MFRO Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative: Hironori Kitawaki) conducted an "Awareness Survey on Housework Tasks to Cut Corners" targeting 499 people who regularly do housework, and ranked the data.

Housework is essential for keeping our homes clean and living a healthy life.

While time-saving appliances are becoming more common, housework still requires time and effort, and can be a significant burden.

Craudia Recruitment Site Creation Agency (https://craudia-recruit-create.com/), operated by MFRO Inc., conducted a survey among 499 people who regularly do housework about "housework tasks to cut corners" and summarized the results in a ranking format.

We received comments on the survey results from Maki Kawano, a housework advisor.

[Regarding the use of data and images]

When using the survey results and images from this release, please include a link to the official website URL of "Craudia Recruitment Site Creation Agency" (https://craudia-recruit-create.com/) as the source.

[Survey Overview]

Target Audience: People who regularly do housework

Survey Date: June 18, 2026

Survey Organization: In-house survey

Survey Method: Voluntary response via internet

Valid Responses: 499 people (413 women / 86 men)

Responder Age Groups: 20s 14.8% / 30s 37.7% / 40s 28.9% / 50s 12.4% / 60s and over 6.2%

[Survey Results Summary]

- The moment people want to cut corners on housework is "when they are tired."

- The No. 1 housework task to cut corners on is "meal preparation."

- 59.9% of people feel guilty about cutting corners on housework.

The moment people want to cut corners on housework is "when they are tired."

When asked 499 people who regularly do housework about "moments when they want to cut corners on housework," the top answer was "when tired (47.3%)," followed by "when feeling unwell (45.1%)."

The close proximity of "tired" and "unwell" in the first and second places indicates that physical burden easily leads to the desire to reduce housework.

There were also responses such as "when unmotivated" and "when feeling down," suggesting that motivation for housework is also related to mental condition.

<1st Place: Tired>

- When tired from childcare or work (30s, Female)

- When physically and mentally exhausted from social interactions (50s, Female)

- When I return home after a day of external work. Especially in the summer, I often return home sweating, and I'm quite tired by the evening. The moment I sit on the sofa, I don't want to move, and I think, "Maybe I'll take a break from housework today." (60s and over, Male)

While few daily housework tasks require "arm strength," they do involve physical exertion, so a certain level of stamina is necessary. Few housework tasks can be done while sitting; they require standing and moving hands and feet. Therefore, when tired, people tend to want to cut corners on housework.

The causes of fatigue mentioned include "work" and "childcare/caregiving." Some people believe that not only physical but also mental fatigue affects motivation for housework.

<2nd Place: Feeling unwell>

- When I have a headache due to changes in barometric pressure. When I have menstrual pain (30s, Female)

- When feeling unwell due to menopausal symptoms (40s, Female)

- When I feel unwell from the morning. When I have a headache or eye pain and it's difficult, I want to rest as much as possible (50s, Male)

Since many survey respondents are women, many mentioned female-specific health issues such as "menstrual pain and PMS" and "menopausal symptoms." Headaches and lack of sleep were also mentioned.

When feeling unwell, moving the body or planning housework steps becomes a burden. Therefore, it is natural that many people think, "I want to cut corners on housework and rest my body."

This is a mindset that prioritizes one's own health over pushing oneself too hard.

<3rd Place: Busy>

- When family schedules cause delays, and dinner preparation is late (30s, Female)

- When I feel like cutting corners on housework after being out all day or returning home late at night (40s, Female)

- When work is busy and I can't find enough time (50s, Male)

When busy with "work," "family schedules," or "outings," there may not be enough time to do housework.

It is thought that when it is physically difficult to secure time, it leads to the feeling of "I don't have time, so I want to cut corners." It is difficult to do all housework perfectly within a limited time.

If the busy state continues, fatigue tends to accumulate, resulting in a state of "busy and tired," which may further increase the desire to cut corners on housework.

