Spring Cleaning Survey Reveals Consumers "Dirty" Little Secrets

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Mar 20, 2013, 10:01 ET

Consumers Are Itching to Clean Windows, Blinds/Curtains, and Clothing, Closets & Drawers 72% of Households Spring Clean Every Year, ACI Survey Shows

Economic Conditions Influence Cleaning at Home

ACI Home Cleaning Tips Available at www.cleaninginstitute.org/clean_living_at_home/

WASHINGTON, March 20, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- What tasks are spring cleaners itching to tackle?

Windows, blinds and curtains, and clothing, closets and drawers are at the top of the list. Ceiling fans and carpets round out the top five.

These are a few of the "dirty secrets" revealed in the 2013 Spring Cleaning Survey from the American Cleaning Institute® (www.cleaninginstitute.org).

Echo Research, on behalf of ACI, asked 1777 American adults whether they or someone in their household spring cleans every year. In the online survey, 72 percent said spring cleaning is an annual ritual.

Eight percent say they spring clean every few years or less often, while five percent said every other year. Twelve percent say they never spring clean.

"Spring cleaning offers many households that opportunity to finally clean something that's been neglected for way too long," said Nancy Bock, ACI Senior Vice President of Education.

Spending Time in the Bedroom

What rooms do spring cleaners prioritize for clean-up?

Among those who do spring clean at one time or another (1,586 respondents), 76 percent target the bedroom, followed by the kitchen (73%), bathroom (69%) family room or den (61%) and the dining room (45%).

"Consumers should plan to clean room-by-room, which allows you to better complete all your cleaning tasks more efficiently and effectively," said Bock.

Economical Cleaning

Sixty-nine percent of respondents who spring clean indicate that economic conditions have influenced their home cleaning behaviors. The top two changes in cleaning behavior include buying less expensive cleaning products and cleaning more themselves rather than hiring a cleaning service.

Bock offers a few tips to help "consumers maximize their cleaning product purchases and stretch their dollars at home."

Use the right amount of product: Read the label. There's no need to overdo it, especially with more concentrated products available that pack more power into smaller doses.
Consider multi-purpose products: They are many cleaning products available that effectively clean a variety of surfaces. Just make sure you read the label so you're using the right product on the right surfaces.
Fill-up on refillable products: Many bulk sizes are packaged with a corresponding smaller, refillable version of the product. If your choice doesn't come that way – and/or you want to keep the cleaner in multiple locations – purchase a smaller size and refill the container as necessary. That way, no matter where you use the product, it'll be properly labeled in case of an emergency.

Consumers can find useful tips on cleaning around the home on ACI's Clean Living at Home page: www.cleaninginstitute.org/clean_living_at_home/.

You can view the complete results of ACI's 2013 Spring Cleaning Survey at www.cleaninginstitute.org/surveys/.

The American Cleaning Institute® (ACI) is the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry® and represents the $30 billion U.S. cleaning products market. ACI members include the formulators of soaps, detergents, and general cleaning products used in household, commercial, industrial and institutional settings; companies that supply ingredients and finished packaging for these products; and oleochemical producers. ACI (www.cleaninginstitute.org) and its members are dedicated to improving health and the quality of life through sustainable cleaning products and practices.

SOURCE American Cleaning Institute