020000 HOUSEHOLD ACTIVITIES
Category Description
2003: Household activities are those done by the respondent to maintain his or her household, and include housework, cooking, yard care, pet care, vehicle maintenance and repair, and home maintenance, repair, decoration, and renovation. Household management and organizational activities--such as filling out paperwork, balancing a checkbook, or planning a party--are also included in this category. Obtaining or purchasing household services (090000) is not included in this category.
2004+: This category captures the typical activities done by the respondent to maintain his or her household, including housecleaning, cooking, yard care, pet care, vehicle maintenance and repair, and home repair and renovation. Household management activities--such as paperwork, mail, and email are also included in this category. Obtaining or purchasing household services (090000) is not included in this category.
Activity Coding Rules
Opening gifts
2004+: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Socializing and Communicating/Socializing and communicating with others (120101). Exceptions: Code opening gifts alone or opening packages as Household Activities/Household Management/Household and personal organization and planning (020902). (Updated: February 2004)
Animal care
2008+: Code pet and animal care, regardless of the WHERE code, under Household Activities/Animals and Pets/Care for animals and pets (not veterinary care) (020602). Code walking, exercising, or playing with animals as Household Activities/Animals and Pets/ Walking, exercising, or playing with animals (020603). Exceptions: Code pet or animal care done as a favor for a non-household adult as Animal and pet care assistance for non-household adults (040503). Code pet or animal care that is clearly part of a larger entertainment activity (e.g. "petting goats at the petting zoo") as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Arts and Entertainment (other than sports)/relevant activity (1204XX). Code horseback riding as Sports, Exercise, and Recreation/Participating in Sports, Exercise, or Recreation/Participating in equestrian sports (130110) (Updated: Jan2008)
Buying food for pets
Activities related to farm animals
Grooming a pet
Growing fruit, vegetables, or flowers
Food preparation
Giving/serving children food/a meal
Household management activities
Cleaning the house
2005+: Code "cleaning the house (exterior)" as 020401, and code "cleaning the house (unspecified)" as 029999. (Rule issued in April 2004 [as a PID] and added to manual in April 2006. Updated January 2007.)
Cleaning the kitchen
Warming up the car
Looking for misplaced items
Packing or unpacking bags or suitcases for others
Packing/unpacking for a journey/moving
Filling out paperwork
Checking, sending, reading, or writing e-mail
Checking phone messages
Using the computer
Respondent's education-related activities
Children's education-related activities
Paying bills
Picking up a paycheck
Maintaining/repairing vehicles
Making funeral arrangements
2008+: With a funeral director or clergy (regardless of WHERE): Code as Professional and Personal Services, n.e.c. (089999) On one's own: Code as Household Activities/Household Management/Household and personal organization and planning (020902) If it is not known whether a funeral director or clergy was present during the activity, then code it as 020902. (Updated: April 2008)
Washing windows
Unloading the groceries
Making reservations
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020100 HOUSEWORK
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020101 INTERIOR CLEANING
Category activity examples
- Changing sheets
- Cleaning bathrooms
- Cleaning bathtub
- Cleaning bedroom
- Cleaning carpets
- Cleaning cupboards
- Cleaning floors
- Cleaning inside of windows (2003-2004)
- Cleaning out closet
- Cleaning out drawers
- Cleaning the house
- Cleaning toilet
- Cleaning windows (2005+)
- Dusting
- Emptying ashtray
- Emptying trash cans
- Making the bed
- Mopping floors
- Picking up clothes
- Picking up the house (2005+)
- Picking up toys
- Polishing furniture
- Recycling
- Scrubbing
- Shampooing carpet
- Sorting newspapers for recycling
- Straightening up the house (2005+)
- Sweeping
- Sweeping floors
- Taking out the trash
- Tidying up
- Vacuuming
- Washing floor
- Washing walls
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020102 LAUNDRY
Category activity examples
- Adding fabric softener
- Bringing in laundry
- Bringing in washing
- Checking wash
- Doing laundry
- Folding clean laundry
- Folding clothes
- Hand washing clothing
