- In study the elderly people are the most likely to wash infrequently
- Most now see having a bath as a way to relax rather than way to get clean
- The obsession with daily washing could be contributing to the growing number of people suffering from autoimmune diseases, such as eczema
By
Emma Innes
08:10 EST, 27 January 2014
|
08:10 EST, 27 January 2014
Some 40 per cent of British people say they have one shower or bath every day
Most people see having a shower as an essential part of their daily routine, but new research suggests not everyone in the UK is so particular about their personal hygiene.
Researchers found that almost a fifth of Britons wash just four times a week or less.
However, it seems the British are gradually improving their bathing habits as elderly people are much the most likely to wash infrequently.
Researchers at the Universities of Manchester, Edinburgh, Lancaster and Southampton spoke to 1,802 people and discovered that most now shower daily.
They say that the days of bathing and flannel washing are almost gone.
Indeed, only 29 per cent of people flannel wash and most see it as complementary to a daily shower, rather than as an alternative.
Their research also revealed that most people now see bathing as part of a pampering or relaxation routine rather than as a way to dislodge dirt.
However, while frequent washing may make people seem more wholesome, it could be having negative health impacts.
Dr Alison Browne, who is based at The University of Manchester’s Sustainable Consumption Institute, said: ‘Our findings show that nowadays nearly three quarters of respondents have at least one bath or shower every day.
‘As a society, we seem to be heading down a path of hyper-cleanliness.’
She added: ‘If the trend for more than once daily showering takes hold across the rest of the population, this not only has serious implications for energy and water sustainability, but it may also have a wider range of health impacts too.
‘It’s obviously really important to wash our hands after using the bathroom or sneezing to stop the spread of bugs.
‘However, scientists are increasingly saying our hygiene obsession has adversely impacted on health, especially autoimmune and other related diseases.
‘Unfortunately, it does seem likely that these infrequent patterns of practice are not being transmitted to younger people, and there is a risk that they may disappear altogether or are being taken over by much more water intensive norms.’
Many people see having a bath, as opposed to a shower, as a way to relax rather than as a way to dislodge dirt
About 30 per cent of Britons now take more than one shower a day.
These tend to be people who either do a lot of sport or who just enjoy the process of bathing.
Most common, however, is to have one bath or shower a day – 40 per cent of the population fall into this bracket.
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RW,
LONDON, United Kingdom,
5 minutes ago
So many folk have just utterly disgustingly filthy personal habits and poor personal hygiene
MISSY,
london, United Kingdom,
6 minutes ago
I shower twice a day I like to feel clean and fresh,don’t understand people that don’t wash makes me think their homes are filthy too
Icouldbesogoodforyou,
London, United Kingdom,
8 minutes ago
Yes I can tell when getting public transport. Also, I get the feeling some people do not brush their teeth.
dd_med,
somewhere, United Kingdom,
26 minutes ago
I shower twice a day. To be honest smelly people are usually poor people because they can’t afford the water.
Josef,
Siberia,
27 minutes ago
Get a wash when yours or your other halfs’nose tells you.
Ubed Khan,
London,
55 minutes ago
I have a bath once every other month. Sue me.
Soor Ploom,
City of Light,
56 minutes ago
This is particularly applicable to London as it seems that many of its inhabitants find washing an alien culture. Many areas in that dreadful place stink to high heaven.
Alan,
Des Moines Iowa US,
56 minutes ago
Do the French still take annual baths?
Real World,
Universe, United States,
59 minutes ago
Europeans stink…and so do Iranians..
Just Me,
The North, United Kingdom,
27 minutes ago
MISSY,
london, United Kingdom,
10 minutes ago
stu2500,
Newcastle, United Kingdom,
1 hour ago
Twe showers a day. I could not go to work without a shower in the morning
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