, their kids outgrowing them (74%) – or uniform simply getting lost (30%). But a third of parents admit they struggle to afford buying new uniform – especially given that one in three find themselves having to do so during term-time, rather than just at the start of every new school year. The research also found that parents will wash school uniforms a total of 1,248 times during their child's school life – setting them back £20.60 in energy bills each academic year. And those who own a tumble dryer will spend an additional £45.45 a year in energy costs, putting uniforms through 1,147 drying cycles in total. Combined, this will set parents back by £924.70 over 14 years of their child's school life – based on current energy costs. A spokesman for Utilita, which commissioned the survey, 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 te){kind=link}
It costs parents £150 a year to buy their kids’ school uniform items – and an extra £20 a year in energy costs to wash them, as well as £45 a year on tumble dryer cycles
Parents are spending almost £1,000 over the course of their child’s school life â just on washing and drying school uniforms, research has found.
These energy costs come on top of the £149.70 a year spent on buying these uniform items in the first place â with the average school-aged child getting through 42 jumpers, 58 shirts, and and 49 pairs of trousers, between the ages of four and 16.
Parents will also have to fork out for 55 polo tops, 55 blouses, and 42 pairs of school shoes during the years their youngsters attend school.
And underwear is the clothing item that needs replacing most often, with the average pupil getting through 89 pairs during their school career â followed by 82 pairs of socks.