<4th Place: Unmotivated>

- When I don't feel like it (30s, Female)

- When I just don't feel like doing housework (30s, Female)

- When it's time to make dinner, I don't feel like it and find it a chore (40s, Female)

It was found that there are moments when one lacks motivation for housework, even without clear fatigue or illness. Some people feel "I don't want to do it for no reason." The background may include stress or fatigue that the person is not consciously aware of.

Also, many housework tasks are repetitive, and there are few rewards or praises, which can lead to a decrease in motivation due to a lack of a sense of accomplishment. Unless one "loves housework" or "feels uncomfortable if they don't do it out of habit," it is not possible to maintain high motivation for housework at all times.

It is natural for motivation to change depending on daily mood and condition.

<5th Place: Feeling down>

- When I'm feeling down due to relationship issues or other problems (40s, Female)

- When only my body is tired, I feel like "I'll try again" after a little rest. However, when I'm mentally depressed or feeling "irritable" or "anxious," I just want to give up and do nothing at all (50s, Female)

- When I'm feeling down (60s and over, Female)

Some people's motivation for housework decreases when they are feeling down due to "something unpleasant happening at work or in relationships."

Even if the body recovers with a little rest, it can be difficult to shift one's mood when feeling down. Unless housework is a "change of pace," it is thought that when one is mentally down, they will want to cut corners on tedious housework.

Whether one wants to cut corners or not is related to motivation, so it is greatly influenced by mental state as well as physical condition.

The No. 1 housework task to cut corners on is "meal preparation."

The No. 1 housework task to cut corners on was "meal preparation (59.9%)," which received nearly 60% of the votes. Many also cited "cleaning (37.1%)" as second.

Tasks that "have little impact on daily life even if slightly cut corners" or "have alternative methods" ranked high.

<1st Place: Meal Preparation>

- For lunch, I buy bento boxes or onigiri from convenience stores. For dinner, I eat out or buy prepared meals from supermarkets (30s, Female)

- I make do with pre-cooked meals that have been frozen. I use frozen foods (40s, Female)

- I often buy bento boxes or prepared meals with a half-price sticker at the supermarket. If I have natto or tofu in the fridge, I just put them out, and that's it. When I'm tired, I don't want to force myself to cook, so I accept it. (60s and over, Male)

Meal preparation is characterized by being "particularly time-consuming and labor-intensive" among housework tasks and being "essential every day."

If you cook yourself, it starts with shopping and requires standing while cooking. While laundry and cleaning can be postponed for a while, you cannot skip meals.

On the other hand, there are many alternative methods such as "convenience store bento boxes and supermarket prepared meals," "eating out," "meal delivery services," and "frozen or instant foods." Meal preparation is a housework task that can easily be replaced by other methods.

<2nd Place: Cleaning>

- Floor cleaning. Normally, I do it thoroughly, like "vacuuming, then mopping with a special cleaner, and then dry wiping." When I want to slack off, I just lightly wipe it with a wet sheet. (30s, Male)

- It's okay not to vacuum for a day, so I just don't. I have my children help me. (40s, Female)

- Bathroom cleaning. I leave it undone. If I do it, I just quickly rinse it with the shower and wipe it down briefly. (60s and over, Female)

Cleaning is considered a task that, even if cut corners, does not immediately lead to major problems. Therefore, responses included methods of cutting corners such as "reducing the intensity of cleaning" and "taking a break from cleaning altogether." Whether to completely skip cleaning or do it lightly depends on the area to be cleaned and individual perception.

Some people also divide the labor among family members, such as "you clean your own room" or "just wipe the table."

<3rd Place: Laundry>

- Taking laundry out of the dryer. After taking it off the hangers, I just put it nearby without folding it. (30s, Female)

- I don't do it every day and let it pile up for 2-3 days. After drying, I make an excuse that "it's not dry yet" and postpone taking it down until the next day. (40s, Female)

- If I still have clothes and underwear left to wear, I don't do laundry until I run out. (60s and over, Male)

If you have enough clothes, postponing laundry usually doesn't cause major problems. Therefore, many people cut corners on laundry.

