Brits will spend a whopping £868 million on cleaning products this year, but new research has revealed that half of it will go to waste, with just 3.9 products being used on a regular basis.
Brits are wasting nearly £868 million annually on unused cleaning products, according to a recent study, with an average of just 3.9 cleaning products being used regularly. The research revealed that collectively, consumers spend £2 billion a year on cleaning products—equivalent to £54.20 per person.
But according to the research, half of that amount is going to waste which translates to an average of £22.30 worth of cleaning products sitting unused. A survey of 2,000 adults found Millennials to be the biggest culprits, leaving nearly £29 worth of cleaning products unused or unfinished. This is £15 more than Baby Boomers.
So, what’s driving this wastage? Over 70% of respondents reported watching cleaning videos online, with TikTok’s #CleanTok amassing over 5.5 million posts. Trends from these videos may be encouraging consumers to purchase more cleaning products than they actually need.
The desire to own the latest “must-have” items also plays a role, with nearly 1 in 10 people admitting to abandoning existing products in favour of new, trendy brands. Consequently, despite good intentions, Brits may be wasting more money and unintentionally harming the environment by impulsively buying the latest products they come across on TikTok.
The research showed that specialised products were found to be the most likely to be wasted. A third are frequently swayed into buying various cleaning products for specific tasks, but 40% admit that many of their purchases are simply left at the back of their ‘cleaning cupboard’ when they forget they had them or claim the product didn’t perform as anticipated.
It was reported that four out of ten people feel swamped by the amount of advice available regarding cleaning products but Catherine Green, a cleaning guru at smol, an eco-conscious cleaning brand that conducted the study, suggests that while it’s tempting to purchase items for specific tasks, we actually require only a handful of essentials to keep our homes clean.
She advises: “You only need four core products to keep on top of day-to-day household cleanliness – laundry detergent, dishwasher tablets or washing up liquid, multipurpose spray, and bathroom cleaner.”
It’s not just financial resources that are being drained – a significant 26% confessed to binning their cleaning products in the general waste rather than recycling them. With an average of 18.2 cleaning products in plastic packaging scattered around the home, this equates to a staggering 62,000 tonnes of unnecessary plastic ending up in landfill – equivalent to over six Eiffel Towers in weight.
Hilary Strong, Chief Marketing Officer at smol, commented, “We know that cleaning can be a therapeutic, meditative and even pleasurable experience for many. In fact, more than half say a clean home is better for their mental health – but for millions across the UK, cleaning remains a weekly chore that just needs to get done.”
THE TOP FOUR PRODUCTS EVERY CLEANING CUPBOARD SHOULD HAVE:
1. LAUNDRY LIQUID
A good quality laundry liquid or laundry capsule is an essential and choosing one that will still work brilliantly on today’s lower temperature washes is crucial. Bottled liquid is perhaps more versatile as you can use this more easily to pre-treat stains or spot wash, but nothing beats the convenience of a capsule.
2. DISHWASHER TABLETS/WASHING UP LIQUID
With some dishwasher tablets, you don’t even need to buy separate rinse aid, glass protector or salt as it’s all included-so that’s 4 dishwashing products all rolled into one neat little tablet. If you’re washing up by hand – remember your dish soap is also super versatile as it can also be used to clean makeup brushes, outdoor furniture, jewellery and more.
3. MULTIPURPOSE SPRAY
For kitchen worktops, cupboards, windows, glass and even the floor, a decent de-greaser can tackle pretty much every surface in the home so there’s really no need for surface-specific cleaning sprays.
4. BATHROOM CLEANER
It’s good to have a separate cleaner with an anti-calcium for the bathroom to prevent limescale build. The lower pH of a bathroom spray is also more effective on soap scum and if it’s a foaming one it will cling to tiled surfaces and the sides of your sink, helping you remove all the grime as you wipe things down.