Nearly 3 in 4 U.S. adults do a comprehensive, deep clean in the Fall: How to make sure you’re cleaning effectively and efficiently

With Fall upon us and Winter quickly approaching, now is the time when Americans are getting their homes ready for autumn and the holiday season. A recent Bona/Harris Poll online survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults found that nearly 3 in 4 U.S. adults (74%) like to do a comprehensive, deep clean in the Fall as a reset.

The survey, which was commissioned by Bona^®, a global, sustainably-driven company that supplies products for installing, renovating, maintaining and restoring premium floors, asked about cleaning habits, behaviors and tools used to understand why consumers clean the way they do. In addition to some overall trends and perceptions about cleaning, the survey revealed areas of antiquated thinking.

“Cleaning tools, formulations and techniques have evolved over the years. From mops that make cleaning easier and faster to cleaning solutions that are better for your health and home, we’ve come a long way,” said Andy Telatnik, Director of Marketing – Retail, Bona. “Yet many of us are still cleaning with products and tools that make the job harder. For example, in this survey, we found that more than half of U.S. adults believe a mop and bucket is the best way to clean floors – which we know isn’t the most effective clean and can actually harm some floor types like hardwoods.”

Here are the top five cleaning myths found in the 2022 Bona Fall Cleaning Poll that could be holding you back from the easiest, safest, and most effective clean.

Myth: DIY Solutions are Safer – Just over 3 in 5 U.S. adults believe DIY solutions are a safer option than products currently on retailer shelves (62%), with a similar proportion (61%) saying vinegar and bleach are the most important ingredients for their cleaning routines, as they can be used on every surface.

• Fact: DIY cleaning solutions, like water and vinegar, might be okay for some surfaces, but particularly for floors, it can damage the surface. It’s important to use products that offer an effective clean but are gentle enough so as not to damage the surface.

Myth: Mop and Bucket Cleaning is Best – Over half of Americans (59%) believe the best way to clean floors is with an old-fashioned mop and bucket – yet only 25% of those who ever wet clean the floors in their home generally use a mop and bucket when wet mopping (26% use a reusable spray mop). When asked why they prefer to use a mop and bucket, almost half stated that they grew up knowing this method (48%), followed closely by perceiving it to be the most effective/deepest clean (44%). When spray mop users were asked the same question, easier (60%), most effective/deepest clean (37%) and more sustainable/better for the environment (22%) were the top three responses.

• Fact: Mop and bucket cleaning can ruin flooring by over saturating the floor, which also wastes precious water. The Bona Spray Mop, for example, uses 97% less water than a traditional mop and bucket, saving 157MM gallons of water per year in the U.S. A sponge or string mop and bucket are not only cumbersome, but almost always leave too much liquid on the floor, which can eventually damage the floor. Better options include a spray mop which is not only easy to use, but paired with the right formulation, gives you the most effective clean with the right saturation to avoid damaging your floors.

Myth: Specific Cleaning Cloths Don’t Matter – 2 in 3 (66%) U.S. adults said they tend to use old rags or paper towels rather than microfiber pads or cloths when cleaning their home’s surfaces.

• Fact: Using microfiber cleaning cloths means using less water than paper towels, and also less deforestation. Microfiber clothes are reusable – Bona’s can be washed and reused up to 500 times – saving hundreds of disposable pads from ending up in landfills. Bona also uses 90% recycled material in its microfiber pads, saving 312,000 pounds of virgin plastic each year.

Myth: What Parents Say Goes – For those that use a mop and bucket, the top reasons why they prefer this method is that they grew up knowing it (48%) and it’s the most effective/deepest clean (44%).

• Fact: Growing up using one method doesn’t mean you have to use it forever. Cleaning formulations and tools have come a long way over the years so consider switching to something that’s an easier option while still providing a deep and effective clean.

Myth: Older Generations Do Things the Old-Fashioned Way – Nearly 60% of U.S. adults (59%) agreed that the best way to clean floors is with an old-fashioned mop and bucket, yet older adults (aged 65+) were less likely to agree than those under 65 (44% vs 63%), perhaps showing their wisdom that the old-fashioned way isn’t always the best option. Of those who ever wet clean the floors in their home, Gen X (aged 45-54) was more likely to wash with a mop and bucket (31%) than those 35-44 and those 65+ (both 22%). The 65+ group was also the generation least likely to agree that DIY solutions are safer than those on store shelves (52% versus the 62% of all adults 18+).

• Fact: With age comes wisdom – these 65+ Americans have it right! DIY can be dangerous, and mop and buckets tend to over saturate, potentially ruining floors. Take a cue from your elders and switch to easy-to-use, effective and safe options like a sustainable and reusable spray mop.

The bottom line is that cleaning should be safe, easy and effective. When asked about what is important in the tools and solutions they use to clean hard surface and hardwood floors, over 9 in 10 U.S. adults prioritized ease of use (96%), safe for them and their family (96%), cleans effectively (96%) and that the solutions are formulated for specific surfaces (91%).

For more than 100 years, Bona has innovated tools and solutions for the most effective clean with people and the planet in mind. Find more cleaning tips at Bona.com.

About Bona US

Bona is an innovative, environmentally conscious company dedicated to creating beautiful floors since 1919. Bona US, the North American subsidiary of BonaAB in Malmö, Sweden, manufactures and distributes floor and home care products. The first in the industry to offer a full system of waterborne hardwood floor finishing and floor care products certified for indoor air quality by GREENGUARD, Bona products can be found throughout the U.S. and Canada. From residue-free hardwood floor cleaners to a beautiful array of stains and high durability finishes, consumers, distributors and contractors trust Bona. For more information, please contact Bona US at (800) 872- 5515 or www.bona.com.

The 2022 Fall Cleaning Poll was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Bona from September 20-22, 2022, among 2,065 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.8 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For complete survey method, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Heather Lindemann at (800) 872-5515.

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