Methods of cutting corners on laundry include "washing in bulk" and "not folding laundry after taking it out." Simplifying parts with relatively little impact on daily life, such as "not folding," or reducing the frequency of housework are ways to lighten the burden.

<4th Place: Washing Dishes>

- I postpone it until the next day. (20s, Female)

- I wash the dishes, but let them air dry without wiping them. (30s, Female)

- I try to choose meal menus that don't create many dishes, or I serve store-bought prepared foods directly from their containers onto the table. (40s, Female)

Washing dishes is the housework that comes when you return home tired, manage to cook and eat, and want to relax. If you have a large family, there are many dishes to wash, and it can be a stressful task for those with sensitive skin.

Considering the flow and effort involved, fatigue and decreased motivation are thought to be the reasons behind cutting corners on washing dishes. Unlike meal preparation, washing dishes does not have a clear deadline.

Methods of cutting corners include "postponing until the next day" and "not creating dishes in the first place."

<5th Place: Ironing>

- I carefully smooth out wrinkles when hanging laundry. (20s, Female)

- I postpone it until the last minute and do all the ironing at once. (40s, Female)

- I buy clothes that don't require ironing. (50s, Female)

Ironing is not a housework directly related to maintaining daily life, unlike cooking, laundry, or cleaning.

If you are not concerned about appearance, it can be said to be unnecessary. It takes effort but has a relatively small impact on daily life, so it is easily cut corners.

Cutting corners mentioned include "buying clothes that don't require ironing" and "smoothing out wrinkles when hanging laundry," which are ways to make ironing unnecessary in the first place. "Smoothing out wrinkles when hanging laundry" also takes effort, but it is considered less burdensome than ironing.

Some people also do ironing in batches.

59.9% Feel Guilty About Cutting Corners on Housework

Of those who regularly do housework, 59.9% answered that they "feel guilty about cutting corners on housework" ("very" 10.6% + "somewhat" 49.3%).

The reasons for wanting to cut corners on housework included unavoidable circumstances such as "being tired," "feeling unwell," and "being busy." Despite this, about 60% feel guilty, suggesting that while many understand it's "understandable," they are conflicted with the consciousness that they "should do it properly."

It is inferred that since housework plays a significant role in supporting daily life, many people feel a psychological burden when cutting corners.

Conclusion

In today's busy world, many people want to cut corners on housework due to lack of time and fatigue.

Housework tasks that are easily cut corners include "meal preparation," which can be easily replaced by alternatives, and "cleaning" and "laundry," which have little impact if postponed. The mindset of "cutting corners while not affecting daily life" can be observed.

Since housework continues every day, it is not easy to aim for perfection at all times. Housework is done by humans, so there are days when one is unwell or simply unmotivated.

Many people feel guilty when they cut corners on housework, but isn't it also important to accept that "sometimes it can't be helped" or "one day is okay"?

Comments from Maki Kawano

In recent years, housework seems to be gradually shifting from "something that must be done perfectly" to a way of thinking where "things that can be let go should be let go." However, the result that about 60% of people feel guilty about cutting corners on housework suggests that the value of "housework should be done properly" is still deeply rooted.

Looking at the examples provided in the survey, most of them could hardly be called "cutting corners." If you stop doing something you've been doing as a matter of course, or reduce the number of steps, you might feel like you're "cutting corners." However, if it doesn't interfere with your life, it can also be seen as "ingenuity" to make your life more efficient.

When you feel like "cutting corners on housework," it's a chance to review your lifestyle. Why not take another look at your life and sort out "what really needs to be done" and "what doesn't matter if it's not done"?

