Half of Americans spend three or more hours cleaning their homes in preparation for holiday guests

Washington, DC, December 7, 2021 – A recent Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of the American Cleaning Institute finds that nearly half of Americans are concerned about their holiday guests’ opinions of the cleanliness of their homes. As new coronavirus variants continue to emerge around the globe, a large majority of Americans plan to wash their hands (89%), use hand sanitizer (79%), and disinfect surfaces (69%) while gathering with friends and family this holiday season.

Detailed Findings

Just under half (49%) of Americans typically spend three or more hours cleaning their home in preparation for holiday guests. Women and those with children in the home are more likely to report spending longer to clean. In households with children, nearly six out of ten (59%) say they spend three or more hours cleaning ahead of guests’ arrival.

• Sixty percent of woman say they spend three or more hours cleaning to prepare for guests compared to only 38 percent of men.
• About one in ten Americans (11%) say they don’t spend time cleaning ahead of welcoming holiday guests.

Nearly half of Americans are concerned about their guests’ opinions of their home’s cleanliness.

• Americans with children in the household are significantly more likely to be concerned (64%) about guests’ opinions of their home’s cleanliness than those without children (43%).
• A similar proportion of men (47%) and women (50%) report being concerned with their guests’ opinions.

Many report they are likely to engage in cleaning practices designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while visiting with friends and family for the holidays.

• A large majority of Americans plan to wash their hands with soap and water frequently (89%), use hand sanitizer (79%), and disinfect frequently touched surfaces (69%) while gathering with loved ones this holiday season.

Comparatively fewer Americans, though still around half, are likely to social distance (53%), wear a mask (53%), or use alternative greetings like fist or elbow bumps (47%).
These are the findings from an Ipsos poll conducted November 22-23, 2021, on behalf of the American Cleaning Institute. For the survey, a sample of 1,006 adults ages 18 and over from the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii was interviewed online in English.

For more information on this news release, please contact:
Chris Deeney

Senior Vice President, US

Public Affairs

[email protected]

Ashley Belanger

Contractor, US

Public Affairs

[email protected]

Mallory Newall

Vice President, US

Public Affairs

[email protected]

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