National Hygiene Week shines light on deepening UK hygiene poverty crisis – nearly 10M UK adults affected

The latest survey of 4,297 UK adults, commissioned by In Kind Direct from YouGov, paints a stark picture this National Hygiene Week of the deepening crisis throughout the UK as now nearly 10 million adults are unable to access basic hygiene products.

Research reveals nearly 1 in 5 UK adults (10m) are currently living in hygiene poverty, up by almost 1 million compared to 2023 data 

Countless stories reveal that a number of UK adults are “embarrassed to ask for period products”, children are being bullied at school, and low-income families are watering down products to make them last longer as crisis peaks.  26% of householders with children are living in hygiene poverty

Not only is the number of people in hygiene poverty growing, but the experience is also deepening. Charity In Kind Direct believes that every person deserves access to life’s essentials and no one should have to choose between eating and keeping clean. Unfortunately, of households with children who are going without, almost 1 in 10 (8%) report their child being more anxious and being bullied at school.

The mental health effects of going without personal hygiene products, mean those living in hygiene poverty are disproportionately impacted by daily tasks, like seeing friends or attending job interviews, making it progressively harder to get by. Of UK adults living in hygiene poverty:

• 45% are full time workers 
• 1 in 4 (26%) feel anxious or worried
• 1 in 5 (20%) are watering down products (to make them last longer)
• 1 in 10 (11%) are taking toilet roll from public bathrooms
• 19% are brushing their teeth less than twice a day
• 19% are not using deodorant 
• 13% are skipping washing their hair for two or more weeks

The number of people facing hygiene poverty is shown to be constantly rising and hasn’t shown any sign of slowing, now at 19%, up from 14% in August 2023, suggesting that increasing numbers of people cannot afford everyday personal hygiene products often taken for granted by many, such as toothpaste, shower gel and period products.