But, strangely, this self-serving claim might be true. Spontex recently set up a one-day course in London, a pilot for its Cleaning Academy for Men, a residential two-day course that promises to cure mens’ “dust and dirt blindness”. The students ranged from their mid-twenties to mid-fifties, most apparently “nagged” into attending by exhausted wives and girlfriends. And they actually, seriously, “couldn’t identify dirt”, says the lady from Spontex. Shown a grimy window, they claimed that as they could still see through it, it must be okay, and were amazed at the muck lifted off by a wipe with a cloth. Other blind spots include dust in corners, on skirting boards and picture rails. Some of these chaps didn’t even know how to wash up. And they hadn’t a clue about the right products and materials for the job — one lummox had even ruined a stainless steel cooker by attacking it with a steel scourer.
The course covered topics that women somehow seem to pick up along life’s highway without signing up for special lessons (Spontex puts this down to our twin penchants for emulating mother and trying out new products around the home), starting with the no-brainer stuff such as “vacuuming with ease” and moving up to PhD-level stain removal. It gave the chaps a daily routine — yes, it did include making the bed. There was also a list of basic kit, including rubber gloves — but not pink ones — and disposable dusters (“Are they ever going to wash them? They’re men”). It also examined that most essential factor: motivation.
Top tips include “making the jobs sound manly. Men love hoovering, because it’s using a power tool”. You can also try offering a choice: hang out the washing or load the dishwasher. That gives an illusion that they’re in control. “It’s a bit like motivating children, really,” sighs the Spontex lady.
Spontex: 020 7535 1351; www.spontex.co.uk