Back in time: the household of the 1950s
To get straight to the point: in 1950, families spent no less than 57 hours a week cleaning the house. That's a lot more than a full-time job today.
That time was divided roughly this way:
- 42 hours of general, weekly household chores.
- 15 to 20 hours of thorough cleaning.
An immense time commitment, especially since many household appliances we now take for granted did not exist back then. No wonder that in many families, the wife often stayed at home to do the housework.
How much time do we spend on housework in 2025?
As you might expect, recent studies show a steep decline. Indeed, families still spend on average around 15 to 25 hours a week on household chores (depending on family size and stage of life).
The help of all kinds of household appliances alone saves dozens of hours per week compared to our grandparents. Yet there are a number of other factors:
- Husband-wife balance: While in the past the woman invariably took charge of the entire household, today that is (thankfully) different. More and more families are sharing household chores more equitably between partners.
- Household help: Families of two-income couples increasingly have the financial means to hire a household help. Especially in Belgium, where the system of service vouchers makes it affordable for a large layer of the population. In this way, families are literally buying back free time.
In which rooms do we clean the most?
- The kitchen accounts for a whopping 47% of our cleaning time
- The living room follows with 25%.
- The bedroom comes next. Somewhat surprising, since we spend most hours of the day in this space, even if it is for sleeping.
More free time thanks to TRIXXO
Don't spend 15 to 25 hours a week on housework. Rather have more time for your family, hobbies and relaxation? Our domestic helpers are ready to take over those tasks, leaving you time for what really counts.