Cleaning And Household Maintenance Habits Of Individuals Of Low To Lower-Middle Socio-Economic Status And Their Perception Of, Exposure To, And Willingness To Try Green Cleaning And Green Household Maintenance Techniques.

Abstract

The cleaning and household maintenance habits of individuals of low to lowermiddle socio-economic status and their perception of, exposure to, and willingness to try green cleaning and green household maintenance techniques is an important consideration. The idea of 'going green' is one that is often reserved for individuals of middle to high socio-economic status. While using green cleaning products and switching to household maintenance practices to those that are better for the environment may at first pose a financial strain, the personal and environmental health benefits derived from such changes in behavior are invaluable. This research focused on forming an understanding of where there are common mistakes and misconceptions related to safe household cleaning and maintenance techniques- particularly in relationship to indoor air quality. The occupants of a variety of buildings in the five boroughs of New York City (variety in terms of style of building and age of the building) were surveyed. They were asked to complete a thorough demographic profile and to answer a number of questions regarding their cleaning and household maintenance habits. A self-administered questionnaire was used as the survey instrument. Regression analyses were used to identify and examine relationships between demographic characteristics and perceptions of, exposure to, and willingness to try green cleaning and green household maintenance techniques. The findings indicate that household cleaning and maintenance habits differ significantly in terms of gender and age. Female respondents to this survey are more likely to try green cleaning products. The older individuals surveyed were less likely than the younger individuals to consider making their own cleaning products. Differences due to household income were not observed. The results indicate that gender is the only significant independent variable in terms of willingness to try a green cleaning product. The women surveyed in this study are more likely than the men to try a green cleaning product that they know would be as effective as a cleaning product with which they are already familiar. Additionally, the results suggest that older individuals who were surveyed are less likely to consider making their own cleaning products as substitutes for the cleaning products they already use.