Australians sweep Spring Cleaning under the rug

Fresh consumer insights from Samsung Australia reveal a third of Australians regularly stare aimlessly into their refrigerators out of boredom yet haven’t cleaned the inside of their fridge at all this year.

Over a third (37%) of 18-25 year olds admit to throwing a rug over a mess instead of cleaning it. Pictured: Bespoke AI Jet Ultra. Image simulated for illustrative purposes. Cables not shown.

Spring has officially sprung. While there is a perception that Australians will be dusting off shelves and airing out rooms as part of a ‘Spring cleaning’ zeitgeist; fresh insights reveal a quarter (26%) of Australians are more likely to close the door on a messy room rather than vacuum it[1].

The new insights released by Samsung Australia show that Australian respondents often choose the path of least resistance – and hygiene – to avoid cleaning. Over a third (37%) of 18-25 year olds admit to throwing a rug over a mess instead of cleaning it, while two fifths (41%) let their pet ‘clean-up’ crumbs to avoid vacuuming[2]. In fact, over half (58%) of 18-25 year olds admit to only ever mopping when there is a visible spill or dirt they can’t avoid, and only ever vacuum if they have a guest coming over (37%)[3].

Australian youth aren’t the only Australians with bad cleaning habits. One in five (20%) Australian respondents admit they wait for someone else to vacuum rather than doing it themselves. Alarmingly, double that number (41%) claim to follow the ‘5-second rule’, eating food they’ve dropped on the floor knowing they’ve not mopped for at least a fortnight (49% of respondents). Further, the insights show 18-25 year old respondents are twice as likely than the general population to eat expired food from the fridge (41% vs 23%)[4].

Forty-one per-cent of Australians claim to follow the ‘5-second rule’ – eating food they’ve dropped on the floor – knowing they’ve not mopped for at least a fortnight (49%). Pictured: Samsung French Door refrigerator. Image simulated for illustrative purposes. Cables not shown.

Confusingly, while half of Australian respondents agree that it is important for their air conditioner to purify the air in their home as well as optimise the temperature (50%), just under two-thirds (60%) admit they haven’t actually checked whether the inside of their air conditioning unit is clean recently[5]. This gap highlights that Australians are aware that indoor air quality can impact their health, but aren’t willing or certain of how to follow through on maintenance.

According to Rachel Carter, Head of Home Appliances, Samsung Australia, many Australians still approach cleaning as a laborious manual chore without realising that hours of time and effort could be saved with the help of smart yet affordable appliances. Further, she says there needs to be better education that many appliances clean themselves to help maintain house hygiene.

“As the weather warms up, many Australians are ready to spend more time doing the things they like most with the people they love in the great outdoors. While understandably, staying inside doing housework might not be high on that list, it’s important to schedule in regular cleaning to help keep homes fresh,” said Ms. Carter.

“In 2025, almost every appliance in Samsung’s product range is designed to help save you time and money, so you can focus on what is important. Our Bespoke Jet Bot Combo^TM vacuum can be scheduled to clean and mop the floors while you’re out so you come home to fresh floors everyday. Our range of AI Family Hub^TM refrigerators can track expiry dates on food and suggest recipes so you use items while they’re at their best.[6] The Bespoke AI Heat Pump Combo can wash and dry a load in just 98 mins[7] while reducing energy output by up to 60% during wash cycles and 20% during dry cycles via AI Energy Mode[8]. These are real benefits Australians can enjoy today, putting a real spring in their step.”

“Appliances like the Bespoke AI Jet Ultra and Samsung AIRISE WindFree^TM air conditioning series’ have built-in self-cleaning functions while SmartThings provides a diagnostic overview of each product’s health to ensure it’s performing at its best to keep your home clean,” Ms. Carter concludes.

Voted Australia’s most loved Whitegoods brand in Finder’s 2025 Customer Satisfaction Awards, Samsung’s 2025 line-up of AI-powered home appliances represents the next leap forward in Samsung’s vision to simplify Australian home life.

Prioritising user safety, personalisation, and long-term value, Samsung’s Bespoke AI home appliance range, spanning refrigerators, washers & dryers, built-in cooking, floor care, and air conditioning, are designed to offer performance beyond their core purpose, and thrive as part of a connected home ecosystem.

Products including the Bespoke AI Jet Ultra, Bespoke Jet Bot Combo™, Bespoke AI Heat Pump Combo, Bespoke AI Family Hub™+, and AI Smart AIRISE WindFree™ Purification System introduce advanced features such as AI-driven recognition and intelligent automation, enhancing everyday experiences. From intuitive controls and adaptive performance to seamless connectivity with SmartThings and integrated Knox security protection; these appliances simplify daily tasks enabling better living at home.

To find out more about Samsung’s range of home appliances, visit https://www.samsung.com/au/why-samsung-appliances/

[1] Samsung commissioned research by Pure Profile, August 2025. N= 1,010

[2] Samsung commissioned research by Pure Profile, August 2025. N= 1,010

[3] Samsung commissioned research by Pure Profile, August 2025. N= 1,010

[4] Samsung commissioned research by Pure Profile, August 2025. N= 1,010

[5] Samsung commissioned research by Pure Profile, August 2025. N= 1,010

[6] Samsung Food allows users to create a list of food in the refrigerator and manage expiry dates. Using the SmartThings App, which is available on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required.

[7] Wash and dry in 98 minutes. Wash in 28 minutes: Based on using a Super Speed cycle with an 3kg cotton base load in accordance with KS C IEC61121:2012. Individual results may vary based on actual load contents. Dry in 70 minutes: Based on using a Super Speed cycle with an 3kg cotton base load in accordance with KS C IEC61121:2012. Individual results may vary based on actual load contents.

[8] Tested on the WD18DB8995BZSA Samsung Bespoke AI Heat Pump Combo comparing results with AI Energy Mode turned on (Wash –Avg0.11055kWh / Dry –Avg. 1.0150) and off (Wash -Avg0.31911kWh / Dry –Avg. 1.2791kWh). Tested with 3kg Cotton base load and using AI OptiWash and Dry cycle. Actual energy saving may vary, depending on variables including the wash and/or dry cycle, type of detergent and laundry materials. Available via the SmartThings App on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required. T&C’s apply.