Media Coverage
AAP; July 9, 2024
Millions of Australians are living in hygiene poverty as the soaring cost of living leaves many unable to afford soap, shampoo and deodorant, a survey has found.
More than four million people, or more than one in seven, recently skipped buying essential personal hygiene or household cleaning products, according to charity Good360 Australia.
“It’s heartbreaking to see families having to choose between heating, eating or keeping clean,” Managing Director Alison Covington AM said on Tuesday.
“Hygiene poverty has profound implications, not just for physical health, but also for mental and emotional wellbeing.”
Hygiene poverty is going without one or more hygiene products because you cannot afford them.
Covington said it was often a precursor to food and fuel poverty, because people were likely to give up products like shampoo before they went without food.
“Hygiene poverty is a hidden issue because it can be embarrassing to talk about,” she said.
“It can mean avoiding a job interview because of concerns over body odour, missing work or school due to a lack of period products, or students being bullied because of hygiene issues.”
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