How often do Americans clean their appliances? The answer may surprise you
A recent YouGov survey asked 1,116 US adults how often they clean their devices and appliances. The results revealed varying cleaning habits, with some devices getting more attention than others.
Cell phones and headphones
Mobile phones are the most frequently cleaned device compared to other items listed in the question, as two-fifths of Americans clean them every day (37%). Earphones and on-ear headphones are cleaned less often. Specifically, 18% of people clean their earphones daily, and 16% never clean them. For on-ear and over-ear headphones, 15% clean them every day, but a notable one-fifth of Americans never clean them at all (22%).
Televisions, remote controls, and speaker systems
One-fifth of adults wipe their televisions every day (22%), but a tenth never do (9%). Remote controls receive daily care from 20%, but another 20% neglect them. Speakers and sound systems are wiped every day by 15% of people, while 23% confess to never wiping them, making them the most infrequently cleaned device.
E-Readers
E-readers, like Kindles, are cleaned daily by 14% of Americans who own them. A quarter of e-reader owners clean their devices once a month, but cleaning habits vary widely.
Microwaves and toasters
Microwaves are one of the more frequently cleaned appliances, with one in five cleaning them daily. Toasters, on the other hand, are cleaned daily by only 9% of Americans, while the same percentage never clean them.
Computers and tablets
Laptops and desktops are crucial devices for many people, but their cleaning routines differ. Laptop screens are cleaned daily by 22% of users, and keyboards by 19%. Desktop computer keyboards are cleaned daily by 19%, and monitors by the same percentage. Tablets are cleaned daily by 23%, but 12% of users never clean their tablets.
Overall, the survey highlights that while some people are diligent about cleaning their devices, many others rarely or never do so.
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Methodology: YouGov Surveys: Serviced provide quick survey results from nationally representative or targeted audiences in multiple markets. This study was conducted online on 24-25 April 2024, with a nationally representative sample of 1,116 adults (aged 18+ years) in the US, using a questionnaire designed by YouGov. Data figures have been weighted by age, race, gender, education, and region to be representative of all adults in the US (18 years or older), and reflect the latest population estimates from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Learn more about YouGov Surveys: Serviced.