What clean surface makes America smile? To answer this inspiring inquiry, The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA) launched its first National Clean Surface Satisfaction Survey.  

 

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“Shiny floors, a tidy toilet, and clean countertops make consumers the happiest,” said Brian Sansoni, SDA Vice President of Communication. “Sparkling showers and gleaming windows round out the Clean Surface Satisfaction top five.”

The Lowdown

On behalf of SDA, an independent telephone survey was conducted by International Communications Research, asking 1,013 American adults which cleaning task makes them the happiest or gives them the most satisfaction:

The fresh findings:

• Shiny floors (21%)
• A tidy toilet (21%) 
• Clean countertops (20%)
• A sparkling shower (15%)
• Gleaming windows (12%)
• A spotless sink (7%) 
• Clean mirrors (3%) 
• Don’t know (3%)
  

Help Cleaning House?

Cleaning surfaces around the home, of course, requires time. So it’s not surprising that 47 percent of Americans have used or would consider turning to a residential cleaning service to assist with cleaning chores.  

If they used that cleaning service, what would they do with their time?

Thirty-seven percent say they would spend it with family, and 24 percent would do something enjoyable for themselves. Thirty-two percent would do other chores, while 16 percent would get some much needed shut-eye.

“The survey shows that 12 percent of Americans regularly use a housekeeper or cleaning service,” said SDA’s Sansoni. “Fifty-three percent say they don’t and wouldn’t consider doing so.”

Tips for Keeping a Clean and Happy Home

Whether or not you use a residential cleaning service, there are easy ways to keep your floors flawless, windows wiped clean and mirrors sparkling, according to SDA, which has scores of cleaning tips available online at www.cleaning101.com.

Tread Lightly: To prevent dirt and grime from building up on floors, start by placing rugs or mats at room entrances whenever possible. For a quick clean, use a dry, electrostatic dust sheet that picks up loose dust. If you have more time, use an all-in-one mop with moist, woven cloths that contain a cleaning solution to clean floors. Regularly clean wood floors with a proper wood cleaner that’s tailor made for that type of surface.

Counter Intuition: For effortless on-the-spot cleaning, keep wipes on the kitchen counter for easy access. Don’t forget – immediately after preparing raw meat, poultry or seafood, clean countertops with an antibacterial cleaner or wipe to kill unwanted germs that can make you sick.

On the Surface: For clean mirrors and windows without smudges, spray glass cleaner on a soft cotton cloth instead of directly on the surface. Or consider using a window wipe for an effortless clean.

Scrub-A-Dub-Dub: You can keep your toilet tidy and other bathroom surfaces clean rather easily. Flushable wipes (make sure you check the label) are handy for cleaning around toilet rims, tanks, faucets, sinks and basins. Because they disperse in water when agitated (like toilet paper), they're designed to be safe for plumbing and septic tanks and the environment. Other wipe products also get the job done. You just simply dispose of them when you’re finished cleaning.  

It’s Curtains for Germs: Use a daily shower cleaner to keep shower and tub surfaces free of soap scum, mildew, and hard-water deposits. Mist the surfaces right after bathing, while surfaces are still wet. For tough grime, use a surface-appropriate abrasive cleaner. There are also specific products you can use to tackle soap scum and mold and mildew.

To-Do List: When choosing a cleaner for any job in the house, read and follow label directions for proper use, storage and disposal. Keep them in their original containers, with labels intact. Be sure to properly close all containers and put them away immediately, to limit accessibility to animals and children.

The 2008 Clean Surface Satisfaction Survey was completed for The Soap and Detergent Association by International Communications Research (ICR). ICR questioned 1,013 American adults (507 men and 506 women) via telephone in January/February 2008. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent.

A summary of the survey results will be available on SDA’s website at www.cleaning101.com/newsroom/surveys.

 

 

About ACI

The American Cleaning Institute℠ (ACI - formerly The Soap and Detergent Association) 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 and its members are dedicated to improving health and the quality of life through sustainable cleaning products and practices.