Survey: 45% of Americans Say Social Media Has Unrealistic Cleaning Standards

In this survey, we wanted to see both how Americans felt about keeping their homes clean generally, and what effect social media– from “CleanTok” to the viral rise of Marie Kondo– has had on how we approach keeping our homes spic and span. 

Methodology

To find out, we surveyed 1,000 Americans across the U.S. on their preferences regarding housework and chores and their relationship to home-related social media. The ages of respondents ranged from 18 to 75 with an average age of 39; 50% were men, 49% women, and 1% nonbinary. More than half (55%) identified as property owners, and 35% reported they were homemakers. 

Most Common (& Most Hated) Weekly Chores

Americans spend a decent amount of time cleaning their homes; when asked how much time they spent per week, they replied an average of 7.5 hours, which breaks down to just over an hour daily. 41% say they clean a bit every day, 46% opt to clean a few times a week, and just over 1 in 10 (12%) clean once per week. Just over 2 in 5 don’t have a set or regimented schedule like a chore chart, which can sometimes help track all the tasks that go into keeping homes beautiful. 

Chores Americans Hate the Most

While no one loves to do housework (it is, after all, work), some chores rise above others as the most annoying and/or hated. At the top of this list lies scrubbing the toilet, which 1 in 5 said was their least favorite. After that, laundry (14%) shows a slight edge over washing the dishes (13%), scrubbing the shower and/or bathtub (13%), and finally mopping the floors (11%). 

Despite dislike for chores, Americans still take pride in their homes and envy those with nicer ones: 47% have been jealous of how clean a friend’s home is. Over 1 in 3 take the stark view that clutter is a sign of weakness; however, 36% also self-identify as lazy when it comes to doing chores. Others also are of the mindset that you can overclean; 48% think some Americans keep their homes too clean. 

An important part of housework is not just what you do, but who is doing it. We asked Americans whether they had spouses as well as roommates to see how they navigate the division of labor when it comes to chores. Among married Americans, 44% said they have a higher standard of cleanliness, and 36% said they had the same standards as their spouses. Interestingly, twice as many women as men noted they had higher standards. As for splitting housework, 55% said they did more housework, including three times as many women! Roughly 1 in 4 said they did less than their spouses, and only about 1 in 5 shared chores evenly. 

For Americans with roommates, half said they had a higher standard, and 52% said they did more work than their roommates. 

How Social Media Hacked Housework

Social media is a fact of American life, and one that extends into the home. More than half (58%) of respondents said they consumed social media about cleaning, housework, or chores, including 65% of women and 51% of men. Additionally, 90% found this content inspiring, so much so that 28% of the Gen Zers we surveyed want to be home influencers. 

The top types of social media content Americans love include cleaning tips and hacks (84%), followed by mesmerizing transformation videos (51%), like watching a filthy rug get slowly cleaned and restored to its original beauty. Cleaning tutorials, like how-tos on cleaning microwave filters or removing stains, captured the hearts of 49%, while over 1 in 3 enjoy process videos that depict restocking the fridge or organizing desks in a hypnotizing, repetitive way. Finally, educational videos that explain why it’s important to clean certain items like dryer vents are the 5th most popular type of content. 

Unfortunately for some, social media can also cause negative emotional effects. If “keeping up with the Joneses” were brought into the 21st century, it might take the form of maintaining insta-worthy spaces: 45% feel pressured to keep their homes organized, and over 1 in 3 feel pressured to clean their homes more due to social media. Nearly a third (30%) even feel shame when they compare their homes to social media, and 28% say social media content about cleaning makes them anxious. This might be why 45% say social media doesn’t have realistic standards when it comes to keeping the house clean. 

When it comes to those wildly popular tips and tricks, 84% have tried a cleaning hack, and 87% of those who tried said the hack worked. It didn’t cost too much either; Americans spent an average of $74 on supplies for the cleaning hack. Since trying it, 69% have now incorporated the hack into their routine. Some didn’t fare so well, however: less than 1 in 10 have damaged their home due to a cleaning hack mishap. 

No matter what, your home is your castle - and how you want it kept is your choice. While social media might show you new tools and methods for keeping things sparkling clean, it can also make you anxious about what isn’t clean. By trusting AHS to help keep your covered appliances and systems in good shape, you can focus on cleaning and turning your house into your ideal, homey space.

AHS assumes no responsibility, and specifically disclaims all liability, for your use of any and all information contained herein.