Brits will spend a total of four years of their lives lounging on the sofa, indulging in activities such as eating, sleeping, working and watching TV. A survey of 2,000 adults revealed that they typically spend 97.5 minutes on the settee every day, or even more if they’re engrossed in their favourite series. Over the average adult lifespan of 62.6 years, this amounts to more than 4.2 years.
For 43 per cent, the sofa is where they spend the most time compared to anywhere else in their home. More than a third confessed they can’t envision a day without sitting on their sofa, with 37 per cent declaring it as their happy place.
The study, commissioned by Febreze for its ‘sofa confessions’ campaign to launch its new Fabric Refresher, discovered that a quarter will binge-watch TV for two or more hours from the comfort of their sofa.
An additional 23 per cent manage to squeeze in a solid hour’s nap regularly on the sofa, while 21 per cent use it as their workspace, spending around two hours a day on it.
However, despite the significant amount of time spent on the sofa, only half of the nation take the time to clean it. Two thirds have never even contemplated the odours that might be trapped in the sofa.
A spokesperson for Febreze, said: “A sofa is clearly one of the places people spend the most time when at home. Yet for all the time we spend on our sofas, we rarely give them the same attention as, say, the kitchen or bathroom.
“While most of us wouldn’t dream of letting our bed go un-made or wearing the same clothes every week without washing them, many can’t remember the last time they properly refreshed their sofa – if ever.
“We want to encourage the nation to recognise and champion the heroic role their sofas play in their lives – not just as a place to sit, but as the heart of the home.”
The study revealed people frequently discover everything from food crumbs to misplaced items tucked away behind their settee. However, a third blame a lack of time on not taking care of their sofa, and will only give it a clean if there is visible mess or dirt.
As a result, almost a third worry whether their settee has a certain smell people may notice when they visit, with 18 per cent even feeling embarrassed when their sofa doesn’t smell fresh for new visitors.
To help save time on cleaning or freshening up, 75 per cent enforce ‘sofa rules’ that must be observed in the household, including no footwear, no bouncing – and no takeaways.
Febreze’s spokesperson added: “It’s easy to forget that sofas absorb a lot more than just our weight – from crumbs and pet hair to sweat and odours.
“And because we see them as part of our comfort routine, we often overlook the fact that they can quietly build up odours over time – out of sight, out of mind.
“We hope to help people quickly fight trapped odours around the home and instantly freshen up soft furnishings – from sofas to clothing and towels – especially in places we don’t always think to refresh, but love to sink into.”
TOP 10 SOFA RULES:
- No shoes on the sofa
- No jumping on the sofa
- No dirty clothes worn on the sofa
- Leave the sofa as you found it (e.g. throws and cushions neat)
- No pets on the sofa
- No takeaways on the sofa
- No feet (regardless of shoes or socks) on the sofa
- No hot drinks on the sofa
- No snacks on the sofa
- No denim worn on the sofa
