, said:

It was quite a surprise that, at least when it comes to jeans, men own more pairs than women. I think, like most people, we assume it would be the other way round.

Women wash and care for their jeans more than men and as a result they can expect a pair of denims to last longer. But it is clear, as a nation, we are very much in love with our jeans and they are a trusted part of our wardrobe.

* Research carried out online on the Dr. Beckmann website – January 2010.

Psychologist Donna Dawson revealed that Brits have an emotional attachment to our favourite items of clothing, which we love and treat just as we would a lifelong friend.

Dawson’s revelation comes off the back of extensive research conducted by stain experts Dr. Beckmann into our clothing habits.

Our study of 2,116 Brits, revealed what is really inside our wardrobes.

30% of Brits have wardrobe contents worth over £1,000 and the average cost of a Brit’s wardrobe contents is £1,327.

People aged 25-34 have the most expensive wardrobes in the UK with 38% having wardrobe contents over £1,000 - the highest percentage of any age category.

According to government census data, there are 17,568,407 women aged between 20 and 65 resident in the UK with at least one wardrobe. That means the total value of women’s wardrobe contents in the UK is 23 billion.  

Brits just can’t bear to part with clothes, as two thirds of us keep items we will never wear again. Women in their 40’s are the most likely to hang onto these clothes.

It seems that Brits are creatures of habit as 63% of Brits wear only half of their clothing on a regular basis showing the love of our favourite pieces.

Men are as style savy as women with a staggering 88% knowing how many suits and pairs of shoes they own.

Despite the emotional attachment Brits have with their clothes, it seems that they don’t know how to take care of them properly. Over a third of women (37%) revealed they would simply throw away a stained item of clothing than attempt to salvage it with a stain remover.  

Dawson explains:

The clothes that we choose reveal to the world who we think we are, or who we want to be. Our self-image and our self-esteem are bound up in the things that we wear.

This makes certain wardrobe items ‘meaningful’ beyond just their colour and fit.

Clothes are not only an extension of our personalities, but they also hold the memories of the places they were worn and the state-of-mind and emotions that we were feeling at the time.

That is why it is so difficult to deal with a stain in an item of favourite clothing, it is emotionally equivalent to breaking up with a best friend.

Steven Simpson, marketing manager at Dr. Beckmann commented on the research study:

It’s clear that Brits love their clothes and we certainly have an emotional attachment to our favourite oufits.

We predict that consumers will consolidate their choice of products to buy. We will invest in key pieces of clothing so we will need to learn how to love, care and maintain them.

But we were shocked to learn that a massive 37% of women would throw away an item of clothing if it had a stain on it rather than try and rescue it – that’s a lot of wasted garments!

Dr. Beckmann has a product to treat almost any stain so most items of clothing can be worn again prolonging the life of those beloved items.

*Total sample size was 2,116 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken in 2009 and carried out online by YouGov Plc.

Research statistics at a glance:

• The average content cost of a Brit’s wardrobe is £1,327.
• 30% of Brits have wardrobe contents worth over £1,000.
• Two thirds of Brits keep clothes they will never wear again.
• 63% of Brits use less that half of their clothes on a regular basis.
• 88% of men know exactly what is in their wardrobes.
• 37% of women surveyed would throw away an item of clothing if it was stained.
• According to Government census data, there are 17,568,407 women aged between 20 and 65 resident in the UK having one wardrobe warth an average of £1,327 – this equates to 23 billion.
• And for men it’s 17,111,044 equivalent to 22.7 billion.

Below is some of the feedback we received.

Hollyoaks Costume Department:

“We’ve nearly used it up already – we would love some more! We often have stained clothes from when the cast sneak off to eat in their costumes – so it really has come in handy! Thanks!”

Coronation Street Costume Department:

“Loved the kit. We used it on everything from the props to the costumes. Fantastic – can’t describe how useful it was!”

Phil Tarling – long list of clients including BAFTA, The Brits, GMTV, X Factor, Dancing on Ice, Fearne Cotton, Lisa Snowdon and Sienna Miller:

“Now most of my emergency kit is Dr. Beckmann – I can look even more professional! A big thanks – my laundry solutions are in safe hands!”

Ceril Campbell – many clients including Cat Deeley and Zara Phillips:

“Love the kit – thanks. The products are great, I’m sure it will be very useful.”

A WHITE stained shirt is set to raise a fortune for breast cancer research.

