Driving Conversation Around Cleaning: Scrubbing Bubbles® Survey Reveals When it Comes to Cleaning, Couples Don't Talk

RACINE, Wis., April 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cleaning is a chore, and for many couples finding perfect cleaning harmony at home remains elusive. In fact, the second annual Scrubbing Bubbles® Dirty Work Index™(1) survey found that only one out of three couples (35 percent) currently discuss and divide cleaning responsibilities. This spring, John Gray(2), renowned relationship expert and best-selling author of "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus," has teamed with Scrubbing Bubbles® to provide couples with helpful tips to negotiate cleaning duties and make spring cleaning more manageable.

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"The fact that only one out of three couples discuss and divide cleaning responsibilities shows there is a huge communication gap occurring in relationships," said Gray. "In order to ensure household chores don't become a source of tension, couples should discuss roles and responsibilities early and often and make expectations clear. The burden should not fall on one member of a team."

The Scrubbing Bubbles® Dirty Work Index™ survey, a national study of men and women, closely examined who's responsible for cleaning and the motivations behind cleaning. The survey revealed that both men and women have strong yet differing opinions on how to approach home cleaning and how it gets done, but when it comes to cleaning, one thing is certain: a clean home is a comfortable home.

Make it A Team Effort
According to Gray, one of the keys to finding happiness in a relationship is communication and togetherness. Making expectations clear in a friendly tone is the perfect way to begin a request if something needs to get done. This is especially important for couples who are either moving in or just starting their life together.

The Dirty Work Index™ survey found that men are contributing more than ever to maintaining the home, but women still call the shots:

• Nearly one-third of all women decide who's responsible for what and delegate chores.
• Men are more likely than women to take turns or switch off on chores (28 percent of men versus 16 percent of women).
• One in five women will wait to see who cleans something first as opposed to just doing it themselves.

In order to ease the tension when it comes to cleaning, Gray recommends working as a team to assign roles and keep communication open.

Spring Cleaning Survival Guide
When it comes to cleaning, it's important that everyone pitches in, and there's no better time to start than with spring cleaning. After reviewing the recent Dirty Work Index™ survey results and identifying the key areas where relationships can veer off course, Gray recommends taking the following approach:

1. Take responsibility for specific chores. Nearly 70 percent of women are responsible for laundry while three quarters of men take out the garbage. Defining certain roles from the start makes it clear who is doing what and when.  
2. Determine what motivates your partner to clean. 96 percent of men and 97 percent of women list eliminating dust, dirt and grime as top motivators for cleaning. Learn what's important to each member of the household to determine priorities when cleaning.
3. Share what constitutes as "clean" to you. Men and women agree a clean bathroom equals a clean home. Nearly half agree the bathroom is the hardest but most important room to clean. If you and your partner have vastly different ideas about what "clean" looks like, create a cleaning checklist to help ensure everyone's standards are met.
4. Divide and conquer. Both men and women agree that they thoroughly clean the house at least once a week (71 percent) and spot clean at least once a week (96 percent). Based on preference, designate one person to spot clean daily and have the other deep clean weekly. Put a cleaning game plan in place at the beginning of each week.

To find out what kind of cleaning couple you are, visit the Scrubby Solution's Facebook tab and take the cleaning personality quiz. John Gray will also be offering tips and advice to couples on how to conquer household chores and create more harmony at home.

Scrubbing Bubbles®
Scrubbing Bubbles® is a trusted partner when it comes to keeping the bathroom clean. The Scrubbing Bubbles® lineup of products helps families tackle a wide range of surfaces, making the cleaning process faster and easier.  For example, the new Scrubbing Bubbles® Bathroom Cleaner with Color Power Technology helps families see where they spray for better coverage and makes removing soap scum easy. It eliminates odors as it cleans and leaves a brilliant shine. 

For more information on Scrubbing Bubbles® products, visit www.scrubbingbubbles.com, www.Facebook.com/ScrubbingBubbles or follow us on Twitter at @ScrubbingBubble. Scrubbing Bubbles® products are available in grocery, drug and mass-merchandise retailers.

SC Johnson is a family-owned and managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, pest control and shoe care. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, KIWI®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, TANA®, BAMA®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, MR. MUSCLE®, and RIDSECT®. The 126-year old company, that generates $9 billion in sales, employs nearly 13,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com

(1) The Scrubbing Bubbles® Scrubbing Bubbles Dirty Work Index™ Comprehensive Report was a telephone survey conducted by StrategyOne between September 19 – October 4, 2011. The sample included 1,500 women ages 22-65, both single and currently living with their spouse or significant other, and 500 men ages 22-65, including a quota of 250 males currently living with their spouse or significant other. The national results of this study have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 for the female sample and plus or minus 4.4 for the male sample, both at the 95 percent level of confidence.

(2) Paid spokespeople for Scrubbing Bubbles®

CONTACT
Jam Stewart
262-260-2440

Allison Hickey
312-233-1382
[email protected]

WEB ADDRESS
www.scjohnson.com
www.scrubbingbubbles.com
www.twitter.com/scrubbingbubble
www.facebook.com/scrubbingbubbles

SOURCE Scrubbing Bubbles

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