TV star urges Sheffield to spring clean

As part of National Spring Cleaning Week, a mobile phone network has teamed up with '˜How Clean Is Your House' star Aggie MacKenzie, in a bid to spark helpful actions in our homes.
Aggie MckenzieAggie Mckenzie
Aggie Mckenzie

Research shows that we are a nation of hoarders, who take up to six years to clean out drawers of rubbish.

Eighty per cent of us have a drawer we would not like anyone else to visit, claims mobile phone network Three, after it delved in to our homes and habits.

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Their research reveals that Brits just can’t help hoarding, with items such as batteries (69 per cent), Sellotape (66 per cent) and chargers and plugs (63 per cent) bunging up our drawers.

An apparent 57 per cent of us have old ‘phones lying around and, while 70 per cent say we expect to use them again one day, research reveals this is not generally the case.

Three is calling on everyone to spring clean their drawers, and donate old or unused phones within its UK-wide Reconnected scheme.

We are, in general terms, a nation of do-gooders, with 65 per cent of us happy to give our items such as clothes, DVDs and homeware to charity after a clear out. But more than one in five (22 per cent) of us are not aware of recycling options for old phones.

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Partnering with charities and organisations such as housing association the Hyde Group, and the Good Things Foundation, that helps people build digital skills, the Reconnected scheme allocates unused phones to less advantaged members of the community.

Recipients might be at risk of homelessness and looking for work, people who have left the military, or victims of domestic abuse. Those using donated phones are given three months’ free access to the Three network to help further.

TV star Aggie McKenzie said: “These results revealing that eight out of 10 of us have a guilty drawer of hidden mess aren’t surprising – it seems to be a household staple - and whilst its contents can be of use, there are items that would be better used by someone else.

“This is where this Reconnected scheme is a fantastic initiative. Not only does it make us look at the content of our clutter a little differently and do a good deed, it helps those members of the community that need access to a phone and the internet get back on their feet. I’m urging people to donate their old phones to Three.”

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Celina Benedict, Responsible Business Manager at Three, said: “Three is on hand to help make sure that more phones are recycled to help bring connectivity to people who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity.

All Three stores will accept old mobile handsets. Simply pick up a freepost envelope from your local Three store and post your old phone to someone who may really need a helping hand.