One in five (21%) Brits rate themselves as ‘incredibly’ clean, but new research has revealed that two in five of us (42%) are hiding a putrid practice.

Findings uncovered that one in five (20%) often wipe their greasy hands on their clothes, 18% don’t change the bed covers and 17% said they didn’t shower regularly.

17% of Brits also admitted they regularly wear dirty socks and 15% confessed they don’t wash their hands after using the toilet.

However, the research, commissioned by LG Electronics - whose self-sanitising TONE Free earbuds kill 99.9% of bacteria via their LG UVnano case - also revealed the nation are overlooking the hygiene factor of a plethora of frequently used tech devices.

Respondents admitted they forget to regularly clean devices such as mobile phones (49%), computer keyboards (37%), laptops (31%) and mouses (27%).

Furthermore, despite a third of Brits (33%) wearing earbuds for up to two hours per day, almost one in five (19%) are forgetting to clean them, even though they can often harbour gut-bacteria, commonly found on a toilet seat1. 

NHS doctor and former Embarrassing Bodies presenter, Dr Dawn Harper, said: “We have all become more hygiene conscious during the course of the pandemic and most of us are much better at washing our hands and wiping down surfaces, but bacteria can lurk in some of the most unexpected places.

"I was part of a project on the dirtiest places in our homes and we swabbed everything from toilet seats to door handles, and found one of the dirtiest places was actually the handle of the kettle!

"I have always wiped down my keyboard and mouse, but today I am - like many - spending much more of my life in virtual meetings.

"I’ve realised that considering the hygiene of the tech devices we interact with every day includes earbuds and is important."

Several studies have shown that earbuds can harbour more bacteria than a kitchen cutting board, leading to potential ear infections2. 

James Thomas, Home Entertainment Product Manager at LG Electronics, said: “We want our products to help make people’s lives better and we are continually striving to produce new tech innovations that enable this.

"Our LG TONE Free earbuds not only deliver an exceptional listening experience with incredible audio thanks to Meridian Audio technology, but some also have an industry-first UVnano case, which eliminates bacteria on the earbuds as they charge.

"Using built-in ultraviolet light, LG’s slim charging case helps to keep listeners’ ears healthier by eliminating 99.9 per cent of E. coli and S. aureus3 from the speaker mesh.” 

Buyers can save up to £60 on their purchase of LG’s TONE Free earbuds and will also be in with a chance to win the ultimate home entertainment package – an LG OLED C1 65 inch TV, LG SP8 sound bar, LG PL7 portable speaker and LG RP4 speaker, worth over £3,000 in total. 
 
Britain’s top 10 worst personal hygiene habits included:
1.    Wiping your nose on your sleeve 
2.    Wiping greasy hands on your clothes  
3.    Not changing the bed covers and sheets 
4.    Showering infrequently 
5.    Wearing dirty socks 
6.    Licking a knife then using it 
7.    Not washing hands after using the toilet 
8.    Tasting a dish then putting the spoon back in 
9.    Sharing towels 
10.    Double dipping food 

Regionally, the most hygienic area is Gloucester, while people in Walsall could do with cleaning up their act if the survey results are anything to go by, as more than one in two (57%) in the region admitted to hiding an unhygienic habit. 

Respondents in Belfast were the worst for forgetting to clean their earbuds (44%), but when it comes to gaming, those in Newport topped the list of the filthiest game controllers in the UK (35%).