Table 5.

Reported changes and challenges in household cleaning practices as a result of COVID-19 or lockdowns

Household cleaning practice	Quantitative results	Qualitative themes and descriptions
Changes related to household cleaning	41% (N = 49) reported that coronavirus or the lockdown had changed their household cleaning practices	Cleaning house more frequently: 34% of respondents (N = 40) explained that they have started cleaning their house more frequently since the pandemic started. Some specified the change in frequency, such as cleaning once a week to now twice a week or four times a week. Some of these respondents explained that they have pucca (concrete) floors and are washing and/or wiping them more frequently, whereas others have clay or earth floors and have increased the frequency that they sweep or clean the floor by adding a layer of a cow dung/water mixture. When washing floors, many described using water with phenyl, detergent, bleaching powder, or shampoo.
		Use of detergent/disinfectant: 13% of respondents (N = 16) said they had either started using or now use more of detergent/disinfectant when cleaning their home due to COVID-19. One respondent elaborated that it is repeatedly said on television that one needs to keep their home clean.
		No change: Among those who reported no change (59%, N = 70), some respondents said this was because they have always cleaned their house frequently or properly or that their house is always clean. One respondent said that they clean their house whenever it is dirty, and another respondent said that they clean it whenever they feel like it. A few respondents expressed that they were not aware that you should clean your house to protect against COVID-19.