Three in 10 adults have changed their shower habits in a bid to save money – with some even washing with their partner according to a new study from One Poll, a consultancy firm.
Researchers found 30 percent are curtailing their showering habits as the cost-of-living crisis bites, with 27 percent worried about how their hygiene routine is impacting bills.
A third of those cutting back are even turning off the water when it’s not needed – such as when conditioning hair – and 11 percent now use dry shampoo instead of washing.
Meanwhile, 17 percent combine a shower with brushing their teeth.
But the typical adult still has six showers a week, lasting an average of eight minutes each time – although three-quarters claim that anything longer than 10 minutes is “too long” to spend in the shower.
The poll of 2,000 adults found 42 percent opt for washing in the morning, compared to 27 percent in the evening – with the most popular times being 7:45 a.m. and 7:54 p.m.
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 [$137] 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 percent 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 percent) and even have a wee (29 percent).
Seven in ten also admitted they let the water run for an average of 17 seconds before getting into the shower.
And 41 percent confessed they never turn the water off mid-way through – while only 15 percent do so when exfoliating, and 18 percent 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 percent) and face masks (12 percent) 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, with 31 percent complaining others spend too much time under the water – while 26 percent have been accused of this themselves.
Of those polled, via OnePoll, 44 percent have been known to wash more than once a day – including after exercising (48 percent), before attending an event (41 percent), and following sex (33 percent).
But 32 percent admitted they feel dirty if they don’t shower every day – although 18 percent 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.”
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