- Hanging clothes
- Hanging clothes on clothesline
- Ironing
- Putting clean laundry away
- Putting laundry in dryer
- Putting laundry in washer
- Putting out clean towels
- Putting towels in bathroom
- Removing lint from dryer
- Sorting laundry
- Spot treating clothes
- Taking clothes off the line
- Taking clothes out of washer
- Treating stains
- Washing curtains
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020103 SEWING, REPAIRING, AND MAINTAINING TEXTILES
Category activity examples
- Altering clothing
- Caring for clothes
- Caring for curtains (2008+)
- Caring for hats
- Caring for shoes
- Cleaning shoes
- Cleaning sneakers
- Crocheting
- Crocheting blankets
- Crocheting clothing
- Crocheting quilt
- Crocheting sweaters
- Hemming garments
- Knitting blankets
- Knitting clothing
- Knitting sweaters
- Polishing shoes
- Repairing clothes
- Repairing curtains
- Repairing hats
- Repairing shoes
- Sewing a new dress
- Sewing curtains
- Sewing hem
- Sewing new clothing
- Sewing on buttons
- Sewing other household items
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020104 STORING INTERIOR HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, INCLUDING FOOD
Category activity examples
- Boxing things up for storage
- Carrying in the groceries (2003-2004)
- Moving stuff to attic
- Moving stuff to basement
- Putting away Christmas decorations (2004+)
- Putting away decorations
- Putting away holiday items (2004+)
- Putting away the groceries
- Putting shopping away
- Storing food
- Storing the groceries
- Unloading groceries/shopping (2003-2004)
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020200 FOOD AND DRINK PREPARATION, PRESENTATION, AND CLEAN-UP
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020201 FOOD AND DRINK PREPARATION
Category activity examples
- Baking
- Baking a cake
- Baking biscuits
- Baking Christmas cookies (2004+)
- Boiling
- Boiling water
- Bottling fruit
- Breast-pumping
- Brewing beer or wine
- Broiling
- Butchering meat
- Canning food
- Carving meat
- Chopping vegetables
- Cooking
- Cooking dinner (2003, 2004, 2006+)
- Cooking meals
- Defrosting
- Dehydrating food
- Drying food
- Getting a drink
- Heating food up
- Heating up baby formula
- Making a gingerbread house (2004+)
- Making baby food
- Making coffee
- Making jam
- Making tea
- Mixing drinks
- Mixing up baby formula
- Packing food
- Packing lunches
- Packing picnics
- Peeling potatoes
- Pouring water in glass
- Preparing food for company or guests
- Preparing food for other household members
- Preparing food for Seder (2007)
- Preparing salad
- Preserving food
- Putting icing on cake
- Putting roast in oven
- Salting meat
- Slicing vegetables
- Smoking fish
- Thawing frozen food
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020202 FOOD PRESENTATION
Category activity examples
- Filling pepper
- Filling salt
- Filling sugar
- Garnishing food
- Passing out drinks
- Polishing silver
- Putting out condiments
- Serving a meal
- Serving hors d'oeuvres
- Setting the table
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020203 KITCHEN AND FOOD CLEAN-UP
Category activity examples
- Cleaning barbecue grill
- Cleaning freezer
- Cleaning high chair
- Cleaning kitchen cupboard
- Cleaning microwave oven
- Cleaning oven
- Cleaning refrigerator
- Cleaning stove
- Cleaning up after a meal
- Cleaning up plates and food
- Cleaning up the kitchen only
- Clearing the table
- Defrosting freezer
- Drying dishes
- Emptying dishwasher
- Loading the dishwasher
- Mopping the kitchen floor
- Putting dishes away
- Putting leftovers away
- Rinsing dishes
- Throwing away leftovers
- Washing dishes
- Washing pots and pans
- Wiping tables
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020300 INTERIOR MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, AND DECORATION
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020301 INTERIOR ARRANGEMENT, DECORATION, AND REPAIRS
Category activity examples
- Carving jack-o-lanterns (2004+)
- Changing light bulbs
- Decorating
- Decorating the Christmas tree (2004+)
- Fixing leaks
- Fumigating house
- Hanging blinds
- Hanging Christmas stockings (2004+)
- Hanging curtains
- Hanging pictures
- Hanging shades
- Hanging wallpaper
- Installing carpet
- Laying linoleum floors
- Laying tile floors
- Laying wood floors
- Making plumbing improvements
- Measuring windows for curtains
- Moving furniture
- Painting
- Plastering
- Pulling out Christmas decorations (2020+)
- Putting up Christmas decorations (inside) (2004+)
- Putting up Christmas lights (inside) (2004+)
- Putting up shelves
- Rearranging furniture
