Shoes off the sofa, always use a coaster for cups and no food in the bedroom have been named among the 50 house rules for Britain’s homes, a new study reveals.
Research into the home lives of 2,000 people found never leaving items on the stairs, always hanging coats on the hook not the banister and keeping the toilet seat down are strict rules to abide by.
The 50 ‘house rules’ saw no feeding the dogs at the dinner table, avoiding leaving wet towels on the floor and the last person to bed always checking the door is locked included.
Never going to bed on an argument, turning the TV off when it’s not being watched and keeping the house keys in the designated spot were other rules of the home many live by.
And the age old debate has been settled – mum is more than twice as likely as dad to be ‘the boss’ and make all the rules in British households.
Whereas, Dad is the parent most likely to be charged with checking the home security and doing the rounds to ensure the right windows are closed and doors locked.
A spokesman for home security specialists Yale UK, which commissioned the research said: ‘’It’s clear there are many unwritten rules which people abide by in their homes – and the list will make for familiar reading for many.
‘’From taking your shoes off to putting the toilet seat down, there’s a certain etiquette that still needs to be upheld whether in your home or someone else’s.
‘’Many of the rules focus on peace of mind and ensuring a safe and happy environment, which shows taking action towards keeping your property secure should be a top priority for any household.
The research into modern family life revealed ‘no towels left on the bathroom floor’ and a strict ‘no running in the house’ were also common policies.
While many couples enforce a rule that if one person cooks, the other one has to wash up.
Just a third actually ask people to take their shoes off when visiting, results showed.
But seven in ten say the toilet seat in their house should strictly always be left down and two thirds of Brits insist mobile phones are banned at the dinner table.
The research revealed that little boys are naughtier than little girls with parents more likely to cite boys as the ones who break the most rules in the house.
Three in ten have been made to feel awkward in someone else’s house because they broke one of the person’s house rules – forgetting to take their shoes off was most likely to cause friction.
Nearly half of those polled insist having rules makes for a better family home and a smoother day to day routine.
The Yale spokesman added: ‘’Statistics show the summer months are a peak time for domestic burglaries, with many of us heading off on our summer holidays.
‘’Now is the time to consider your home’s security to make sure your home stays just as you left it.’’
THE 50 HOME RULES BRITS ABIDE BY
1. No shoes on the sofa
2. Always flush the toilet
3. Take your shoes off in the house
4. Put clothes in the wash basket
5. Turn out the lights when you’re not using a room
6. Empty the bath when you’re done
7. Don’t leave wet towels on the floor
8. No swearing
9. Turn off the TV when you’re not watching it
10. Toilet seat down
11. No balls in the house
12. Coats hung up not on banister
13. Put your shoes away when you take them off
14. Always lock the door when you leave
15. No slamming doors
16. Never leave anything lying about on the stairs
17. Don’t eat messy food on the sofa
18. Last one to go to bed must check the door is locked/windows shut etc.
19. Last one out locks the door
20. No looking at phones at the dinner table
21. Placing keys back in their designated spot/hook
22. No cups on table without a coaster
23. No food upstairs
24. Always put something back where you found it
25. Complete homework before playing
26. No shouting
27. No pets upstairs
28. Put plates in the dishwasher after eating
29. All food eaten at the table/ no food in living room
30. Don’t go to bed on an argument
31. No going to bed angry with each other
32. No snacking and ruining your dinner
33. Always use a coaster
34. No leaving dishes ‘to soak’ overnight because you’re too lazy to wash
35. No running in the house
36. Kids not allowed in the parents’ bedroom
37. No video games past 9pm
38. No feeding the dogs at the dinner table
39. If you cook, your partner cleans
40. No boyfriends/girlfriends sleeping over
41. Certain windows shut at all times
42. No pets allowed on the sofa
43. No drawing or painting in the bedroom/lounge
44. Not allowed to sit in dad’s chair
45. Leave keys on the side near the front door
46. Put your dirty shoes in the garage
47. Pet not allowed in the front room
48. No kids in the study
49. No ball games in the garden
50. No talking with your mouth full