Brits could save over £100 a year – by halving the amount of time they spend showering, a study has found.
A poll of 2,000 adults found the typical person showers six times a week, for an average of eight minutes each time – although things like shaving and hair masks add on minutes to their time spent under the water.
Over a quarter (26%) have been accused by someone in their household of spending too long in the shower, while 31% have complained that others they live with are guilty of this.
However, 30% have amended their shower habits in the face of rising energy bills – with one in ten (11%) even swapping washing their hair for using dry shampoo, instead.
More than one in four (27%) worry about how their hygiene routing is impacting their energy bills – with a third turning off the water mid-shower if it is not needed, such as when they are conditioning their hair.
And 17% try to conserve water by brushing their teeth while in the shower – with anything longer than 10 minutes deemed “too long” to spend in the shower, according to three-quarters of those polled.
The most popular showering times are 7.45am, and 7.54pm – as the study found 42% would rather opt for a wash in the morning, compared to just 27% in the evening.
A spokesman for energy firm Utilita, which commissioned the research as part of its Bill Busters energy education sessions, said: “While the cost of heating up water is so expensive, households are clearly keen to do what they can to save, including showering together to cut costs by half.
“By cutting the average shower time in half – to four minutes – we can each save £112 a year, which could be spent on food shopping or other outgoings instead, and in doing so we reduce the impact we have on the environment, too.”
The research also found only 74% of the time in a shower is spent washing, with the rest of the time spent doing other things such as cleaning it.
Others admit they listen to podcasts (15%), and even have a wee (29%).
Seven in ten also admitted they let the water run for an average of 17 seconds before getting into the shower.
And 41% confessed they never turn the water off mid-way through – while only 15% do so when exfoliating, and 18% do as they wait for conditioner to set.
It also emerged shower times increase by an average of three minutes when adults wash their hair three times a week, while shaving adds on five additional minutes, which people do twice a week.
Women also frequently use hair masks (17%) and face masks (12%) in the shower, both of which add on seven minutes to the standard time.
As a result, people argue with others in their household three times a week about washing times, according to the OnePoll survey.
And 44% have even been known to wash more than once a day – including after exercising (48%), before attending an event (41%), and following sex (33%).
But 32% admitted they feel dirty if they don’t shower every day – although 18% often lose track of time, and forget how long they’ve been under the water.
As a result, a fifth would like to know how to have a more efficient shower.
Utilita’s spokesman added: “Until you’ve given the four-minute shower challenge a go it’s hard to imagine cutting your shower time in half, but it’s actually very easy with a bit of practice.”
