New research has revealed rising living costs are forcing new households into hygiene poverty, with two in five people (41%) affected saying they have experienced hygiene poverty for the first time this year.
Data from charities In Kind Direct and The Hygiene Bank, released to mark last months National Hygiene Week (5th 11thOctober 2026), shows the scale of the growing crisis across the UK.
Nearly one in five (18%) UK adults, equivalent to an estimated 9.6 million people, say they or someone in their household has gone without toiletries, hygiene or cleaning products in the past six months because they could not afford them.
The situation looks set to worsen, with over a third (36%) of UK adults expecting to go without at least one essential hygiene product in the next six months. A further 30% say it has already become a regular occurrence, happening weekly or monthly in their household.
Toilet roll is the item people are most likely to forgo (47%), followed by deodorant (43%), shampoo and conditioner (39%) and laundry and cleaning products (38%). More than a quarter (28%) of those experiencing hygiene poverty also report going without period products.
The research highlights that hygiene poverty sadly extends far beyond physical health, impacting confidence, relationships and mental wellbeing. Nearly half (49%) of those affected by hygiene poverty say they feel embarrassed or ashamed, while over 4 in 10 (45%) report feeling anxious or worried.
More than two in five (43%) have avoided seeing friends or family because they lacked access to essential hygiene products, as this growing crisis continues to force households into impossible everyday choices.
Michael Gidney, CEO of In Kind Direct, says: “These findings should serve as a wake-up call. In our 30 years’ experience, we’re seeing that hygiene poverty is no longer confined to the households you might expect. We know it disproportionately affects people from lower socio-economic backgrounds and renters, but we’re now seeing it reach families who, until recently, considered themselves financially secure. One family told us that, even with two full-time incomes in their household, they’re in overdraft and struggling. That’s the reality for a growing number of working households across the UK.
“We must see the consequences of hygiene poverty as a public health issue, an education issue and an economic issue, because it can damage every part of daily life, limiting opportunities and compounding over time. It affects people’s ability to work, to learn, and to participate in society.
“For the first time, we have the clearest picture of hygiene poverty in the UK, through this new research conducted by In Kind Direct and The Hygiene Bank. With 9.6 million people experiencing hygiene poverty in the UK, the question is no longer whether the crisis exists, it’s whether we are all willing to act with the urgency this evidence demands. That’s why, together with The Hygiene Bank, we’re calling on government, businesses and communities to help us build a roadmap to end hygiene poverty for good.”
Ruth Brock, CEO of The Hygiene Bank, says: “This research confirms what our volunteers are seeing every day in communities across the UK: hygiene poverty is growing and is no longer a hidden or marginal issue. More people are facing impossible choices over everyday essentials, causing acute misery and long-term harm. Hygiene poverty is wrecking lives today and damaging life chances and opportunities for tomorrow. This is simply wrong. But our job is to remain hopeful – and, more importantly, to act.
“Our work continues to sit at the intersection of immediate crisis response and long-term systemic change. That means getting essential products to people who need them today, while also working towards a future where that support is no longer needed. Together with In Kind Direct, we are calling on government, businesses, charities and communities to help us build a roadmap to end hygiene poverty for good because everyone deserves to feel clean.
The public can help today. By donating product in one of our hundreds of drop-off points in Boots stores, by giving time as a volunteer and sharing the findings of the research, you can join our community which is already stepping up to take action.”
The research was funded by Boots, who has partnered with The Hygiene Bank and In Kind Direct for several years.