International fashion designer, Ben De Lisi, has created a bespoke piece of couture fashion, covered with everyday stains, in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October.

Ben has created the one-off art-piece in collaboration with laundry care expert Dr. Beckmann, to highlight the problem of throwaway fashion and raise much needed funds for charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

The couture shirt, worth £1000, features stunning organza fans created by Ben De Lisi especially for his couture gowns, laced with Swarovski crystals in his signature intricate design, and finished off with grosgrain detailing and French cuffs.

But this is a one-off design with a difference. The piece is covered in everyday STAINS, including red wine, pesto and make up, all designed to highlight how many clothes are thrown away unnecessarily by women every year just because they get a mark on them.

The shirt is worth a minimum of £1000 and will be auctioned for Ben’s chosen charity, Break Through Breast Cancer, on ebay.

Steven Simpson from Dr. Beckmann comments:

“Ben de Lisi and Dr. Beckmann are hoping to raise lots of money for the Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity with the auction of this very unique shirt.”

Dr. Beckmann, the stain experts, surveyed over 1000 women* and found that 38% of them would throw a garment away if it was stained without trying to remove it first. Potentially costing the nation an amazing £8.74Billion a year.**

Simpson continues:

“There has been a recent trend to show that we are moving away from obvious consumption and are choosing to invest in garments that will last. This was shown over the summer with Gok Wan’s motto that women should ‘buy less and wear more’ and now we are continuing this idea through this collaboration with Ben de Lisi.”

Ben De Lisi comments:

“We have a fantastic high street in the UK but often we are encouraged to buy something new rather than look after what we have bought. This is not the most practical solution especially during the current economic climate, so Dr. Beckmann and myself came up with this inventive way to illustrate the problem and what can be done about it.

“I am keen to encourage people to invest carefully in pieces that will last and to take more care of the clothes they have in order to make their wardrobes work harder.”

The Ben De List shirt is stained with the most common stains found on UK clothing – red wine, pesto, make up and tomato ketchup.

Research statistics at a glance

• 37% of women surveyed would throw away an item of clothing if it was stained
• The average content cost of a Brit’s wardrobe is £1,327
• 30% of Brits have wardrobe contents worth over £1,000
• Two thirds of Brits keep clothes they will never wear again
• 63% of Brits use less than half of their clothes on a regular basis
• 88% of men know exactly what is in their wardrobes
• According to Government census data, there are 17,568,407 women aged between 20 and 65 resident in the UK having one wardrobe worth an average of £1,327 – this equates to 23 billion.
• And for men it’s 17,111,044 equivalent to 22.7 billion

The World’s Most Expensive Stained Shirt

Channel 4’s Gok Wan preached to the nation that his ultimate ‘Fashion Fix’ for the British public this year, was to ‘buy less’ and ‘wear more’ by investing in capsule wardrobes.

Dr. Beckmann couldn’t agree more with the fashionista, as the stain expert predicts throwaway fashion is over and Brits will consolidate their clothes and learn how to love, care and maintain them.
With a range of products dedicated to preserving key wardrobe pieces from stain rescue to maintenance solutions, Dr. Beckmann’s range will be your wardrobe’s new best friend.

Banish stains with Stain Devils
A recent survey by Dr. Beckmann reveals that 37% of women would throw an item of clothing away if they got a stain on it. But all those wasted items could be salvaged with a little help from the experts.

Stain Devils are specially tailored for your stain nightmares and work in just three minutes giving you a quick fix for the toughest stains. Go to our Stain Clinic to find the right product for your stain. There are six Stain Devils in the range priced at £1.75 each

Maintain your whites with Glowhite
Laundry detergents alone cannot preserve that as-new brilliance for your whites.

Glowhite works hard to give whites over twice as much glo than using detergent alone – even at 30C. Meaning your whites stay white for a lot longer, and you have more money to spend on other things!

The results can be seen after one wash and continue to build over time. It contains UV Sun Protector to help your clothes protect your skin from the sun’s UV rays. RSP £1.87 for a box of five sachets.

Dry clean at home
Brand new Dry-Clean Only cleans then refreshes your clothes in just 20 minutes, not only saving you trips to the dry cleaners, but hundreds of pounds in dry cleaning bills too.

One Dry-Clean only packet treats a maximum of 12 items and is priced £3.99 for three sheets. This is a cost of 33p per item, as opposed to an average £8 if you take it to the dry cleaners.