THE cost-of-living crisis has led to people cutting back on washing and cleaning a leading charity has warned.

Citizens Advice Scotland found rising energy bills are leaving people with less to spend on hygiene.

The advice charity said people are taking a bath or shower less often and are cutting back spending on toiletries and sanitary products.

The survey found 48% of adults in Scotland, around 2.2 million people have had to cut back on household spending.

It estimated 42%, an estimated 927,987 adults, are showering or bathing less.

Almost half, 48%, equivalent to more than one million adults, were using domestic cleaning appliances like dishwashers or washing machines less.

And 15%, an estimated 331,424, were cutting back on buying toiletries and sanitary products.

The charity is running the Big Energy Saving Winter campaign to encourage people worried about energy bills and the cost of living to seek advice.

David Hilferty, CAS Social Justice spokesperson said: “As the cost of living crisis continues to impact households, people are changing their behaviours in drastic ways to meet essential daily activities.

“In some cases that will be sensible cutbacks to keep prices under some sort of control, but there is a risk of long-term health impacts for vulnerable people.

“We would encourage anyone worried about the cost of bills to seek help from the CAB network.

“We are for everyone, whether they are working or not. We don’t judge, we just help.

“Our advisers get real results. Last year we unlocked £132 million for people, and people who saw a financial benefit from seeking advice on average were over £4200 better off.

“People can visit www.cas.org.uk/besw and find an advice option that works for them, whether that is one on one advice from their local CAB or online help from a variety of sources. “

As part of preparing for the Big Energy Saving Winter campaign, CABs across Scotland held a focus group with vulnerable consumers to get their insights into the crisis.

One told the group: “I’m using my local council leisure card to go to the leisure centre twice a week for a shower. At 50p a time, it is cheaper than using the energy at home.”

Further examples from the groups included a participant saying they were using an egg timer to time their showers, and people using the washing machine less and hand-washing in the sink with colder water.