- Refitting kitchen/bathroom
- Remodeling interior of house
- Replacing fuses
- Setting mousetraps
- Setting up a manger (inside) (2004+)
- Setting up menorah candles (inside) (2004+)
- Stripping paint
- Stripping wallpaper
- Taking down indoor decorations (2004-2007)
- Taking down towel bars
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020302 BUILDING AND REPAIRING FURNITURE
Category activity examples
- Assembling furniture
- Changing cabinet hardware
- Making cabinets
- Making furniture
- Painting furniture
- Refinishing furniture
- Refinishing wood furniture
- Repairs to furniture
- Reupholstering furniture
- Sanding wood furniture
- Staining wood furniture
- Stripping furniture
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020303 HEATING AND COOLING
Category activity examples
- Bringing in kindling
- Bringing in wood
- Changing furnace filter
- Chopping wood
- Closing windows
- Collecting wood
- Filling heater with fuel
- Installing fireplace
- Installing window AC unit
- Installing wood burning stove
- Lighting fireplace
- Opening windows
- Setting the fire
- Shoveling coal
- Stacking firewood
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020400 EXTERIOR MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, AND DECORATION
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020401 EXTERIOR CLEANING
Category activity examples
- Cleaning chimney
- Cleaning garage
- Cleaning gutters
- Cleaning shed
- Picking up trash that blew into yard
- Putting away bicycles
- Putting away outside toys
- Putting away yard equipment
- Removing ice from walkways
- Shoveling snow
- Sweeping deck
- Sweeping patio
- Sweeping porch
- Sweeping garage
- Sweeping sidewalk
- Sweeping steps
- Washing outside windows
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020402 EXTERIOR REPAIR, IMPROVEMENTS, AND DECORATION
Category activity examples
- Adding another room to house
- Building a deck
- Building a fence
- Building a garage
- Building a carport
- Building a shed
- Decorating outside for holidays
- Decorating outside for parties
- Fixing bird feeder
- Fixing broken windows
- Fixing mailbox
- Fixing the roof
- Fixing weatherboards
- Hanging address numbers
- Hanging flags
- Hanging outdoor lights
- Hanging up wind chimes
- Installing a gate or fence
- Making structural additions
- Painting house exterior
- Painting or staining fence
- Painting porch
- Staining porch
- Painting deck
- Staining deck
- Paving or blacktopping
- Putting new roof on garage
- Putting new roof on house
- Putting up Christmas decorations (outside) (2004+)
- Putting up Christmas lights (outside) (2004+)
- Putting up outdoor holiday decorations
- Repairing boat dock
- Repairing wind chimes
- Replacing screens
- Screening in a porch
- Setting up garden furniture
- Staining house exterior
- Working on boat lift
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020500 LAWN, GARDEN, AND HOUSEPLANTS
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020501 LAWN, GARDEN, AND HOUSEPLANT CARE
Category activity examples
- Adding chemicals to lawn
- Applying pesticides
- Blowing leaves
- Cleaning the yard (2015+)
- Collecting eggs, honey
- Cutting the grass
- Digging in the vegetable garden
- Doing yard work
- Edging
- Fertilizing garden
- Fertilizing the lawn
- Disposing/recycling lawn clippings (2014+)
- Gardening
- Gathering nuts
- Hunting mushrooms
- Laying paving stones
- Mowing the lawn
- Mulching
- Picking fruit and vegetables
- Picking up branches, twigs
- Planting
- Planting beans
- Planting flowers
- Planting fruit and vegetables
- Planting fruit tree
- Planting tomatoes
- Pruning shrubs
- Pruning tree
- Putting pesticides on lawn
- Putting snail killer around vegetables
- Raking leaves
- Seeding
- Sowing flower or vegetable seeds
- Spraying for bugs
- Spraying fruit trees
- Spraying rose bushes
- Spreading mulch
- Trimming branches/hedges
- Turning sprinkler on or off
- Tying up tomatoes
- Watering garden
- Watering houseplants
- Watering lawn
- Watering outdoor plants
- Weeding
- Weeding flower garden
- Weeding vegetable garden
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020502 PONDS, POOLS, AND HOT TUBS
Category activity examples
- Adding chemicals to hot tub
- Adding chemicals to pool
- Chlorinating the pool
- Cleaning the pond, pool, hot tub
- Draining pool
- Filling the pool
- Putting in a pond, pool, hot tub
- Repairing pond, pool, hot tub
- Testing ph in water
- Turning off the hot tub
- Turning on hot tub
- Winterizing pool
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020600 ANIMALS AND PETS
