A new study reveals that one in three parents have been cleaning incorrectly their entire lives. The poll of 2,000 U.S. parents found many have been told they fold laundry wrong (33%), mop and sweep incorrectly (28%), and don’t wash clothes properly (26%).
Forty percent have noticed their own parents “cleaning the wrong way,” and 47% have tried to correct them. Many weren’t taught essential chores like mowing the lawn (26%), gardening (25%), and loading the dishwasher (24%).
Despite this, most people still credit their upbringing for learning how to fold laundry (72%), wash dishes by hand (70%), do laundry (69%), and mop or sweep (65%). Additionally, many learn from jobs (37%), significant others (31%), and friends (27%).
Seventeen percent claim to maintain a “near-sterile” household, while 60% keep things “pretty clean,” tolerating a bit of mess. Sixteen percent prioritize organization over cleanliness.
"Cleaning can be surprisingly subjective," said Tanu Grewal, Chief Cleaning Officer at PINALEN Multipurpose Cleaner. "Parents play a crucial role in shaping their children's cleaning habits and attitudes."
Seventy-six percent of parents plan to teach their kids cleaning habits they were never taught, and 86% have already considered how to do so. Most believe kids can start chores like folding laundry, washing dishes, and floor cleaning by age 10, and more complex tasks like starting the laundry machine and yard work by age 11.
Eighty-eight percent believe cleaning can be a family activity, making it fun with music (75%), singing (41%), and dancing (38%).
Top 10 Cleaning Tasks Parents Do Wrong:
- Folding laundry - 33%
- Mopping/sweeping - 28%
- Doing laundry - 26%
- Loading the dishwasher - 25%
- Doing dishes by hand - 23%
- Gardening/yard work - 21%
- Mowing the lawn - 18%
- Cleaning the toilet - 17%
- Cleaning furniture - 16%
- Dusting - 16%
Source
Photo: Getty