11 Mar 2026
Hygiene poverty means millions of people in the UK struggle to afford basic items like laundry detergent.
- smol customers can help through the Donate a Wash scheme.
- Turning it on adds 30p to each order, and 2 laundry capsules go to charity.
- This helps provide clean clothes to people who are facing hygiene poverty.
- The Hygiene Bank charity distributes the capsules through food banks, schools and community organisations.
- Thousands of smol customers have already helped donate millions of washes across the UK.
Laundry can feel like a small everyday task.
But for many UK families, accessing clean clothes isn’t always easy.
When money is tight, hygiene essentials like laundry detergent can become something people go without. And this has a ripple effect: from children missing school because uniforms aren’t clean, to adults struggling with confidence when going to work or job interviews.
It’s known as hygiene poverty. And it’s far more common than many of us realise.
What is hygiene poverty?
Hygiene poverty is when someone cannot afford everyday hygiene products.
That might include things like:
- Laundry detergent
- Soap or shampoo
- Deodorant
- Toothpaste
- Period products
Without these essentials, everyday life becomes much harder. Clean clothes aren’t just about how we look, they’re about our mental and physical health, our dignity and confidence.
How smol helps tackle hygiene poverty.
At smol, we believe clean clothes shouldn’t be a luxury.
That’s why we support initiatives that help get laundry detergent to people who need it most.
Three key ways we do this are:
- Suds in Schools. Installing washing machines and providing capsules in schools so pupils can wash uniforms.
- Donate a Wash. A simple way for smol customers to help fund laundry donations.
- Refer a Friend. When customers refer friends to smol, they can choose to donate their £6 credit to Suds in Schools instead.
What is Donate a Wash?
Donate a Wash is a small opt-in feature that allows smol customers to support people experiencing hygiene poverty.
You can find it on your laundry capsule or dishwasher tablet plan. Once switched on, it works automatically alongside your smol plan and each time your smol order processes:
- 30p is added to your order
- This sends 2 FREE washes on your behalf
- Those washes are donated to The Hygiene Bank charity
It’s a small contribution that adds up to a BIG impact when thousands of people join in.
Where do the donated washes go?
The Hygiene Bank charity distributes the capsules through a network of community organisations including:
- Food banks
- Schools
- Community centres
- Refuges and shelters
Why laundry detergent is so important.
When families face difficult choices between for example heating or food, items like laundry detergent will slip down the priority list. But this has consequences. A lack of clean clothes can lead to:
- children missing school due to unwashed uniforms
- bullying or stigma among peers
- adults feeling unable to attend work or interviews
- reduced confidence and wellbeing
Laundry detergent can make a real difference to someone’s daily life.
How to turn on donate a wash.
If you’re a smol customer, switching on Donate a Wash is quick and easy.
- Log in to your smol account.
- Head to Manage plans.
- Select your laundry or dishwash plan.
- Turn on Donate a Wash
That’s it. Your donations will be added automatically to future orders and you can switch it off (and back on again) anytime if you wish.
A smol thing that makes a big difference.
One person donating a couple of washes might not sound like much. But when thousands of people take part, the impact grows quickly and our community has already helped donate MILLIONS of washes to people across the UK.
Donate a Wash FAQs.
What is the donate a wash scheme?
Donate a Wash is an optional feature for smol customers that adds 30p to each order. This allows us to donate 2 washes to support people experiencing hygiene poverty.
Where do the donated washes go?
The washes are donated to The Hygiene Bank charity, which distributes hygiene products through food banks, schools, community groups and other support services.
Can I turn donate a wash off?
Yes. The scheme is completely optional and can be turned on or off at any time in your smol account.
Why is laundry detergent often requested by charities?
Laundry detergent is essential for maintaining clean clothes, but it’s not always donated into food banks. As a result, it’s one of the hygiene products charities most frequently request.
How many washes has the scheme donated?
Thanks to the smol community, as of March 2026 over 4 MILLION washes have been donated across the UK, helping people access clean clothes when they need them most.