Cleaning can be pretty divisive – some of us love it and some of us hate it. But whichever camp you fall into, it’s a part of life that’s hard to avoid.
To learn more about Brits’ cleaning habits and the true cost of a clean home, we surveyed members of the public to investigate the money spent and time committed to cleaning, as well as the potential psychological and environmental impact it can have. We also spoke to cleaning expert Lynsey Crombie of popular blog “Queen of Clean” and health psychologist Benjamin Ainsworth to get their take on it.
Brits spend over £150 a year on cleaning products
So, what’s the price tag on a clean home? Our data revealed that, on average, Brits spend approximately £12.61 a month on cleaning products, which adds up to around £150 a year. And this figure is representative of a pre-COVID-19 world. Add a global pandemic to the mix and nearly 1 in 5 people confess to spending more money on cleaning products than before.
It’s possible that this bill needn’t be as high as it is for some though, as over half of respondents admit to buying only branded cleaning products, with 30% of them associating a higher price point with higher quality.
Homecare expert, Lynsey Crombie aka the ‘Queen of Clean’ is all for using more affordable products, however, saying “I actually find some of the more expensive ones to be awful. A basic disinfectant and washing up liquid will always work well and not cost you much at all.”
The average Brit spends 6.5 hours a week cleaning their home
Some may argue that time is more valuable than money, and it takes time to keep a home spick and span. When quizzed on the amount of time spent cleaning, it was revealed that the average Brit cleans the kitchen more often and for longer than any other room in the home. That’s four times a week, for 29 minutes. In second place is the bathroom, cleaned three times a week for 26 minutes.
And these figures rose during lockdown, with 30% of Brits spending even more time cleaning their home. Apparently extra special attention is being given to the hallway and utility room – both gaining an average of 2.5 extra minutes of cleaning time per session. People also report cleaning the floors more often - there’s never been such interest in the best hoover!
The younger generations are more eco-conscious in their cleaning habits
To build an understanding of how eco-conscious the UK are, we broached the topic of eco-friendly products and cleaning practices. While 1 in 10 Brits claim they only buy eco-friendly cleaning products (1 in 5 in London), 2 in 5 don’t consider the environment at all.
And it certainly appears that an eco-conscious attitude is something that comes with the younger generations, with 75% of under 35s considering the environment when cleaning, but less than half of over 55s.
16-34-year-olds are also the most likely to spend more money on products if they are eco-friendly and the most likely to find themselves worrying about which washing machine is best for the environment. Fortunately, a lot of the best integrated washing machines come with eco settings that use less power and Lynsey Crombie says “steam cleaning is a great eco-friendly method for cleaning floors, while being safe for pets and young children.”
This said, 16-24-year-olds are the most likely to admit they would rather throw away or replace a dirty, old toaster or blender, than just clean it. Not only is this a costly habit, but these old appliances are likely to end up in landfills that cause land, air and water pollution.
A tidy home makes for a tidy mind
Regardless of whether you take pleasure in cleaning or not, you’ll probably admit that a tidy environment is much more relaxing than a messy one. Especially if your home has become your workspace in recent months.
It can also be detrimental for mental wellbeing, however, as it can lead to compulsive behaviours or become a distraction from other issues. Lecturer in Health Psychology, Benjamin Ainsworth explained that “While some people really benefit from and enjoy a ‘spring clean’, others might use cleaning as a ‘coping mechanism’ that can actually lead to increased anxiety and stress.”
Whether you find yourself excitedly looking up cleaning hacks and the best cordless vacuum cleaner or tidying is simply a mundane part of day-to-day life for you, cleaning can have an impact on all sorts of things, from our finances to our mental wellbeing. It is, of course, necessary and hopefully a tidy home can give you a tidy mind!
Methodology
Statistics are based on the results of a survey of 2,000 members of the British public, which took place from 14/08/20-17/08/20. Additional insights were offered by Lynsey Crombie and Benjamin Ainsworth.
If you need some cleaning tips, make sure to check out how to sanitise your home or how to look after your bag-free vacuum cleaner.
