Homeowners More Likely to Spend Longer Hours on Household Chores

Does it feel like your house just never stays clean? That the laundry is always piling up?

While it may feel like you are always doing chores and household tasks, the majority of Americans are significantly underestimating the time they spend on keeping up their home each month. Consumers report spending 14 hours per month on household tasks, however, in reality, they spend around 42 hours, according to new data from Angi. Cleaning the inside of a home is the one task that takes up the most time, while consumers reported spending the least time organizing the outside of their home (like cleaning the garage) or shopping for outside décor and furniture.

Homeowners are more likely to spend more time than renters at 44 hours compared to 38 hours. Yardwork was the most likely time-consuming culprit, as owners typically spent around seven hours a month, compared to four for renters. Women spend 36% more hours on household tasks over their male counterparts, at 49 hours compared to 36 hours. Parents spent 34% more time on household chores than non-parents at 51 hours compared to 38 hours, with most additional hours attributed to cleaning inside. Married people are more likely than single people to spend additional time on household chores at 46 hours compared to 39 hours.

As hybrid work schedules have become more common over the past few years, consumers admitted spending 17 hours per month on household tasks during work hours, most likely cleaning, performing interior maintenance and organizing.

Martha Stewart recommends streaming a TV or podcast, dancing to some music, calling a friend and/or using favorite products to make household tasks go by a little quicker.