▽ Expert Introduction

Maki Kawano

Housework Advisor / Solo Living Advisor / Culinary Expert

Proposes lifestyles for creating and starting a comfortable life, covering cooking, housework, and interior design. Supports creating a comfortable, sustainable, and personalized lifestyle without being bound by trends or preconceptions.

Also, since April 2016, she has been running the "Tudukurasu Shokudo" cooking class.

Her books include "Hitorigurashi no Kisetsugoyomi" (Shodensha), and her supervised books include "Jingai ga Seitoi Ie Kaji no Shukan" (Seibundo Shinkosha), "Hitorigurashi de Shiritai Koto ga Zenbu no Tteru Hon" (Shufunotomo), and "Kihon kara Shin-hassou made Kaji Zukan 750" (Asahi Shimbun Publishing).

Maki Kawano Official Website http://kawano-maki.net/

Cooking Class Tudukurasu Shokudo Website https://www.tudukurasu.jp/

[Regarding the use of data and images]

When using the survey results and images from this release, please include a link to the official website URL of "Craudia Recruitment Site Creation Agency" (https://craudia-recruit-create.com/) as the source.

About Craudia

Craudia is a comprehensive crowdsourcing service operated by MFRO Inc.

As individual work styles and lifestyles diversify, it is offered as one of the services that supports each person's life, including freelance, side jobs, and multiple jobs.

Official URL https://www.craudia.com/

About MFRO Inc.

MFRO Inc. is a company whose core business is media operations, providing valuable services by disseminating attractive information to users.

Utilizing the data, know-how, and development achievements accumulated through its main media business, it offers marketing consulting that proposes highly effective customer acquisition methods.

Official URL https://www.mfro.net/

Company Profile

Company Name: MFRO Inc.

Representative: Hironori Kitawaki, Representative Director

Location: 4F, A-PLACE Ebisu Higashi, 3-13-11 Higashi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0011

Established: September 2004

Capital: 50,000,000 yen

URL: http://www.mfro.net/

<Operated Services>

- Comprehensive Crowdsourcing Service - Craudia

https://www.craudia.com/

- Craudia Online Assistant Service

https://craudia-assistant.com/

- Craudia Accounting Specialist Assistant Service

https://craudia-assistant.com/accounting

- Craudia English Support Assistant Service

https://craudia-assistant.com/english

- Craudia Expert Article Supervision Service

https://app.craudia.com/lp/expert

- Craudia Case Study Creation Service

https://jirei-seisaku.com/

- Craudia Medical Writing/Doctor Supervision Service

https://app.craudia.com/lp/medical

- Craudia Interview/Photography Service

https://app.craudia.com/lp/interview

- Craudia Financial Writing/Supervision Service

https://app.craudia.com/lp/finance

- Craudia Real Estate Writing/Supervision Service

https://app.craudia.com/lp/real-estate

- Craudia Beauty Writing/Supervision Service

https://app.craudia.com/lp/beauty

- Craudia Media Placement Support Service

https://craudia-citation.com/

- Craudia Support for Employee Interview Agency for Recruitment Sites

https://craudia-recruitment-interview.com/

- Craudia Recruitment Video Production Agency Service

https://craudia-saiyo-movie.com/

- Craudia Recruitment Agency/Dispatch Business Specialized Website Creation Agency

https://craudia-hrweb.com/

- Craudia Recruitment Site Creation Agency

https://craudia-recruit-create.com/

- Media for Crowdworkers - CLAREPO

https://www.craudia.com/crarepo/

- Game Strategy Site Created by Everyone - Gamerch.com

https://gamerch.com/

- All Game Information on One Site - Wazap!

https://jp.wazap.com/

- Cryptocurrency Bitcoin News Information Site - Coin Choice

https://coinchoice.net/

- Point Site where you can earn points in 5 minutes a day. - AmeFuri

https://point.i2i.jp/

- Class C Distributed IP Rental Server - IQ SERVER

https://www.iq-servers.com/

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: Survey結果