From empty toilet rolls to hogging the WiFi – these are the most common rows in the family household
Household arguments have come a long way since we all used to bicker over who had control of the TV remote, a study has revealed.
These days we are just as likely to clash over hogging the WiFi, sharing Amazon accounts, and disturbing those who are working from home.
The poll of 2,000 adults found the top 55 most common domestic rows also include what time children should come off games consoles, watching TV on someone else’s Netflix profile and gadget use at the dinner table.
But age-old bad habits such as leaving toilet roll cores on the floor, not stacking the dishwasher and leaving lights on still set off rows in homes up and down the UK.
Notably, given the current cost-of-living crisis, households also debate when the heating should come on.
And top of the list for all households is dirty washing left on the floor, closely followed by messy bedrooms and dirty plates left next to the dishwasher.
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It also emerged the average household has a minimum of two arguments a day, with eight in 10 adults admitting they are usually trivial.
A spokesman for hygiene and health company Essity, which commissioned the study to launch Cushelle Tubeless toilet tissue, said: “What we’re seeing now is a new world of family tiffs, mainly driven by gadgets and technology, that are spoiling domestic heaven.
“However, some of the classic causes of household squabbles have certainly stood the test of time.
“And the bathroom remains one of the rooms where tensions seem to build up the most.
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“At least if there’s no toilet roll core to get rid of in the first place, then that’s one less argument to be had.”
The study also found women believe they are often the instigator of arguments – 32 per cent compared to 20 per cent of men.
But they also claim to win most battles too – 47 per cent of women versus 23 per cent as men who think the same.
However, men do admit they could be the cause of some more common household annoyances, as they are twice as likely to leave an empty toilet roll without replacing (23 per cent versus 11 per cent).
And they are also more likely to own up to putting empty food and drink containers back in the cupboard (14 per cent compared to eight per cent), and leave dirty plates on the side (21 per cent versus 11 per cent).
However, 74 per cent of those polled think trivial disagreements are all part of being in a household with others, and become funny stories after a while.
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The spokesman from Essity added: “Cleaning up after yourself, recycling, and a general sense of hygiene will go a long way to maintaining a peaceful and harmonious home life.
“And if there are simple ways to remove the root cause of common arguments then it’s a win-win for everybody.”
TOP 55 COMMON ROWS
These are the top common rows households have
1. Leaving dirty washing on the floor
2. Messy bedrooms
3. Leaving dirty plates next to the dishwasher rather than in it
4. Emptying the bins but not putting in a new bin bag
5. Someone leaving all the lights on when they aren’t in the room
6. Leaving the dishes to soak rather than just washing them up
7. Leaving toilet roll cores on the floor, window sill etc, i.e. anywhere but the bin
8. Not changing the empty toilet roll when the last of it is used
9. Leaving recycling next to the bin rather than in it
10. Leaving wet towels on the floor
11. Not taking items which have been left on the stairs up when you walk past
12. Not rinsing out the bath or shower
13. Someone not flushing the toilet
14. Someone not doing their fair share of the chores
15. Someone leaving shoes in the middle of the floor/ in the doorway
16. Squeezing rubbish into an already full bin rather than emptying it first
17. Fighting over the TV remote
18. Not making their bed
19. Who started the argument
20. Someone leaving plates and glasses in their bedroom
21. Gadgets being used at the dinner table
22. Someone cooking dinner, using every utensil in the kitchen and not washing up as they go
23. Using up the last of something like the milk/ toilet roll and not saying anything
24. Someone being too noisy in the morning when everyone else is still asleep
25. When the heating should come on
26. Board games, which end in a row
27. Changing the settings, radio station, seat position etc in the car
28. Someone slamming doors
29. What takeaway to order
30. Someone hogging the bathroom
31. Running water downstairs or flushing the toilet while someone is in the shower
32. Music being played too loud
33. Who is cooking dinner
34. Squeezing the toothpaste from the top rather than the bottom
35. Whose turn it is to put the bins out
36. Siblings using things belonging to the others without asking
37. Someone pinching someone else’s phone charger
38. Who left the toilet seat up
39. Whose turn it is to make the tea/ coffee
40. What film you should watch as a family
41. What time children should go to bed
42. Who ate the last biscuit/ chocolate and put the empty box/ wrapper back in the cupboard
43. Someone being noisy while you are trying to WFH
44. What time children should come off games consoles
45. Whose turn it is to load/ unload the dishwasher
46. Letting unopened post pile up on the kitchen table
47. Broadband use when someone is trying to make a work video call
48. What music to play on long car journeys
49. Who sits in the best spot on the sofa
50. Someone putting a dark item in a light wash and ruining the clothes
51. Whose turn it is to use the bathroom in the morning
52. Sports team rivalries
53. Watching something on someone else’s Netflix profile so it changes all of the recommendations
54. Ordering on someone else’s Amazon Prime account
55. Who sits at the head of the table at dinner