One in 10 Brits haven’t cleaned areas of the home for more than a year – here’s the worst offenders
ONE in 10 Brits admit they haven’t cleaned some areas of their home for more than a year.
A poll of 2,000 adults found behind and underneath furniture, and inside cabinets and drawers are the most neglected areas when it comes to cleaning.
One in four admitted their curtains are among the most neglected areas of their home, while nine per cent said the same of their sofa.
And four per cent admitted their bedsheets were left untouched for “ages.”
It also emerged that 60 per cent often put off cleaning tasks because they think it will take too long, while others avoid it if it’s hard to reach (48 per cent) or they lack motivation (34 per cent).
However, 31 per cent simply don’t think those areas need to be cleaned as much.
A spokesperson for Febreze Fabric Refresher, which commissioned the research, said: “Knowing how to refreshen larger items can be tricky, especially those you can’t get into the washing machine.
“There’s a whole number of reasons why we put off tasks like this, and more often than not, we make them bigger in our minds than they actually are.
“But using the right tools to get it done can make it an easier job than you think.
“For example, a quick spritz of the curtains or sofa cushions can save you a job of having to take them to the dry cleaners, leaving them feeling fresher for longer, smelling great and with odours eliminated.”
The research also found that 34 per cent admit the lack of cleaning in some of the most neglected areas has caused tension in their household.
But 70 per cent admitted they often overestimated how long certain tasks around the home would take.
A quarter gets around to cleaning the most ignored parts of their home every few months – while 13 per cent admit to only tackling those tasks once a year.
And typically, only 27 minutes are spent carrying out the tricky tasks.
That time spent is significantly lower when compared to the areas of the home which are cleaned the most.
There is, however, a real sense of pride among Brits when people do get around to spraying or scrubbing those tricky areas.
AREAS OF THE HOME WHICH ARE CLEANED THE LEAST
- Behind furniture (e.g. dressers, bookshelves)
- Underneath furniture (e.g. beds, couches)
- Curtains
- Inside cabinets and drawers
- Light fixtures and chandeliers
- Oven
- Skirting boards
- Windows
- Blinds
- Mattress
- Door frames and light switches
- Ceiling corners (For cobwebs and dust)
- Fridge
- The sofa
- Carpets
- Cushion covers
- Shower curtains and liners
- Rugs
- Blankets and throws
- Bedsheets
One in four of those polled, via OnePoll, always feels a sense of accomplishment when they’ve cleaned something difficult, with another 29 per cent often feeling that way.
A spokesperson for Febreze Fabric Refresher added: “While it might not always be at the top of everyone’s to-do list, there can be a great sense of reward by doing difficult things in your day.
“And freshening up your home can certainly fit that bill, our research shows that tackling something tricky gives people a sense of pride and can make people feel good about themselves.
“Making sure you’re equipped for the task at hand can go a long way, helping to make it much more manageable.”