ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Forget the turkey and eggnog – this holiday season, many are finding solace in an unexpected place: their cleaning supplies. A recent Bona survey has uncovered a surprising twist in the age-old tradition of holiday housekeeping. Rather than succumbing to social pressures, most (77%) in North America are wielding mops and dusters to combat holiday stress, transforming the chore of cleaning into a form of festive self-care.
The survey, conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of Bona, dug deep into the dusty corners of 2,000 North American homes as they prepare for holiday gatherings. The findings challenge the age-old notion that holiday cleaning is a frantic rush to impress the in-laws. Instead, it seems people are tackling holiday stress head-on, increasingly viewing holiday cleaning as a form of self-care during a hectic time of year.
"Cleaning isn't just about appearances. It's a proactive step people take to create a sense of order and calm in their lives, especially during the busy holiday season," said Leah Howell, Senior Brand Marketing Manager – Retail, Bona. “This is an interesting shift across most age groups where holiday household chores are viewed as a form of stress management, rather than purely obligatory.”
Cleaning to impress Mom
Despite the general drive toward cleaning for self-care, there are still those that feel angst when hosting guests over the holidays. When thinking about potential guests, 65% rank their mother in the top three for causing the most anxiety about home cleanliness. Surprisingly, friends (27%) ranked just as high as mothers (27%) as the number one anxiety-causing guest. Neighbors (20%) and mothers-in-law (15%) rounded out the list.
"The holiday season is a time for joy and togetherness, but it can also bring stress, particularly when it comes to preparing our homes for guests," said Leah Howell, Senior Brand Marketing Manager – Retail, Bona. "While many clean for their own peace of mind, there's still a significant portion who worry about being judged. At Bona, we're committed to stress-less holiday cleaning with solutions and tools that make cleaning easier."
Holidays call for deep cleaning
The holidays also seem to be the new season for scrubbing. From baseboards to ceiling fans, no dust bunny is safe when the holiday deep clean commences. It turns out that when the festive spirit hits, North Americans aren't just decking the halls – they're disinfecting them. An overwhelming 84% say they are rolling up their sleeves for a yuletide deep clean.
It seems that for the vast majority, 'preparing for the holidays' involves as much elbow grease as it does gift wrapping. 76% of respondents clean their homes before the holidays, with 34% cleaning exclusively before and 42% cleaning both before and after. In fact, many that are planning to host guests get a big head start on holiday cleaning, with 30% beginning more than 10 days ahead of time! Another 30% find themselves procrastinating, waiting until the day-of hosting to start cleaning.
The generation gap has also never been cleaner. Across age groups, Gen Z (33%) is most likely to clean their homes to dodge potential guest judgment. Meanwhile, the Boomer generation is sweeping away stress. 85% of these seasoned cleaners report sprucing up their spaces purely for their own peace of mind, proving that with age comes not just wisdom, but self-assurance.
Can cleaning be fun?
Who said you can't polish the floors and your dance moves at the same time? It seems North Americans have found a solution to amping up floor cleaning fun with just a pair of headphones. When cleaning floors, 57% listen to music or podcasts, and 26% dance or sing.
However, not everyone's grooving to the beat. A determined 30% are treating floor cleaning like an Olympic sport, racing against the clock in a frenzy of furious floor-finishing.
Regardless of cleaning style, Bona's range of products can help any home get holiday-ready with a suite of effective and proven cleaning products and tools. From sustainable ingredients to cleaning solutions that get the job done, Bona makes cleaning fast and easy.
To learn more about Bona and its cleaning options to prep your home for the holidays, visit https://www.bona.com/en-us/products/homeowners/.
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.
Methodology:
The Bona Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) among 1,000 nationally representative US adults ages 18+ and to 1,000 nationally representative Canadian adults, between August 12th and August 19th, 2024, using an email invitation and an online survey. Data has been weighted. The chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 2.2 percentage points in the total sample and 3.1 percentage points in each country sample from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.
For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Heather Lindemann at (800) 872-5515.
