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Hong Kong People Are Becoming More “Reactive Cleaners”
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 26 April 2022 - Today, Dyson announces the results of its annual global dust study that includes investigating Hong Kong people's cleaning habits and behaviours and delves into our understanding of household dust and the potential impact it can have on our well-being.
The study[1], undertaken by 32,282 respondents from 33 countries around the world revealed that 95% of people are cleaning just as much, if not more, than they did last year to ensure their homes remain a clean and healthy space as many continue to be concerned about the cleanliness of their homes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, only 43% of Hong Kong people clean their home regularly while 50% of them are only motivated to clean when their home is dusty, when they can see was visible dust, or dirt on the floor. This is despite more than half of Hong Kong people expressing greater concern about cleaning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dyson's global survey revealed people in some markets clean more frequently than others. Here in Hong Kong we are cleaning less regularly than the global average, with only 3 in 10 of us cleaning our homes 5 to 7 times a week.
"It is a cause for concern if people only clean when they spot visible dust on the floors as many dust particles are microscopic in size," says Monika Stuczen, Research Scientist in Microbiology at Dyson. "In fact, by the time people spot visible dust in the home, it is highly likely that there are dust mites in your home."
Are people cleaning the right spaces in their homes – with the right methods?
The Global Dust Study also explored areas in the home that people were cleaning. While the majority of people vacuumed their floors regularly, other spaces were commonly overlooked. With most Hong Kong people living in compact apartments, airing mattresses outdoors and washing and air-drying pillows and cushions frequently is rarely an option. Only 21% of Hong Kong people vacuum their mattresses despite spending one-thirds of their lives in bed and just 14% vacuum their curtains and blinds, which are often exposed to and can trap outdoor dust and other particles.
Hong Kong people were less concerned about household dust and also showed less knowledge of what makes up dust, tending to focus on cleaning up the more obvious hair and dirt from outside. Only 5% knew that dust mite faeces and carcasses are a major component of dust. A quarter were extremely worried about bringing in dust/dirt from outside.
Are pet owners aware of what their pets may carry?
Beyond becoming more frequent cleaners, the pandemic also saw a global surge in pet ownership and 57% of households across the world now own a pet[2]. 25% of Hong Kong respondents own a pet. However, awareness of what other creatures may reside on their pets is low, which is a concern.
- 80% pet owners are unaware that pollen can reside on their pets
- 72% pet owners are unaware that house dust mite faeces can reside on their pets
- 44% pet owners are unaware that bacteria can reside on their pets
- 63% pet owners are unaware that skin flakes can reside on their pets
"Many people think that pet hair is the biggest problem as it is the most visible," says Monika. "It is unsurprising that people are unaware of the other particles that may reside on their pets because these particles tend to be microscopic in size."
People often think that pet hair triggers allergies[3]. However, some allergies are triggered by allergens found in pet dander – the dead skin cells that furry mammals such as cats, dogs and rabbits shed. Finding outdoor space for grooming can be challenging in Hong Kong and while 2 in 3 dog owners and 3 in 5 cat owners groom their pets at home at least once a week, 7 in 10 of them only groom with a brush or comb. This may reduce the amount of pet hair they shed around the home; but microscopic particles remain on their pets that can potentially be spread around the home.
At Dyson, our research shows us that the best way to tackle dust is to remove it from the home completely. The Dyson Global Dust Study reveals that more Hong Kong people (42% compared to the global average of 32%) feel that vacuum cleaners are the most effective in removing dust from the home. A vacuum and a wet cloth remain the top cleaning tools favoured by Hong Kong owners at 62% and 61% respectively.
"Using a wet cloth to clean surfaces is fine, but the sequence of cleaning tools matter. Dampening dust on floors – even fine dust invisible to the naked eye – could mean that you're creating a habitat more favourable to dust mite and mould proliferation," explains Monika. "Dust is most effectively removed with a vacuum cleaner first, before going on to wipe surfaces. Even then, it is important to use a vacuum cleaner with effective filtration and sealing technology to ensure that whatever you vacuum remains trapped and is not expelled back into the home."
"We hope this research inspires you to think about what is in the dust in your homes," explains Monika. "Just because it is out of sight does not mean it should be out of mind. The microscopic dust particles like pet dander and dust mite allergens may have a larger impact on your health and well-being than particles you can actually see with the naked eye."
To discover more findings from Dyson's Global Dust study, visit the Dyson Newsroom.
ABOUT THE DYSON GLOBAL DUST STUDY 2022
The Dyson Global Dust Study 2022 is a 15-minute online survey undertaken by 32,282 respondents across 33 countries, including United States, Australia, Japan, China, South Korea, France, Britain, Germany, Spain, Italy, Turkey and more. Fieldwork was conducted between November 2021 to March 2022 and data has been weighted at a 'global' level to be representative of different population sizes.
In 2022, the Dyson Global Study has conducted in Hong Kong for the first time, with 1,000 respondents, to provide a local in-depth view of Hong Kong people's cleaning habits and behaviours and delves into our understanding of household dust and the potential impact it can have on our well-being.
DYSON TECHNOLOGY
Using Dyson vacuum technology is one way to ensure that you're cleaning both the visible and invisible dust in your home. The Dyson V15 Detect cordless vacuum is engineered to provide up to 240AW of suction power, powered by a Dyson Hyperdymium motor that enables the pick-up of microscopic particles. Once picked up, Dyson vacuums are designed with a five-layered filtration system to capture up to 99.99% of particles as small as 0.3 microns – the size of some bacteria and viruses[i] – and expel cleaner air into your home.
About Dyson
- Dyson is a global technology company with engineering and testing operations in the UK, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. Dyson employs over 14,000 people globally including 6,000 engineers and scientists.
- Dyson's research programme now spans the US, Japan, China, Philippines, UK, Singapore and Malaysia. In the UK the restored World War Two Hullavington airfield has been transformed in Dyson's second UK Technology Campus. Alongside Dyson's 750-acre campus at Hullavington, the 75-acre Technology Campus in Malmesbury completed a multimillion-pound refurbishment programme in 2019.
- In November 2020, Dyson announced that it will double its portfolio of products and enter entirely new fields by 2025 – taking it beyond the home for the first time. The company revealed a £2.75 billion investment plan into new technologies and new products over the next five years. The investments will be focused in Singapore, the UK, and the Philippines, and are backed by plans to hire additional engineers and scientists in fields such as software, machine learning and robotics.
- Dyson's campus in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, UK, is home to The Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology which opened in September 2017 and in 2020 became the first education provider to be given New Degree Awarding Powers. Dyson has invested £31.5 million into The Dyson Institute to date. The Dyson Institute's Undergraduate Engineers pay zero tuition fees and earn a full salary. As well as their degree studies, they work on real-life projects alongside world-experts in Dyson's global engineering, research and technology teams on Dyson's UK Campus. From day one they contribute to new technologies to improve lives all around the world. It is more than a job, and more than a degree, and although the aspiration is that they remain long after graduation, they are not tied to Dyson.
- The James Dyson Foundation works internationally to inspire young people about engineering: from school children up to university students and graduates. The James Dyson Award is the James Dyson Foundation's international design competition, which celebrates, encourages and inspires the next generation of design engineers. It's open to current and recent design and engineering students.
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