House rules can differ from one household to another. From the practical “no shoes on in the house”, to the peculiar and downright pernickety "toilet paper must hang over the roll", it seems we're a nation of rule-lovers. But do they promote a peaceful home, or are they just a moot point? We surveyed Brits to find out what house rules make the must-have list and how we feel when they are broken.
Household rule
Wash your hands
after using the
bathroom
47.7%
of Brits enforce
this rule
Household rule
Turn the lights off
when you’re not
in the room
47.6%
of Brits enforce
this rule
Household rule
Replace toilet
paper when
it’s finished
46.2%
of Brits enforce
this rule
Household rule
Always flush
the toilet
44.2%
of Brits enforce
this rule
Household rule
Turn the TV off
when not watching
43.1%
of Brits enforce
this rule
Household rule
Put a fresh bin
bag in after taking
the rubbish out
42.9%
of Brits enforce
this rule
Household rule
Put dirty
clothes in the
washing basket
(not on the floor)
42.3%
of Brits enforce
this rule
Household rule
Take the
bins out
42.3%
of Brits enforce
this rule
Household rule
Close cupboards
when you’re done
40.8%
of Brits enforce
this rule
Household rule
Hang wet
towels up
39.9%
of Brits enforce
this rule
Household rule
Pick up nail
clippings after
cutting them
37.3%
of Brits enforce
this rule
Household rule
Close curtains
when it gets dark
37.1%
of Brits enforce
this rule
When it comes to imposing rules, it takes a little strong arming to agree on bathroom rules being an essential. Whilst you’d perhaps argue that it goes without saying, it pays off to be specific (and there’s no harm in asking). It could be why four out of the top ten rules that Brits deem most important are focused on bathroom hygiene and etiquette.
In fact, the number one rule that 47.7% of Brits enforce in their homes is “wash your hands after using the bathroom”. To quote a much-loved kid’s song: “soap and water, wash and scrub. Get those germs off rub-a-dub.”. The bathroom rules don’t just stop there. “If you fail to prepare then you must prepare to fail” are wise words that many seem to live by because in third place is “replace the toilet paper when it’s finished” (46%).
It’s only polite to ensure that no one gets caught short on their next trip to the bathroom.
However, it’s not just cleanliness that is a top priority for Brits. With energy bills skyrocketing over the last year, it seems that rules around reducing the impact of the cost-of-living crisis are at the forefront of people’s minds. So much so, the rule “turn the lights off when you’re not in the room” narrowly missed out on the top spot by 0.01% (47.6%). Another energy-saving rule that made the top ten is “turn off the TV when you’re not watching” (43%). Prioritising these energy-conscious habits not only helps your bank balance but the environment too – win-win!
Take your shoes off at the door, no cups on the table without a coaster and no smoking indoors are all common rules you wouldn’t bat an eyelid at. But there are a few unique rules that people enforce in their homes that didn’t make it into the top 12 that are still worth mentioning. A lot of the quirkier rules are less about hygiene or money-saving but about creating a better, more comfortable experience around the home.
Nearly a third of Brits state that they enforce the rule “don’t turn the big light on unnecessarily” and one in ten need the TV volume to be left on an even number – it’s all about those little quirks, hey? The living room isn’t the only room in the house that is susceptible to odd rules, the bathroom has a fair few of its own. People not only care about the toilet paper being fully stocked but also deeply care about how it’s used as 21% of Brits want the toilet paper to hang over the roll. This odd rule is actually backed by the original inventor, Seth Wheeler, who stated in his patent for the toilet paper roll that hanging it over is the correct way to use it. Sorry, guys.
Setting out rules is usually done with the best intentions in mind. After all, a tidy house is a tidy mind, right? And it leads to more time spent doing the things you love with the people you love. Plus, there’s nothing worse than hearing, “I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed” from a loved one. Well, unfortunately, that’s the case for 28% of Brits, as disappointment is the main feeling they experience when rules aren’t carried out.
Does mess = stress? According to nearly a quarter (23%) of respondents it does, stating that when rules aren’t followed it really stresses them out. It’s not just women who feel the impact of disregarded rules – one in ten men feel sad when they aren’t followed. Ensuring that you respect the rules of the people you live with can lead to a more harmonious household in the long run.
From whether your midday meal should be called “lunch” or “dinner” or agreeing if 5 degrees is actually cold or not, the idiosyncrasies across the various regions in the UK are well known. But it turns out that there are quite a few crossovers between the most important rules in the home. Over the 12 regions that we surveyed, “washing your hands after using the bathroom” and “turning off the lights when you’re not in the room” are the top rules that people across the nation can agree on.
However, when deep diving into the top three rules for various regions, the differences start to appear again. It turns out that Scottish residents are passionate about proper bathroom etiquette. Their top three rules are toilet focused with “always flush the toilet” (55%) in first place, “wash your hands after using the bathroom” (53%) in second and “replace the toilet paper when it’s finished” (51%) in third. While the people of Greater London are just as ardent about hand washing as they are about turning lights off when not in use as they both came neck and neck (37.64%). So, while Brits mainly agree on the most important things, like regularly washing your hands, people are still divided on the proper way to run a home up and down the country.
This survey was conducted with a sample size of 2004 people across the UK with Censuswide.
Whether you agree with the rules that are enforced in your home or not, we’ve got a whole host of gadgets that can help you get the job done with minimal fuss. At Currys, you’ll find we have a range of the best carpet cleaners , including the ever-so-handy Vax carpet cleaner, to make checking off household chores like vacuuming a breeze. Or opt for a nifty robot vacuum to tackle that task while you work on restocking the toilet paper in the bathroom – or any other important rule in your home.
And if all this talk of tackling those everyday jobs has got you in the frame of mind to take it a step further, then why not spruce up the outside too? Our pressure washers work to remove dirt from patios, pavements and decking.