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020601 CARE FOR ANIMALS AND PETS (NOT VETERINARY CARE) (2003-2007)
Category activity examples
- Adopting a pet
- Bathing dog
- Brushing dog
- Burying animals
- Caring for an orphaned animal
- Caring for household pets
- Changing dog's water
- Cleaning the litter box
- Cleaning up after pets
- Clipping cat's claws
- Clipping dog's nails
- Exercising pets
- Feeding a raccoon
- Feeding a stray
- Feeding birds
- Feeding cat
- Feeding ducks
- Feeding fish
- Feeding guinea pig
- Feeding horses
- Feeding rabbit
- Feeding squirrels
- Feeding the dog
- Feeding pets
- Filling the bird feeder
- Grooming horse
- Grooming pets
- Letting the dog out (2015+)
- Nursing a sick animal
- Petting animals
- Playing with animals
- Playing with the dog
- Providing medical care to pets
- Putting together rabbit pen (2015+)
- Taking pets for a walk
- Tending a wounded bird
- Visiting an animal shelter to select pet
- Walking the dog
- Watching kittens being born
- Watching puppies being born
- Watering pets
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020602 CARE FOR ANIMALS AND PETS (NOT VETERINARY CARE) (2008+)
Category activity examples
- Adopting a pet
- Bathing dog
- Brushing dog
- Burying animals
- Caring for an orphaned animal
- Caring for household pets
- Changing dog's water
- Cleaning the litter box
- Cleaning up after pets
- Clipping cat's claws
- Clipping dog's nails
- Feeding a raccoon
- Feeding a stray
- Feeding birds
- Feeding cat
- Feeding ducks
- Feeding fish
- Feeding guinea pig
- Feeding horses
- Feeding rabbit
- Feeding squirrels
- Feeding the dog
- Feeding pets
- Watering pets
- Filling the bird feeder
- Grooming horse
- Grooming pets
- Nursing a sick animal
- Petting animals
- Providing medical care to pets
- Tending a wounded bird
- Visiting an animal shelter to select pet
- Watching kittens being born
- Watching puppies being born
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020603 WALKING, EXERCISING, PLAYING WITH ANIMALS (2008+)
Category activity examples
- Exercising Pets (2008+)
- Playing with animals (2008+)
- Playing with the dog (2008+)
- Taking pets for a walk (2008+)
- Walking the dog (2008+)
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020700 VEHICLES
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020701 VEHICLE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE (BY SELF)
Category activity examples
- Adding equipment to vehicles
- Adding oil
- Assembling bicycle
- Changing oil
- Changing spark plugs
- Changing wheel on motorcycle
- Changing tires
- Charging an electric car (2020+)
- Rotating tires
- Charging battery
- Checking battery
- Checking fluids
- Checking tire pressure
- Checking tires
- Checking to make sure car was locked (2005+)
- Cleaning boat
- Cleaning camper (2004+)
- Cleaning RV (2004+)
- Cleaning vehicles
- Vacuuming vehicles
- Covering boat
- Doing a ring job
- Doing a valve job
- Filling brake fluid
- Filling radiator
- Fixing bike
- Fixing motorcycle
- Hooking up trailer to car (2004+)
- Hooking up trailer to truck (2004+)
- Installing a trailer hitch (2004+)
- Installing car CD player
- Installing car stereo
- Installing car speakers
- Overhauling engine
- Putting air in tires
- Putting car in garage
- Putting vehicle in garage
- Putting new chain on bicycle
- Putting on license plates
- Putting on tags
- Putting on registration stickers
- Putting protective cover on vehicle
- Rebuilding engine
- Replacing brakes
- Replacing vehicle headlights
- Replacing vehicle taillights
- Restoring car
- Scraping ice off vehicle
- Scraping snow off vehicle
- Tuning up vehicles
- Waiting for car to charge (2020+)
- Washing cars or other vehicles
- Waxing cars or other vehicles
- Winterizing boat (2004+)
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020800 APPLIANCES, TOOLS, AND TOYS
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020801 APPLIANCE, TOOL, AND TOY SET-UP, REPAIR, AND MAINTENANCE (BY SELF)
Category activity examples
- Changing batteries in appliances
- Charging batteries
- Cleaning lawnmowers
- Cleaning tools and equipment
- Connecting dryer
- Connecting washing machine
- Fixing household camera
- Hooking up satellite dish
- Hooking up stereo, VCR
- Installing a fax machine
- Installing a modem
- Installing a printer
- Installing a scanner
- Installing appliances
- Installing heating or AC equipment (2004+)
- Loading software on computer
- Maintaining tools and equipment
- Oiling lawnmowers
- Repairing appliances
- Repairing sporting equipment
- Repairing tools and equipment
- Repairing toys
- Restringing tennis racket
- Setting clocks
- Setting up doll house (2004+)
