DUDS WITH SUDS
Half of under-25s can’t work a washing machine or iron a shirt
BY TRICIA PHILLIPS
HALF of UK adults aged under 25 don’t know how to use a washing machine and can’t iron a shirt, a survey has revealed.
Seven in 10 people of all ages don’t know how to change a tyre but six in 10 do know how to create a social media account and set up a smart phone.
Less than half can wire a plug, falling to one in five for 16-24 year-olds.
Just two in five younger people could manage to change a lightbulb.
The survey, from financial giant Aviva, found the gulf between tech tasks and practical chores is widening, especially for younger people.
While life skills are changing across the generations, young people are sharing their techie know-how with parents.
A fifth of under-25s have shown a parent how to use hastags on social media, a third have told them how to post updates on social media and almost a third have taught a parent how to take a selfie. Gareth Hemming of Aviva said: “It’s fascinating to see how life skills are changing and which forms of knowledge are being shared across generations.
“However, not everything can be done online, so there’s a place for practical skills too. Our analysis shows that bodged DIY jobs can cost UK households more than £7billion a year.”