Whiff-free zone: Ulster folk are UK’s biggest personal hygiene spenders

The average spend per month on personal care products in Northern Ireland totals £35.36, compared to £27.74 in England, Wales £22.20 and £28.18 in Scotland.

The findings come as a result of a study of 2,000 UK adults, which revealed major differences in personal hygiene routines in the winter compared to the summer months. Many Northern Ireland people admit to halving the amount of time they spend in the bathroom during the colder weather. Half-an-hour a day is the average amount of time spent on personal hygiene, however more than a quarter of adults admit to reducing this during the winter.

Part of the reason for this seasonal difference is of course that we get less hot and sweaty during the winter months, meaning we feel clean for longer (57% of respondents cited this as a reason for their change in hygiene habits in the winter), but many Northern Ireland residents admit that it’s simply too cold to shower so frequently in winter.

As many as 34% in the UK admit to bathing or showering less frequently in the winter months, with a quarter of adults preferring to spend more time in bed as the cold dark days of winter leave us feeling more tired. Meanwhile, for women in particular personal pampering such as leg shaving and looking after their feet is deemed unnecessary once the summer is over and it’s time to cover up. 65% of women shave less their legs less frequently in the winter and 56% stated that their feet are somewhat neglected in the colder months.

Raffaela De Vittorio, Marketing Director for Geberit AquaClean, which conducted the study, said: “We all know that personal hygiene is an important part of our daily routine; from showering to brushing our teeth we spend a significant part of our time in the bathroom focused on personal cleanliness.

“However, during the winter months many of us would rather grab some extra time under a warm duvet than in the bathroom, which is where the latest shower toilet technology really comes into its own. Gently cleaning you with warm water after each use, the Geberit AquaClean shower toilet ensures healthy personal hygiene levels are maintained whatever the weather.”

While 15% of people would consider installing a shower toilet, currently just 6% of the survey’s respondents from throughout the UK enjoy the benefits of using one, with the most popular way of cleaning after using the toilet being with wet wipes (40%), closely followed by showering (19%). However, taking a shower can be a time consuming task, particularly when compared to using a shower toilet, which cleans with water to leave the user feeling fresh and clean all day long, in next to no time. This is also a good water-saving alternative too, with the latest shower toilet from Geberit, the AquaClean Mera, using just 0.9litres of water per wash, which is minimal in comparison to showering or bathing.

Despite people taking less time to clean themselves during the winter months, a staggering 10% of adults admit that they don’t change their underwear every day, with 1% even owning up to doing so less than once a week!

“While it’s true that our bodies actually require more personal hygiene maintenance in the summer months, we should maintain steady hygiene habits throughout the year,” continues Raffaela.

“The research shows that despite us spending less time in the bathroom during the winter months, our desire to feel fresh and clean is just as strong as it is in the summer and with such a high percentage of people admitting to not changing their underwear regularly, a shower toilet ensures that personal hygiene levels are maintained no matter what the season is.”

The Geberit AquaClean is available from retailers nationwide. To find out more visit geberit-aquaclean.co.uk or call 0800 032 9629.