Many parents know the frustration of trying – and failing – to persuade their teenage children to clean their dirty trainers.
Researchers now know why people might hesitate to take out a damp towel.
A three-year study of 16 to 19-year-olds found they like to keep their trainers filthy to impress friends and ‘show off their life experiences’ – preserving memories of sweaty gigs and muddy music festivals.

A three-year study of 16 to 19-year-olds found they like to keep their trainers filthy to impress friends and ‘show off their life experiences’

Research leader Dr Naomi Braithwaite said teenagers felt that cleaning their trainers risked ‘erasing their meaningfulness’
Research leader Dr Naomi Braithwaite said teenagers felt that cleaning their trainers risked ‘erasing their meaningfulness’.
Nottingham Trent University conducted a study on the shoe preferences of Generation Z youth, born into a image-led social media society.