Seventy-seven percent of Americans say they regularly engage in spring cleaning, according to the Soap and Detergent Association (SDA)’s 2008 Spring Cleaning Survey, conducted by International Communications Research (ICR). That number is up considerably from SDA’s 2002 and 2007 surveys, when 65 percent said they regularly spring clean.
Gender-wise, 86 percent of women say they spring clean, compared to 68 percent of the guys. Clearly, more people are seeing the value of a good, seasonal cleaning of house and home.
What tasks are Americans including in their spring cleaning to-do lists? Among those surveyed who spring clean, cleaning behind the furniture (84 percent), washing windows (80 percent), cleaning appliances (76 percent) and floors (76 percent), and washing bedclothes/linens (75 percent) topped the list of spring cleaning chores.
“When it comes to cleaning, consumers want to save time. Spring cleaning does not have to be a monumental chore, as long as you plan ahead,” said Nancy Bock, SDA Vice President of Education. “Pick the right cleaning products for the right job. Take it one room, one cleaning task at a time. You’ll finish up faster if you tackle each spring cleaning project separately.”
Americans apparently see a lot of value in spring cleaning. More than eight out of 10 of those who spring clean agree (46 percent strongly agree, 36 percent somewhat agree) with the statement that a good spring cleaning helps them save time throughout the year. Ninety-three percent acknowledge that a good spring cleaning makes keeping a clean home throughout the year an easier job. And 96 percent say that good spring cleaning includes discarding or donating items they don’t need.
“Consumers are seeking ways to contribute to society now more than ever,” Bock says. “Spring cleaning is a perfect time to donate excess items in your home to someone in need.”
Effectiveness is the most important quality consumers look for in their cleaning products, according to 75 percent of SDA survey respondents (in a multiple choice question). Other important characteristics include multi-purpose products (54 percent), cost (52 percent), convenience (49 percent), scent or fragrance (46 percent), and time saving attributes (45 percent).
If consumers could hire someone to take care of one spring cleaning chore, it would be washing the windows, according to 47 percent of respondents. Cleaning the bathroom (23 percent) was a distant second, followed by cleaning the kitchen (12 percent), dusting (8 percent) and mopping (7 percent).
What would you be most willing to give up in order to be able to hire someone to do your spring cleaning? Twenty-nine percent of those surveyed said, “one hundred dollars.” One-quarter said they’d give up dining out for month, 19 percent would take a pass on concert tickets, and nine percent would forego a weekend trip.
“Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to spring clean,” Bock says. “Consumers have more choices of effective products and more information at their fingertips than they ever have before. Just make sure you read the product safety and usage information, use the product as directed, and store it properly and securely.”
The 2008 Spring Cleaning Survey was completed for the Soap and Detergent Association by International Communications Research (ICR). ICR questioned 1,013 American adults (507 men and 506 women) via telephone in January/February 2008. When asked if they spring clean, 77 percent of the 1,013 said yes. That question has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent. The remaining survey questions were asked only to the 777 individuals who spring clean (352 men and 425 women). Those questions have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.52 percent.
Source: Soap and Detergent Association
