Families already struggling for food in the cost of living crisis are also desperately short of basic hygiene items, a charity revealed.
Some cash-strapped Brits are even using washing up liquid to clean their hair and clothes, while turning down free laundry powder because they cannot afford to turn machines on.
But Tory chiefs were tonight accused of ignoring the plight of millions as they remain locked in a leadership battle while dishing out wild promises of multi billion-pound tax cuts to the rich and pledges to shrink the state.
With inflation raging at a 40-year high of 9.1% and wages rising by a paltry 4.1%, Leeds-based charity Freedom4Girls, which tackles period poverty, warned the dire situation will only get worse.
Founder Tina Leslie said it is “absolutely heartbreaking” with demand for basic items such as shampoo and soap soaring. She added: “Nobody has got any money left after paying the rent and bills. It’s horrific.
“When you have no money it is hard to keep up with the hygiene products, so people are resorting to desperate measures. You can buy cheapish washing up liquid for around 50 pence. It’s really sad, food banks are giving out washing powder and people are not wanting it because they can’t afford the bills. So they are not even washing their clothes.
“If you cannot afford food then you cannot afford period or hygiene products. When we get hygiene products donated, they fly out.
“One mother said to me, ‘How am I going to keep my kids clean and supply my teenagers with period products when I haven’t got enough money?’
“Everyone is going into debt and the next thing is evictions because people can’t pay council taxes.”
Shadow Leader of the Commons Thangam Debbonaire accused Boris Johnson and his Cabinet of “giving up on governing” as leadership hopefuls try to outdo each other on tax cuts, despite overseeing rises in National Insurance.
She said: “Under their watch taxes are going up and food and energy bills are spiralling out of control.
“Far beyond merely distracted, this is a government paralysed by sleaze, scandal and the ongoing psychodrama that is the Tory leadership contest. They’re out of touch and out of ideas.”
As millions of Brits face the harsh realities of crippling food and fuel bills, those vying to take over as PM have been handed £300,000 for their campaigns. This is 16 times more than a teaching assistant’s wage.
Multi-millionaire former Chancellor Rishi Sunak is among the frontrunners. He and wife Akshata Murthy, said to be worth £730million, are building a swimming pool, gym and tennis court at their North Yorkshire mansion.
It is one of at least four homes in the couple’s property portfolio.
But many working families have been hit by some prices rising four times faster than average wages.
The TUC has highlighted a host of items soaring out of control.
They include children’s shoes, which are up 8%, toys 5.2%, and kids’ clothes 4.4%. The price of pushchairs and baby car seats leapt by 16.4% in the past year, four times faster than average wages.
Going to the cinema, theatre and concerts is 13.6% times more expensive than a year ago, while eating out in restaurants and cafes will typically knock you back an extra 7.3% in costs.
And the average price of a white sliced loaf of bread has jumped more than 10%, from £1.07 to £1.18.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “No one should struggle to make ends meet.
“But too many working people have been pushed to the brink after more than a decade of standstill wages.”
If you can help the charity fighting period poverty please visit their website
