10 hours ago
Loo roll alert to UK households over 'small' habit costing £360 a year
New research has found that UK households could save up to £360 a year on toilet paper by switching where they buy it and stopping one thing
UK households could save as much as £360 annually on toilet paper by following a straightforward tip, according to experts. Studies indicate that the average household spends £428 per year on toilet paper, but that this figure could be significantly reduced.
The purchase of this household essential is unnecessarily costing UK households hundreds. New research conducted by Victorian Plumbing, which analysed the habits of 1,000 individuals, discovered that the average Brit uses eight sheets of toilet paper per visit.
This equates to an estimated 56 sheets daily. Victorian Plumbing also compared the cost of the big four supermarkets' own-brand toilet rolls against the UK's most popular brand, reports Birmingham Live.
On average, these own-brand sheets cost 21p each. This means the UK's leading brand is over 150 per cent more expensive per sheet than the average of supermarket own-brand alternatives, equating to a total saving of £184.32 per year, per household.
Alex Woods, a bathroom expert at Victorian Plumbing, states: "With inflation, supply chain pressures, and raw material shortages all pushing prices up, the humble toilet roll is starting to no longer be the minor household expense it once was.
"While costs may be rising, there are still simple, practical steps we can take to reduce usage and the costly impact. When one small habit costs the UK nearly £3 billion a year, every sheet really does count."
Cheeky Wipes suggests: "Instead of adding a 9 pack to your weekly shopping (average household of 4 usage), buy in bulk if you've got the storage space. Comparing on Ocado, buying a 9 pack of Cheeky Panda works out at 88p per roll. By comparison, 24 pack of their loo roll will work out at 83p per roll.
"Shopping at wholesale type spaces such as Costco etc can obviously save even more."
The company advises: "Another cost effective way to save money on toilet roll is to use less of it. If the 'average' person uses 8 to 9 sheets of toilet paper, reducing it by 2 sheets per visit will save 25% off your annual spend.
"Of course let's be honest.
"Most men will only use loo roll for a poo.
"And women shouldn't need to use anywhere near that amount for a pee.
"So are some people really using 20 sheets per poo?"
It comes after a doctor went viral on TikTok after sharing a video warning about the dangers of using the loo roll in public toilets.
Dr Sermed Mezher, a Manchester-based GP, posted the video and it racked up over one million views.
In it, Dr Mezher shares a photo of a large roll of toilet paper that is covered in scratches and spots of blood, saying: "If you go to a public restroom and the toilet paper has marks like this, do not use it."
