More than nine in 10 Brits (91%) find the cleaning habits of the people they live with annoying, with the worst habits being avoiding chores (42%), forgetting to clean up hair from the sink or shower floor (34%), and leaving clothes or towels lying around (34%).
The research, conducted by the Ideal Home Show, explored the home habits of Brits and delved into their cleaning and tidying routines, with women more likely to find the cleaning habits of the people they live with irritating.
Top annoying home cleaning habits, according to cohabitants’
| Annoying cleaning or tidying habit | % of people who claim that somebody they cohabit with does this |
| Avoiding chores and waiting for someone else to do them | 42% |
| Forgetting to clean up hair from the sink or shower floor | 34% |
| Leaving clothes or towels lying around | 34% |
| Ignoring dust or cobwebs | 30% |
| Forgetting to empty the hoover or clean the mop | 30% |
| Leaving shoes lying around in the hallway | 28% |
| Eating in bed and leaving crumbs everywhere | 27% |
| Not wiping down kitchen counters after cooking | 27% |
| Letting dirty cups and plates pile up in their room | 26% |
| Hoarding random items and refusing to declutter | 25% |
Other common household pet peeves include toothpaste splatters in the sink (25%), leaving the toilet seat up when it shouldn’t be (23%) and never replacing the loo roll (22%).
Procrastinating on household chores appears to be a common habit amongst Brits, with over a third (35%) admitting they delay cleaning tasks until their home becomes messy and disgusting. The trend is even more common amongst young adults, as half (50%) of 18–24-year-olds confess to putting off cleaning the most. The same can’t be said for people aged 55+, as only one in five (20%) are putting off their cleaning chores.
Manchester and Liverpool residents aren’t too keen on tidying up either, with the cities topping the list for the highest rate of ‘putting off cleaning jobs’ at 42%, closely followed by Birmingham at 40%.
Some people are even going so far to avoid social situations if they feel their home isn’t up to standard. One in three (30%) have admitted cancelling plans to host guests because their home wasn’t clean enough.
Cardiff leads with the highest rate of ‘unclean home cancellations’ at 35%, followed by London and Birmingham at 34%.
Giles Perry, Ideal Home Show Director said, “It’s no surprise that cleaning and tidying habits are a hot topic in UK households, at 91%, nearly all of us are getting annoyed by an unclean habit by someone they live with. Everyone has their own way of keeping things in order—or not!
“From the ‘over-enthusiastic duster’ to the ‘leave-it-for-later’ type, these little habits can quickly become household battlegrounds.
“At the Ideal Home Show, we know that a happy home is all about balance, and finding solutions that work for everyone. Whether it’s smart storage hacks or cleaning technology, there are plenty of ways to keep the peace—without the passive-aggressive household arguments”.
Visit the Spring Clean section at the show for expert tips on home cleaning, decluttering, and organisation. Discover the latest hacks, solutions, and advice from leading professionals to refresh your space!
For tickets and additional information, visit www.idealhomeshow.co.uk.
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