How clean are Brits? New YouGov survey reveals hygiene habits

Earlier this year, the NHS issued warnings about rising flu cases, bringing renewed attention to the importance of hand hygiene and surface cleanliness. Against this backdrop, a new YouGov Surveys: Serviced poll looks at how often adults in UK follow everyday hygiene routines. From brushing teeth and showering to disinfecting phones and using hand sanitiser, the findings highlight which habits are widely practiced, which are often overlooked, and where clear differences appear between men and women.

Toothbrushing is consistent—but flossing is far less common

Brushing teeth is one of the most widely maintained hygiene routines across the population. Nearly three-quarters of UK adults (72%) say they brush more than once a day, and another 23% brush once daily. However, a gender divide appears here: women are more likely than men to brush more than once daily (79% vs. 65%), with men slightly more likely to brush only once (28%).

Flossing, on the other hand, is less embedded in daily routines. Around 35% of adults floss at least once a day, and one in five (20%) say they never do. Men are more likely than women to skip flossing altogether (25% vs. 16%).

Showering, hair washing, and grooming show strong habits—but also gender contrasts

Nearly half (46%) of UK adults shower or bathe daily, and this figure is consistent between men and women. However, hair washing shows a stronger split. While 34% of men wash their hair every day, only 13% of women do the same. The most common routine among women is washing two to three times a week (50%), compared to 30% of men — showing a different approach to haircare.

Cleaning under fingernails is a habit that varies widely. Just under a third (29%) of all adults say they do this once a day, 13% say 4-6 times a week, and another 15% say 2-3 times a week.

Women are much more likely than men to clean under their fingernails once a day (36% vs. 22%). Men are also more likely to say they never clean under their nails (7% vs. 3%).

This gap is similar across several other categories. For example, 64% of women apply deodorant once a day compared to 55% of men, and 22% of women do so more than once daily versus 18% of men.

Hand hygiene holds strong after the toilet, but drops before meals

The majority of UK adults (82%) say they always wash their hands after using the toilet — slightly higher among women (85%) than men (78%). Handwashing before meals, however, sees a drop-off: only 36% say they always wash their hands before eating, and nearly a quarter (24%) say they only sometimes do. Here, men and women are more closely aligned.

When soap isn’t available, one in three adults (34%) always use hand sanitiser. But again, women show more consistent behaviour, with 40% always using it compared to 28% of men.

Cleaning habits around the home show uneven frequency

Household hygiene habits are more variable. When it comes to disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, 34% of adults say they do this once a day or more. 

Toilet cleaning is a standard practice among all. Weekly cleaning is the most common (30%), with little differences between women and men.

Device cleaning is a low-priority task for many. Only 14% of adults clean their phone, laptops, or other device screens daily, and around one in six (16%) say they do so less than once a month. 

Laundry habits are mostly consistent—but bed linen changes vary

Towel-changing is fairly regular, with 44% doing so weekly and another 21% doing so multiple times per week. Bed linens are less frequently changed: 39% of adults say they change their sheets weekly, while 37% do so every two to three weeks.

Methodology: YouGov Surveys: Serviced provides quick survey results from nationally representative or targeted audiences in multiple markets. This study was conducted online on 7-8 April 2025, with a nationally representative sample of 2,185 adults in the United Kingdom (aged 18+ years), using a questionnaire designed by YouGov. Data figures have been weighted by age, gender, education and region to be representative of all adults. Learn more about YouGov Surveys: Serviced.

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