The top thankless household chores include scrubbing the toilet, emptying the bins and ensuring the washing gets done so the family doesn’t run short of underwear and socks, a recent survey has revealed. Other overlooked tasks included removing hair from the shower drain, storing away clean laundry, hoovering and wiping down the cooktop.
Three quarters revealed there is one person in their household who shoulders the bulk of these duties, but there efforts regularly go unnoticed, and are unlikely to be tackled by anyone else. Beyond the top 10, disposing of expired food and sanitising fridge shelves, defrosting the freezer, and unloading the dishwasher also appeared as overlooked responsibilities.
The study was conducted by the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances, AMDEA, which operates the ‘Know Watt’s What’ website to help households understand how minor behavioural adjustments can significantly impact utility bills.
Stefan Hay, CEO for the organisation said: « If you are that person who always runs the washing machine or the dishwasher, especially on energy saving Eco-mode, we salute you.
« Even if some people in your household believe these tasks are done by ‘magic,’ rather than recognising it’s you, have faith as these small things are essential to the smooth and efficient running of a home.
« With constantly innovating smart tech in appliances, lots of these jobs will be made quicker, quieter and easier for you. »
Nine in ten consider such tasks are crucial to the efficiency of a household. Yet, one in five who tackle these chores said they handle at least six tasks a day which go unnoticed.
Nevertheless, whilst this can leave them feeling unvalued, many remain driven to complete these duties as they derive satisfaction from finishing them.
A dislike of clutter, avoiding future mess, and a sense of pride in a clean home were the top motivations for them. With one in 10 taking pride in putting on their cape and being dubbed the hero of the house.
Boomers placed oven-cleaning and de-crumbing their toaster as some of the most underappreciated jobs. Meanwhile, millennials feel unappreciated when they dispose of expired food and scrub fridge shelves, according to the OnePoll.com research.
When tackling these domestic duties, 68 per cent remain mindful of energy efficiency, only heating the necessary amount of water or running complete loads instead of partial ones.
Two thirds undertake these activities in an effort to slash their energy bills, whilst overall three quarters believe they could be doing more to become energy efficient, but obstacles include the expense of upgrading appliances, prioritising convenience over efficiency, and lack of motivation.
Stefan Hay from AMDEA added: « Lots of little jobs can build up to making a real difference in the home and go a long way to helping everyone’s well-being and ensuring our belongings last.
« It’s worth thinking about small changes you can make to your routine, to help your pocket and the environment.
« By using your appliances correctly and adopting clever savings hacks, you could be rewarded with a sparkling home and cheaper energy bills. »
TOP 10 MOST THANKLESS HOUSEHOLD TASKS, ACCORDING TO BRITS:
- Cleaning the toilet
- Taking out the bins
- Cleaning out hair from shower plug
- Putting away the clean laundry
- Dusting
- Vacuuming
- Wiping down the hob after cooking
- Cleaning the oven
- Turning off lights in empty rooms
- Putting a load of washing on so family doesn’t run out of socks/pants
