WASHINGTON — Nearly all Americans (97%) think cleaning and hygiene are important for public health and the health of our communities and 74% have changed their cleaning habits—including doing laundry—to improve health, according to survey data released by the American Cleaning Institute (ACI).
Respondents to the 2025 Spring Cleaning survey, conducted by Wakefield Research, agreed that cleaning has a positive impact on both their physical health (91%) and their mental health (84%).
That’s the kind of trend that laundry services owners can get behind, especially if it encourages more customers to visit their self-service laundromat or take advantage of their on-demand laundry.
“Cleaning is no longer just about appearance; it’s about safeguarding our health,” says Brian Sansoni, ACI senior vice president of communications and outreach. “Our survey shows that Americans understand the critical role cleaning plays in preventing illness and promoting well-being … we are committed to help building healthier communities through cleaning best practices.”
Which cleaning and hygiene practices do Americans prioritize to stay healthy? Top tasks, according to the survey results, were washing hands (61%), cleaning the toilet and shower (56%), disinfecting frequently touched surfaces (51%) and doing laundry (47%).
Of the survey participants who spring-clean, 67% wash their bed linens and 55% wash their curtains.
Forty-one percent of survey respondents reported washing their clothes in hot water most of the time. This percentage has been trending upward over the last four years and highlights the need for increased awareness of the advantages of cold-water washing, ACI says. While warmer water temperatures may be warranted if someone in the home is sick or immunocompromised, for most healthy households' laundry this is not necessary, as shown in ACI’s Levels of Laundry.
According to results from ACI’s 2024 National Cleaning Survey, 53% have a “dedicated laundry room in my house,” 24% “do laundry in another room (e.g. kitchen, basement, etc.), 22% “have a laundry closet,” 12% “do laundry in a laundromat,” 10% “do laundry in a communal laundry room in my building,” and 6% “do laundry at a family or friend’s house.”
ACI has a Laundry Basics page on its website, featuring washday tips, a guide to fabricare symbols, and even a list of how often certain garments and home textiles should be washed.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Bruce Beggs at [email protected].
