Iowan’s Waste 14 Hours Each Year Looking for Lost Items: Illinois and Wisconsin Search Even Longer

Guilty as charged. I can't count the number of times I've "lost" my wallet, keys, or cell phone. And that's just from walking around my house. In fact, according to a study from Shane Co., American's spend on average about 1.5 hours monthly searching for lost items. And in Iowa, that number is actually... lower.

In the heart of the American Midwest, Iowa stands out in the crowd when it comes to the habits of losing and finding items, according to a recent survey of 2,000 individuals, while the average American misplaces items about five times a month, residents of Iowa seem to have a more forgetful streak, losing an average of 4.8 items each month. This places Iowa at the 31st spot out of 44 states surveyed, suggesting that the Hawkeye State may be better than average for scatterbrains compared to the rest of the nation.

However, the time spent searching for these misplaced items in Iowa is noteworthy. While the average American invests around 17 hours per year in the search, Iowans dedicate a significantly smaller 14 hours per year to the hunt. This amounts to around 4 seconds a day spent scouring for lost belongings. On average, most Americans take about 16 minutes to find a lost item.

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Midwest comparisons show Wisconsin spending 17 hours a year searching, while missing around 57 items per year. Illinois spends 17 hours searching, while losing around 69 items per year.

The top three items lost in the state mirror the national trend – phones, keys, and remotes. Other notable items include glasses, headphones, and chargers. Interestingly, Iowa residents find themselves on a different scale of the search spectrum compared to the national extremes. As the search marathon leaders, Oklahoma spends over 30 hours a year seeking out their lost belongings, while efficiency champions in Maryland spend only 9 hours and 45 minutes annually.

By the way, if you're still searching for that lost item maybe check these locations. In the couch, in your recently worn clothing, where you usually leave said item, and in your car.

These findings offer a glimpse into the everyday lives of Iowans and highlights the unique characteristics that set the Midwest apart. So, how often do you lose things?