A new study conducted by Mintel has revealed some shocking facts about the state of British homes. According to the study, three in ten (27%) households hardly ever clean their windows, almost a quarter (23%) rarely clean their oven and 28% of respondents admitted that their home is frequently messy.
- Three in ten home use carpet shampoo
- 12% have paid for professional carpet and upholstery cleaners
- One in 20 have previously used a professional cleaner
- A third use window cleaner
- 14% admit to having problems with blocked sinks, drains, toilets or plugs
- 16% would consider buying a specialist cleaner or polish for their gadgets
Despite all this there are some households that regularly clean their home, with 24% saying that they spend two and a half hours cleaning on a daily basis and 75% care about possessing a clean and presentable home.
Richard Caines, Senior Household Care Analyst at Mintel, said: “For the most part, Brits are enthusiastic cleaners, but some jobs remain too much for even the most devoted cleaner.
“Cleaning the windows and oven top the least loved tasks, and the windows of more than a quarter of adults hardly ever get cleaned, suggesting the market for window cleaners is not realising its full potential.
“Carpet cleaners have been a star performer in the household cleaning products market, sales of carpet and upholstery cleaners did well between 2010 and 2011 boosted by product innovation seen from some major brands and an effort to look after carpets as opposed to buying new floor coverings.”
The research also discovered that:
- The household cleaning market is valued at £1 billion
- The household polishes and specialist cleaning products market was worth £171 million in 2011, showing an increase of 16% between 2006 and 2011
- During the same time frame, furniture polish grew by 45% to £32 million
- Floor polish sales decreased over the same period of time by a third (33%) to £8 million
Mr Caines said: “Strong increases in the value of sales of furniture polishes and carpet cleaners suggest that consumers are willing to spend more money on products that help to protect and maintain the look of household items that are expensive for them to replace.
“In contrast to the strong performance seen in furniture polishes, sales of floor polish have declined and those people with real wood floors that need polishing represent a small minority of households.”
So come on Britain, a lot of work needs to be done, but nothing can be more rewarding than sitting in a clean home. If you’re not too sure how to go about combating rust or cleaning grout take a look at out cleaning tips and advice, there are lots of useful guides to use that will help you tackle a messy home.
