This Is How Much Time People Spend Doing Laundry Every Week (The Answer May Surprise You)

It's one of the least favorite chores.

A person placing laundry into a washer
Credit:

Cris Cantón / Getty Images

  • Nearly half of Americans spend more than three hours a week on laundry, according to a Poplin survey of 600 people.
  • Laundry is a major source of stress, with 54 percent calling it one of their top annoyances, 44 percent saying it makes them anxious or unhappy, and 21 percent naming it the chore they’d never want to do again.
  • Although respondents estimate they spend $10 to $20 per month on laundry at home, more than half said they would only be willing to pay $10 per week for someone else to handle it, and many would use the saved time for entertainment, family time, or rest.

Much like dishes, laundry seems like a never-ending chore, with another load already accumulating in the hamper as soon as the last one is folded and put away. But have you ever wondered how much time you actually spend doing your laundry?

According to a survey conducted by national laundry service Poplin that asked 600 people about their laundry habits, approximately 49 percent said they spend more than three hours a week washing, drying, folding, putting away, and managing laundry.

This weekly chore is more than just time-consuming—almost 54 percent of survey respondents said they consider laundry to be one of their top stressors or annoyances.

Forty-four percent reported that doing laundry—or the thought of doing laundry—makes them anxious or unhappy, while 21 percent of respondents said that laundry is the chore they'd never want to do again given the chance. Only cleaning the toilet and mowing the lawn drew more ire.

In terms of monthly expenses, including the cost of detergent, electricity and gas bills, and lost time, respondents estimated that they spend between $10 and $20 on laundry at home.

Despite how disliked this chore is, more than half of the survey participants said they'd only pay someone $10 per week to do their laundry for them. And if the time spent doing laundry were given back to them, about 19 percent said they'd spend it on entertainment, while another 19 percent said they'd spend it with family, and 16 percent said they'd rest or sleep.

Related Articles