Offspring Cleaning: Like Mother, Like Child?

WASHINGTON, March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- More than half of Americans surveyed say they clean much like their mothers did years ago -- but many of us are using different types of cleaning products than Mom did.

These are a few of the results gleaned from The Soap and Detergent Association's (SDA) 2005 Spring Cleaning Survey, conducted for SDA by International Communications Research (ICR).

Fifty-six percent of the respondents said they clean in much the same manner as their mothers did, while 41 percent said the opposite. But 55 percent said that they use different types of cleaning products than the previous generation of house cleaners used.

When asked in what ways they most differ from Mom, respondents cited as their top answers:

   * Cleaning less frequently than their mothers did (17%)
   * More modern conveniences that make cleaning easier (13%)
   * A wider variety of cleaning products available (10%)
   * Cleaning today is easier (10%)

"Cleaning your home is a whole lot easier than it used to be," said Nancy Bock, SDA Vice President of Education. "Because we have so many convenient cleaning products available today, we are not limited in our product choice the way our mothers were."

How have our cleaning lives become easier? Some recent innovations include:

  1. Electrostatic Mops and Mitts: These time and effort-saving devices make
     dusting and sweeping a breeze.
  2. A World of Wipes: Recent SDA research revealed that 66% of Americans
     have used a cleaning or hygiene wipe at least once.
  3. Dishwashing Devices:  Dishwashing powders, liquids, tablets and stain
     removers have made automatic dishwashing a snap. And for those who wash
     dishes by hand, there are hand dish wipes, pre-treating stain fighters,
     automated brushes, and vitamin and protein-enhanced dish liquids.
  4. Laundry List:  From new high efficiency detergents to pre-wash and in-
     wash stain and soil removers, Americans have more choice than ever
     before when it comes to the laundry bin.
  5. Surface Specialties: From wood to windows, leather to laminate, there
     are specialized cleaners for every room and board in the house.

  Products Change, Habits Stay the Same

While the range of cleaning products continues to evolve, our cleaning habits remain similar, according to SDA's research. For example, people claim to still do dishes and clean bathrooms in the same way, and our cleaning routines are much the same as our mothers.

"When it comes to cleaning, parents are a big influence in our behaviors. And when it comes to product selection, we have the industry to thank. The innovation and science behind the products make it easy to clean our homes more effectively and efficiently," said Bock.

  More Survey Data
   * More women (62%) than men (50%) feel they clean in much the same manner
     as their mothers.
   * The older the respondent, the more different they feel they clean than
     their mothers did.  The younger the respondent, the more they feel they
     clean the same way.
   * 6% of households claim that someone else cleans their home (as the
     primary difference between how they clean versus their mother).
   * 10% feel that nothing is different today from the way their mother
     cleaned.

A more detailed survey summary is available on SDA's website at http://www.cleaning101.com/.

http://www.cleaning101.com/

SDA offers useful spring cleaning tips on disinfecting, laundry and fabric care, dishwashing, and proper home and workplace hygiene, at http://www.cleaning101.com/.

SDA reminds consumers that the easiest way to get the most value out of their cleaning products is to read the product label directions. You want to make sure you're using them effectively, properly, and most importantly, safely.

The Soap and Detergent Association (http://www.cleaning101.com/), the U.S. Home of the Cleaning Products Industry(SM), is the non-profit trade association representing manufacturers of household, industrial, and institutional cleaning products; their ingredients and finished packaging; and oleochemical producers. SDA members produce more than 90 percent of the cleaning products marketed in the U.S. The SDA is located at 1500 K Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005.

About the Survey: The 2005 National Spring Cleaning Survey was completed for The Soap and Detergent Association by International Communications Research (ICR). ICR questioned 1,027 American male and female heads of household regarding their house cleaning attitudes. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent.