UK Window Cleaners Statistically A Hit With Under 35's

The research found that one in four households have a window cleaner and nearly a fifth – 17per cent - employ gardeners.

Return of the cleaner: One if three families now pays for domestic help: A third of households hire domestic help and the trend is driven by under-35s. An influx of migrants from other EU states has created a pool of cheap workers. Twice as many people under 35 have a cleaner compared to older people.

As a result, it is not just the well-heeled who can pay others to do the hoovering and ironing or tidy the garden, according to the study by insurers esure. A spokesman said: ‘The idea of having regular help coming to your home is something that is traditionally associated with the well-to-do but it is becoming more mainstream. ‘In fact one in four of those on modest household incomes – earning up to £20,000 per year – now hire regular help.’ 

Researchers found that twice as many people under the age of 35 have a cleaner compared to older people – 16 per cent versus 9 per cent. While this may appear to be laziness, it could simply be that young adults and parents are working long hours to fund life’s essentials. Across the nation, working long hours and a busy social life are given as the main motivation for hiring a cleaner. While one in three simply say it is just easier to use a professional to do chores properly.

A quarter of young adults said they would rather do other things with their free time than dust and vacuum, and a further one in four find the work too boring to do themselves. The research found that one in four households have a window cleaner and nearly a fifth – 17 per cent - employ gardeners. One in 20 households hire handymen for simple jobs. Interestingly, a higher proportion of men rather than women brought in an expert - 6 per cent versus 4 per cent.

Other studies suggest today’s young men have never learned basic DIY skills and simply would not know where to start on changing a tap washer or putting up a shelf. Generation Y are forking out the most for their hired help with the under 35s spending an average of £204 last month compared to the average of £127. Despite the significant sums of money being handed over, the majority of people – 87per cent – do it on a ‘cash in hand’ basis.

Esure said people bringing in strangers to work around their home are not being as careful as they should. Fewer than one in four check references and four in five do not have a formal written contract. The study suggests the total sum paid for help around the home adds up to £26billion a year. 

Clean UK Windows? No Thanks!

Clean the windows? No thanks! Third of homeowners hardly ever complete household chore... and a quarter don't clean the oven: Three in ten Brits hardly ever clean their windows and nearly a quarter rarely clean the oven, a poll shows. A study found that 24 per cent of us spend two and a hours a day on household chores and 75 per cent care about having a clean house. But despite a household cleaning market valued at £1 billion by Mintel, 28 per cent admit their house is frequently messy.

Almost three in ten (27 per cent) of Britain’s households admit their windows hardly ever get cleaned although a third still use an old fashioned window cleaner - some 8.8 millions homes. And while a third (33 per cent) of Brits love to have a sparkling clean oven and hob, almost a quarter (23 per cent) admit they hardly ever clean it.

One in 20 have used a professional to do the job. Four out of ten avoid wearing shoes indoors to keep carpets clean, while three in ten use carpet shampoo at least once a year. Twelve per cent have paid to have carpets and upholstery cleaned professionally.

Sixteen per cent of Brits would consider a specialist cleaner or polish for their gadgets while 14 per cent admit they often have a problem with blocked sinks, plugs, toilets or drains in their home. Richard Caines, Senior Household Care Analyst at Mintel, said: 'For the most part, Brits are enthusiastic cleaners, but some jobs remain too much for even the most devoted cleaner.

'Cleaning the windows and oven top the least loved tasks, and the windows of more than a quarter of adults hardly ever get cleaned, suggesting the market for window cleaners is not realising its full potential.

'Carpet cleaners have been a star performer in the household cleaning products market, sales of carpet and upholstery cleaners did well between 2010 and 2011 boosted by product innovation seen from some major brands and an effort to look after carpets as opposed to buying new floor coverings.' The research showed that the household polishes and specialist cleaning products market was worth £171 million in 2011, growing 16 per cent between 2006 and 2011 and three per cent between 2010 and 2011.

Furniture polish had led the growth, increasing by 45 per cent from 2006 to 2011, or £22 million to £32 million. Floor polish sales have sunk 33 per cent over the same period though, from £12 million to £8 million. Mr Caines said: 'Strong increases in the value of sales of furniture polishes and carpet cleaners suggest that consumers are willing to spend more money on products that help to protect and maintain the look of household items that are expensive for them to replace. 'In contrast to the strong performance seen in furniture polishes, sales of floor polish have declined and those people with real wood floors that need polishing represent a small minority of households.'