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CLEANING THEN & NOW

KEY FINDINGS

A new survey conducted Opinion Research Corporation on behalf of The Soap and Detergent Association looked at the cleaning differences between parents and children and the changes in cleaning habits over time.

Specifically, the survey revealed that:

I'll Do It My Way

  • 87% of Americans learned how to clean from their mothers, but 32% are not like mom at all when it comes to cleaning.
  • Only 11% are similar to their parents in terms of what cleaning products they use.
  • Among Americans who have children living at home, 22% say their offspring are complete opposites when it comes to cleaning.
  • When asked about the cleaning jobs their moms did but that they themselves don't do, Americans primarily selected ironing (35%) and hand washing delicate items (35%).
  • About one-quarter (27%) don't scrub floors today and 22% don't wash windows or woodwork, even though their mothers did.
  • Nearly half of Americans believe they put more effort into protecting against germs and allergens (50%) and selecting the right cleaning product for the job (46%) than their parents did.

Some Things like Parental Nagging Never Change - Or Do They?

  • 49% of Americans say they were nagged most often by their parents to keep their bedroom neat. Just about the same percentage of parents who have children living at home nag their own kids most about this task.
  • Parental reminders about washing hands after using the bathroom are on the rise. 12% of adults recall having their parents nag them about handwashing, while 16% say they emphasize personal hygiene over a neat bedroom.

Is the Mom-Only Cleaning Force on the Way Out?

  • 57% of Americans say their mother did most of the housework in their childhood home.
  • Just 46% of all Americans report that a woman is doing the majority of the cleaning in their current household.
  • Males are more likely than females to claim that everybody helps with the housework (41% vs. 27%).
The SDA National Cleaning Survey 2000, which included telephone interviews with a national sample of approximately 1,003 adults, 18 years and older, was conducted by Opinion Research Corporation International.