Americans admit they don’t know how to fold laundry or do simple cleaning tasks – & they blame their own parents

A SURPRISING new study reveals that one in three parents are learning they’ve been cleaning incorrectly their entire lives.

The poll of 2,000 American parents conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by PINALEN Multipurpose Cleaner uncovered a range of cleaning mistakes and how familial habits influence our approach to tidiness.

Many of the parents surveyed admit they have been informed by others that they do a slew of household chores incorrectly.

As many as 33% of parents say they've been told they fold laundry incorrectly, 28% say they've been told they mop and sweep the wrong way, and 26% admit they even messed up washing clothes.

This revelation has led 40% of parents to observe their own parent's cleaning habits, with nearly half saying they have attempted to correct their parent's ill-advised cleaning habits.

The study highlighted that many parents never received proper cleaning instructions during their childhood.

Specifically, 26% were never taught how to mow the lawn, 25% were not shown how to garden or do yard work, and 24% didn’t learn the right way to load a dishwasher.

Despite these gaps, a majority of respondents credit their upbringing for showing them how to do basic everyday tasks throughout the home.

A majority, 72%, credit their parents with teaching them to fold laundry, 70% wash dishes by hand, 69% say their parents taught them to do laundry, and 65% credit mom and dad for teaching them to mop or sweep.

Additionally, 37% of people learned cleaning techniques from past or current jobs, 31% from their significant others, and 27% from friends.

A significant portion of parents, 17%, claim their households are "near-sterile," maintaining what they believe to be an immaculate environment.

Another 60% describe their homes as “pretty clean,” tolerating a bit of clutter.

Meanwhile, 16% focus more on organization than cleanliness.

"Cleaning can be surprisingly subjective," said Tanu Grewal, Chief Cleaning Officer at PINALEN Multipurpose Cleaner.

"The 'proper' way to clean can vary greatly depending on your culture, how you were raised, and who you learned from," Grewal continued.

"But what truly matters is the effectiveness and reliability of those cleaning techniques."

An overwhelming 76% of parents plan to teach their kids everything about cleaning that they were never taught, with 86% already thinking about how to instill good cleaning habits.

Seventy-five percent of parents believe it's crucial for their children to learn how to keep organized, 69% understand the types of cleaning products to use, and 68% know the correct amount of soap or detergent to use.

Top 10 Cleaning Tasks Parents Do Wrong

A Survey of 2,000 American parents of school-aged kids revealed the 10 chores most parents admit to being corrected on:

Folding laundry - 33%

Mopping/sweeping - 28%

Doing laundry - 26%

Doing dishes by hand - 23%

Gardening/yard work - 21%

Mowing the lawn - 18%

Cleaning the toilet - 17%

Cleaning furniture - 16%

Dusting - 16%

Survey methodology:

This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 American parents of school-aged kids was commissioned by AlEn between June 14 and June 18, 2024. It was conducted by market research company Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).

For specific chores, most parents generally think children can start participating by age 10, such as folding laundry, washing dishes, floor cleaning, and taking out the trash.

Tasks like starting the laundry machines, yard work, cleaning furniture, and cleaning the toilet are deemed suitable for 11-year-olds.

By age 12, kids can handle cleaning out the fridge, and by 13, they can take on lawn mowing.

Most parents, 88%, believe cleaning can be turned into a family activity, fostering a joyful, collaborative environment.

To make cleaning more enjoyable, 75% say they play music, 41% sing, and 38% say they dance while tidying up.

“Overall, people are taught objective aspects of cleaning such as how much product to use, specific techniques, and how to use cleaning tools or machines, but are left to figure out their own personal preferences,” Grewal continued.

“Regardless of whether they believe each chore is done right or wrong, most people still associate positive feelings with cleaning and it reminds them of home."