Gen Z and millennials’ dirty little secrets: Embarrassing living conditions hit home

Forty-five percent of Gen Z and millennial Americans would consciousness embarrassed if personification saw nan existent authorities of their home.

A caller study of 2,000 Gen Z and millennials showed that 31% of respondents admitted to having a room successful their location that hasn’t been cleaned successful astatine slightest six months.

Alarmingly, galore participants walk much clip procrastinating cleaning — astir 3 hours — than really cleaning their homes, which averages conscionable nether 2 hours.

Conducted by Talker Research for Swiffer, nan study recovered that respondents expressed a beardown dislike for cleaning definite surfaces.

Floors were 1 of apical 3 slightest favourite surfaces to cleanable for a 4th of Americans, pinch 37% of these respondents putting it successful nan No. 1 spot.

Similarly, different dusty surfaces for illustration ceiling fans (31%) and baseboards (28%) were besides celebrated picks wrong nan apical 3 areas respondents dislike cleaning.

The study besides recovered that 36% of participants only cleanable their homes erstwhile expecting visitors, pinch Gen Z respondents much apt to stock this sentiment (39% compared to 33% of millennials).

Notably, 1 successful 9 admitted that their location is not up to their accustomed standards.

Finding nan clip to cleanable poses a important challenge, arsenic nan mean responsive estimates that cleaning takes astir 2 hours, pinch 24% claiming it takes moreover longer.

Over 70% would alternatively strengthen undesirable experiences — specified arsenic making mini talk (19%), sitting successful postulation (17%), aliases moving into an ex-partner (9%) — than tackle cleaning their floors.

The study besides revealed that immoderate person procrastinated truthful agelong that nan longest clip without cleaning is estimated astatine 23 days, pinch 25 days going by without sweeping aliases mopping. 

“You mightiness beryllium amazed — immoderate of nan dirtiest spots successful your location are hiding successful plain sight, conscionable waiting to beryllium cleaned. These overlooked areas tin harbor much ungraded and grime than you think.” said Arianna Castro, Swiffer Scientist.

“According to nan results, 52% of Americans surveyed shared that they only cleanable their floors erstwhile ungraded is visible, however, galore are unaware that floors tin still harbor dust, grime, and different debris moreover erstwhile they look clean. In fact, microscopic particles for illustration allergens and good particulate tin settee heavy into level surfaces and crevices, escaping nan naked eye. Daily cleaning helps region these hidden contaminants, creating a healthier situation for everyone successful nan home.”

Despite nan challenges, 45% of respondents reported that they cleanable their location daily, pinch 74% indicating that level cleaning is simply a regular aliases play priority.

The room (88%) and surviving area (85%) are nan astir often cleaned spaces, while closets often return a backmost spot astatine conscionable 48% getting cleaned regular aliases weekly.

The study besides examined cleaning habits based connected residential areas. Urban dwellers were recovered to cleanable astir often (50% daily) and were much apt to see their homes “very clean” (44%) compared to agrarian residents (27%).

However, those successful agrarian areas spent nan longest clip cleaning, averaging 2 hours and 12 minutes, while suburban respondents procrastinated nan longest (189 minutes).

For galore Americans, a cleanable location brings much restitution than moving retired aliases enjoying a basking cup of java (20% for each activity).

Others find nan restitution of a cleanable location surpasses checking disconnected to-do lists (18%), finishing a book (17%) aliases taking a basking ablution (15%).

Notably, 7 successful 10 respondents (69%) expressed a desire to cleanable much often if they had entree to versatile cleaning products that cleaned successful aggregate ways.

“Daily cleaning tin consciousness overwhelming, but utilizing nan correct products makes nan occupation easier by tackling ungraded and grime that often spell unnoticed,” said Castro. “This helps supply bid of mind, giving group clip backmost successful their regular lives to bask doing things they love.”

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Gen Z and millennials evenly divided by surviving successful urban, suburban and agrarian areas; nan study was commissioned by Swiffer and administered and conducted online by Talker Research betwixt May 19 and May 26, 2025.