Spring cleaning, by the numbers

In Mercari’s 2022 Spring Cleaning Survey*, we asked 1,000 people about their plans, preferences, and general feelings around spring cleaning. Some of the results were what we’d expected to hear – 78% of those surveyed spring clean every year – and some surprised us, like the fact that 56% of surveyed people cleaning their homes for the season throw unwanted items out or leave them on the street! (Maybe they didn’t realize how easy it is to list and earn on Mercari?)

Read on for the full scoop on the state of spring cleaning in 2022, based on our survey.

78% (3 out of 4) spring clean every year, only 2% of respondents never spring clean

• 68% spend more time at home now that before the pandemic started
• 50% strongly agree that it is important to have a tidy space, and the majority tidy their space more often now than they did pre-pandemic
• 30% spend more time cleaning children's spaces than their own spaces
• 60% agree that spring cleaning is a therapeutic activity, and almost 3 out of 4 feel happier in a tidy space than a non-tidy space
• Attics and garages are the most avoided spaces when it comes to spring cleaning (no arguing, there).

And, the top reasons for spring cleaning?

• Deep clean (73%)
• Remove clutter (70%)
• Tidy up & organize (66%)
• Purge items no longer in use (51%)

‍Here’s what survey respondents said they’d be willing to give up, in order to have a perfectly tidy house:

• 41% would give up alcohol for two weeks 
• 37% would give up video games for a week 
• 1 in 3 (33%) would give up their phone for a day 
• ... and 29% would give up TV access for a week 

‍How do people tackle this project, and what exactly are they purging?

• 43% spend 2-3 days spring cleaning, and 20% spend up to a week on this activity
• 69% prioritize the entire home in the cleaning process
• 72% get rid of clothing, followed by shoes at 47%, home decor at 35% and toys and games at 32%
• ... and 22% purge more than 26 items, 50% purge more than 11 items

How are people disposing of things they no longer want?

• 70% donate (70%)
• 45% give things away to friends and family
• ...and 56% throw things out or leave them on the street!

And then, there are those that list their pre-loved and unused items on Mercari… and the shoppers that’re happy they did. Whether you’re listing or shopping, here’s some insights into what’s being listed and sold in the first part of the year:

• Women's tops & blouses, shoes and jewelry were the top 3 categories being listed on Mercari in Jan & Feb 2022, followed by collectibles & hobbies, and women’s athletic apparel.
• We’ve seen a 54% increase in orders of women’s shorts in February when compared to the previous month in both 2022 and 2021. That means now’s a great time to scour that closet and list those shorts!
• Live plants saw a 28% increase in orders in February when compared to the previous month. Not sure how to package your plants? We’ve got you covered. 
• More people purchased items from Collectibles & Hobbies than any other category.

That’s the scoop on “the big clean” this spring. And hey, even if you’re not into spring cleaning, there’s no bad time to list the items you no longer use or need...or to snag deals on things that others are listing.

Head over to the marketplace to list, earn, and shop…any day.

Good luck with your spring cleaning!

Team Mercari

*Survey of 1007 US residents ages 18-75 conducted by Zogby Analytics, March 2022.

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