1 in 8 Australians Struggling to Afford Basic Hygiene: Survey

A survey shows 12 percent of Australians are sacrificing hygiene products to meet other living costs.

A shopper moves along an aisle at a grocery store in Sydney, Australia, on March 25, 2025. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

More than one in eight Australians are going without basic hygiene items like soap and toothpaste, new data shows, as charities warn of a deepening crisis affecting people’s health and ability to participate in daily life.

A survey commissioned by Good360 Australia has revealed that millions are struggling to afford personal hygiene and household cleaning products, with around 12 percent of respondents saying they had recently skipped such purchases to cover other basic needs.

Alison Covington, managing director of Good360, said the findings exposed a “heartbreaking reality” playing out across the country.

“Hygiene poverty is a hidden crisis. People are going without soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and feminine hygiene products,” she said.

“It affects their physical and mental wellbeing, causes embarrassment and shame, and often forces them to avoid work, school or social interactions.”

According to the survey of 1,000 people, 14 percent reported being unable to afford cleaning products in the past six months, while 12 percent had experienced hygiene poverty for the first time.

Another 19 percent feared they would soon be unable to purchase essential hygiene goods.

Women, Young Hit Hardest

Nearly one in three young people and just over one in five women expressed concerns about affording hygiene and cleaning products.

In Sydney’s southwest, Liverpool Women’s Health Centre supports more than 5,000 women annually. Chief Executive Kate Meyer said demand for donated items such as deodorant, soap, and sanitary products has surged.

“Women you wouldn’t expect are checking our freebie table at reception, and their eyes light up when they see essentials,” Meyer said.

“They’re thrilled and so grateful. One elderly client was over the moon when we gave her incontinence products—that shouldn’t bring joy, it should be standard in her grocery shop.”

Wider Poverty Crisis

The issue extends beyond hygiene. A separate survey by the Salvation Army, which gathered responses from more than 3,500 people relying on its services, found many struggling Australians are being forced to choose between cleanliness, food, and education.

The research, released alongside the charity’s fundraising campaign in June, showed 43 percent of participants couldn’t afford basics like toilet paper or menstrual products, and over one-third had to wash using only cold water.

“The lengths that Australians are having to resort to in order to survive is truly heartbreaking,” said Salvation Army Major Bruce Harmer. “Behind each of these statistics are real people—many of whom feel trapped in poverty with no hope.”

More than one-third of respondents also admitted their children had missed school because they couldn’t afford public transport or fuel.

According to the Australian Council of Social Services, over 3.3 million Australians are now living below the poverty line.

AAP contributed to this article.