ARE you looking to cut costs? Well, it turns out that Brits waste nearly £868 million a year on unused cleaning products that simply gather dust.
Researchers found that we collectively spend £2 billion – an average of £54.20 each – on household cleaning supplies, but half of it will go to waste.
If you have a cupboard full of cleaning products you never use, you’ll need to listen up[/caption]
There’s only four buys you actually need[/caption]
This amounts to an average of £22.30 worth of products sitting unused, with just 3.9 cleaning products being used on a regular basis, the study of 2,000 adults found.
Millennials emerged as the biggest culprits, leaving nearly £29 worth of cleaning products unused or unfinished – £15 more than Baby Boomers.
But it appears social media cleaning content could be behind the wastage with 72 per cent watching videos around this theme online – as TikTok’s #CleanTok has more than 5.5 million posts.
A further 31 per cent are regularly influenced to purchase various cleaning products for specific tasks.
As a result, 40 per cent admit a lot of their purchases are simply left untouched at the back of their ‘cleaning cupboard’.
With 21 per cent forgetting they had them and 17 per cent claiming the product didn’t work as expected.
Catherine Green, cleaning expert at smol, which commissioned the research, said: “Rather than buying a few versatile products that do a great job, people are being influenced to buy all sorts of specialised products for specific tasks.
“While there will be occasions or items in your home that need a specific product, you only need four core products to keep on top of day-to-day household cleanliness – laundry detergent, dishwasher tablets or washing up liquid, multipurpose spray, and bathroom cleaner.”
The study also found 41 per cent are overwhelmed with the amount of advice available when it comes to using cleaning products.
And 26 per cent feel the same way about the choice of cleaning products on offer.
It also emerged that wanting to have the latest ‘must-have’ item was one of the causes of the abandoned products, with almost one in 10 (seven per cent) admitting to ditching their existing items if an exciting new brand is released.
Meanwhile, specialised products (41 per cent) were the most likely to go to waste.
Cleaning and household chores in numbers
Well Polished conducted a survey and the results are in!
Most Hated Household Chores
- Cleaning the oven – 34%
- Ironing – 15%
- Cleaning the toilet – 10%
- Washing the dishes – 5%
- Decluttering – 4%
Most Liked Household Chores
- Cooking meals – 21%
- Decluttering – 12%
- Hoovering – 11%
- Doing the laundry – 9%
- Tending to pets 8%
Men VS Women: Who Puts the Work In?
Men spend 7 hours 54 minutes a week cleaning.
Women spend 12 hours 15 minutes a week cleaning.
The research, carried out via OnePoll.com, revealed it’s not just the nation’s wallets that are being damaged by this, but the environment is also struggling too.
More than a quarter (26 per cent) admitted to throwing their cleaning products away in the general waste bin rather than recycling it.
And with an average of 18.2 cleaning products in plastic packaging throughout the home, this means that 62,000 tonnes of needless plastic is being sent to landfill – the equivalent weight of more than six Eiffel Towers.
While there will be occasions or items in your home that need a specific product, you only need four core products to keep on top of day-to-day household cleanliness
Catherine Green
Hilary Strong, CMO at smol, said: “We know that cleaning can be a therapeutic, meditative and even pleasurable experience for many.
“In fact, more than half say a clean home is better for their mental health – but for millions across the UK, cleaning remains a weekly chore that just needs to get done.”
What you really need in your cleaning cupboard
If you’re looking to cut down on cleaning supplies and ensure your cupboard has everything it actually needs, we’ve got just the thing for you.
Every cleaning cupboard should have just four things – laundry liquid, dishwasher tablets, multipurpose spray and bathroom cleaner.
1. LAUNDRY LIQUID
A good quality laundry liquid or laundry capsule is an essential and choosing one that will still work brilliantly on today’s lower temperature washes is crucial.
Cleaning hacks and tips
Here are some tips to help you clean your home like a pro:
- How to clean your washing machine in a few easy steps
- Keep on top of cleaning your oven regularly
- Clean your shower to ensure it’s always sparkling
- How to clean your microwave using cheap household items
- Here’s how to get rid of that nasty limescale in your kettle
- You’re cleaning your carpet all wrong – here’s how to get it spotless again in no time
- Unblock a toilet without a plunger
- Clean your fabric or leather sofa in a few easy steps
- If you haven’t cleaned your mattress in ages, here’s how
- Steps to cleaning your dishwasher to leave it looking brand new
- This is how to clean mirrors and windows without streaking
- Keep your toilet clean in four easy steps
- Give your TV screen a once-over
- Did you know your Venetian, Roman, vertical, or roller blinds also need cleaning?
- Deep-clean your fridge in five simple steps
Bottled liquid is perhaps more versatile as you can use this more easily to pre-treat stains or spot wash, but nothing beats the convenience of a capsule.
2. DISHWASHER TABLETS
With some dishwasher tablets, you don’t even need to buy separate rinse aid, glass protector or salt as it’s all included-so that’s four dishwashing products all rolled into one neat little tablet.
3. MULTIPURPOSE SPRAY
For kitchen worktops, cupboards, windows, glass and even the floor, a decent de-greaser can tackle pretty much every surface in the home so there’s really no need for surface-specific cleaning sprays.
4. BATHROOM CLEANER
It’s good to have a separate cleaner with an anti-calcium for the bathroom to prevent limescale build.
The lower pH of a bathroom spray is also more effective on soap scum and if it’s a foaming one it will cling to tiled surfaces and the sides of your sink, helping you remove all the grime as you wipe things down.
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