Majority of Canadian Parents Take One Week to Spring Clean Their Home

Research reveals cleaning plans for the new season

MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 21, 2014 /CNW/ - After a long winter, many Canadian parents have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of spring.  So much that a recent survey from Walmart Canada found 91 per cent of Canadian parents plan to do some spring cleaning in preparation of the warmer weather.

"At Walmart, we recognize how important spring cleaning is to our customers," said Lee Tappenden, chief merchandising officer for Walmart Canada. "This winter has been particularly harsh and we're eager to help Canadians get started, get organized, and help them welcome in the new season."

For the majority of Canadian parents (59 per cent), it takes one week to de-clutter their home and complete spring cleaning tasks. Many focus on the kitchen and living rooms as they are the preferred areas to clean. Meanwhile, 29 per cent would happily delegate cleaning the bathroom to their spouse—who 51 per cent voted as their favourite cleaning accessory over a caddy or scrubby.

Despite the high number of people expected to spring clean, over half of Canadian parents find the house stays clean for less than a week. When it comes to keeping the house tidy and minimizing clutter, 60 per cent say the best strategy is being organized. 

"We offer affordable solutions," added Tappenden. "From mops to storage totes, we have everything families need to kick-start their spring cleaning and keep their homes neat, clean and organized throughout the year."

The survey showed kids actively participate in cleaning the house and not much encouragement is required to get them involved.  Thirty-six per cent of parents find asking the kids to clean is easy because it's part of their weekly chores, and the majority of Canadian kids (67 per cent) already help by cleaning their rooms.

For cleaning and organizing essentials, visit Walmart Canada stores and Walmart.ca

Other survey findings:

• 71 per cent of Canadian parents find this yearly cleaning event is often sparked by warmer temperatures
• 34 per cent think a job well done is the best reward
• 44 per cent donate any unwanted goods
• 19 per cent prefer to listen to classic rock/blues while cleaning, followed by oldies and R&B/dance at 12 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively
• 33 per cent often find less than $20 while cleaning, and 58 per cent share these finds with their family
• The messy rooms people prefer to hide by keeping the door shut is the bedroom (39 per cent), kids' play/recreation room (10 per cent) and the home office (9 per cent)
• If one could have their spouse clean the bathroom or make dinner, 51 per cent would prefer a cooked meal, while 42 per cent would prefer a clean bathroom
• When trying to encourage their kids to help with the cleaning, 23 per cent of parents resort to bribery and 19 per cent play games and try to make cleaning fun
• 46 per cent of Canadian parents recommend getting rid of items not used within the year
• 10 per cent say they don't mind living with some clutter

This survey of 500 Canadian parents with children under 18 living at home was conducted by Research Management Group on behalf of Walmart Canada. Respondents were recruited from the AskingCanadians national panel to quotas by region, gender and age to reflect the national profile. Fieldwork timing was from March 12-14, 2014.

About Walmart Canada

Walmart Canada operates a growing chain of 389 stores nationwide serving more than 1.2 million customers each day. Walmart Canada's flagship online store, www.walmart.ca, is visited by 300,000 customers daily. With more than 95,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada's largest employers and is ranked one of the country's top 10 most influential brands. Walmart Canada's extensive philanthropy program is focused on helping Canadian families in need, and since 1994 Walmart has donated and raised more than $200 million to Canadian charities. Additional information can be found at walmartcanada.ca, facebook.com/walmartcanada and at http://www.twitter.com/walmartcanada.

SOURCE: Walmart Canada

For more information about the survey conducted, please contact: [email protected].