Modulation of the effect of floor-cleaning on mood by the compatibility between cleaning environment and cleaning products

Abstract

People believe that cleaning behavior improves their mood, although there is little empirical evidence for this belief. This study demonstrated that the effect of cleaning on mood is modulated by the compatibility between the cleaning environment and cleaning products. Participants were required to perform a floor cleaning task in a Japanese dining-like environment, including gaps between furniture, using two different wipers （constituting an awkward condition, in which participants used a popular floor wiper that sometimes stuck in the gaps, and a smooth condition in which participants used a new product targeting the gaps）. Participants scored their positive and negative moods before and after the task and completed a questionnaire scored on a 7-point scale regarding their impressions of the difficultly maneuvering the wipers after each task. The participants’ positive mood increased after the cleaning task using the smooth wiper, but it decreased and their negative mood increased after using the awkward wiper. This mood modulation could be attributed to the time spent on the cleaning task and the impression of the wipers （specifically, ease of use and fun in use）. In conclusion, the present study revealed a multifaceted relationship between cleaning behavior and mood beyond the common intuitive one. This relationship is modulated by the compatibility between the cleaning environment and cleaning products.