- Setting up or fixing computer
- Setting up toy train track (2004+)
- Sharpening knives
- Sharpening other tools
- Waxing skis
- Winding clocks
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020900 HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT
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020901 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Category activity examples
- Balancing the checkbook
- Borrowing money (not banking)
- Buying stocks
- Checking bank account balance (2015+)
- Checking cryptocurrency/bitcoin balance (2020+)
- Checking receipts against bank statements
- Checking stocks
- Filing receipts
- Filling out tax forms
- Giving money to household adult
- Giving money to household child
- Donating money (2014+)
- Lending money (not banking)
- Looking at bills (2008+)
- Making a budget
- Paying bills (2007+)
- Paying the mortgage (2007+)
- Paying the rent (2007+)
- Researching investments
- Selling stocks
- Trading stocks
- Using computer to keep budget
- Using computer to pay bills
- Writing checks
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020902 HOUSEHOLD AND PERSONAL ORGANIZATION AND PLANNING
Category activity examples
- Assigning chores
- Borrowing household items
- Carrying in groceries (2005+)
- Creating shopping lists on Alexa or similar technology (2020+)
- Doing paperwork
- Dropping off household items
- Filling a Christmas stocking (2004+)
- Filling an Easter basket (2004+)
- Filling out paperwork
- Getting organized for work (for self)
- Labeling videos
- Lending household items
- Loading the car (2005+)
- Looking at store purchases
- Looking for misplaced items
- Making dinner reservations (2008+)
- Making photocopies (for self or household)
- Making reservations (2008+)
- Making shopping lists
- Opening packages (2004+)
- Opening presents or gifts (alone) (2004+)
- Organizing boxes in garage
- Organizing file cabinet
- Organizing household events
- Organizing household parties
- Organizing school stuff (for self)
- Packing bags (for self or household) (2003-2006)
- Packing boxes for household move or trip
- Packing/unpacking bags or suitcase (for self) (2007+)
- Packing/unpacking car from a trip (2005+)
- Packing/unpacking recreational vehicle from a trip (2005+)
- Picking up household items
- Planning household events
- Planning household meals
- Planning household parties
- Planning household trip
- Planning menu
- Planning vacation
- Putting pictures in albums
- Sorting books (2004+)
- Sorting household items (2004+)
- Sorting paperwork
- Unloading groceries (2005+)
- Unloading shopping items (2005+)
- Unloading the car (2005+)
- Unwrapping packages (2004+)
- Wrapping presents
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020903 HOUSEHOLD AND PERSONAL MAIL AND MESSAGES (EXCEPT E-MAIL)
Category activity examples
- Addressing holiday cards (2004+)
- Bringing in newspaper/mail
- Checking phone messages
- Checking to see if mail came
- Collecting mail
- Getting mail in
- Looking at/checking mail
- Mailing letters, payments
- Mailing/picking up letters
- Mailing/picking up packages
- Reading mail
- Sending express mail
- Sending reg./cert. packages/mail
- Signing for certified mail
- Sorting mail
- Throwing away junk mail
- Writing cards (personal or household)
- Writing Christmas cards (2004+)
- Writing letters (personal or household)
- Writing Valentines (2004+)
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020904 HOUSEHOLD AND PERSONAL E-MAIL AND MESSAGES
Category activity examples
- Checking e-mail (personal or household)
- Cleaning out e-mail inbox (personal or household)
- Instant messaging (personal)
- Reading e-mail (personal or household)
- Reading/sending e-mail, unspecified
- Sending e-mail (personal or household)
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020905 HOME SECURITY
Category activity examples
- Bolting doors/windows
- Breaking into a locked house
- Breaking into home if locked out
- Changing locks
- Checking locks
- Closing house up
- Closing the blinds/curtains
- Installing alarms
- Installing smoke detectors
- Locking doors, windows
- Locking up home
- Locking up the house
- Maintaining alarms/security systems
- Maintaining smoke detectors
- Setting security alarm
- Turning out the lights
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029900 HOUSEHOLD ACTIVITIES, N.E.C.
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029999 HOUSEHOLD ACTIVITIES, N.E.C.
Category activity examples
- Collecting water from burst pipe
- Household accident
- Household emergency
- Putting out a kitchen fire
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