Survey: Economy Influences Household Cleaning Habits

WASHINGTON — The recession has led many Americans to forgo their housecleaners and do the work themselves, according to a new survey from the Soap and Detergent Association.

Among 1,002 American adults surveyed by Echo Research for SDA, 60% said they’re doing more cleaning themselves instead of hiring a cleaning service, according to the SDA’s 2009 Spring Cleaning Survey.

Likewise, more than four in 10 (44%) say they are buying less-expensive cleaning products; and one-third say they are buying fewer cleaning products. Other respondents say economic factors influenced them to make their own cleaning products at home (22%) or clean less frequently (17%).

“Consumers can get more bang for their buck by using the right product for the right job and by using the right amount of the product,” Nancy Bock, the SDA’s vice president of education, said in a statement.

Consumers are also increasingly seeking sustainability-related benefits in their cleaning products. Nearly two-thirds (61%) said they are looking for those features in 2009 (61%), up from 38% who said the same in SDA’s 2008 cleaning survey.

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