Bed linen could be the deal-breaker when it comes to final success in the bedroom, according to new research of 2,000 UK adults by Cotton USA in association with Drapers magazine.

It seems that singletons could be falling at the last hurdle, with 43 per cent listing football team-themed sheets as the biggest turn-off.

Other themed bed linen, such as Star Wars, follows closely behind as a repellent for over 20 per cent of those polled.

A shocking 18 per cent of singles admitted that their sheets were changed by their parents and, when left to their own devices, over a fifth of singletons only change their bed linen once a month with almost a fifth of singles believing it acceptable to use and keep a duvet cover for over 10 years, the statistics imply that with no one to impress, they are slacking in the cleanliness department.

Durability and the look and feel of fabric are top of the consumer list when buying a new set of bed linen, demonstrating that quality is crucial.

However, with over three- quarters of unattached shoppers spending only £50 or less on a new set of bedding, it is clear that the recession has taken its toll on consumer buying habits.