Battle of the loo is dirtiest home truth

COUPLES and housemates may fall out over household chores but one thing they agree on is which task causes the most rows.

One-in-three people who share living space with family members or friends say the bathroom is the single-biggest battlefield in the house, with arguments regularly raging over whose turn it is to scrub the sink and defumigate the loo.

Loading and unloading the dishwasher is the next most common cause of conflict, followed by vacuuming, cooking and washing dishes. Least contentious of the dirty dozen detestable duties are hanging out washing and sweeping the floor — presumably because the former gets you out of the house and the latter arms you with a potentially intimidating weapon.

In all, 60% of the 14,200 people who responded to the AA Home Insurance poll admitted to clashing with housemates or loved ones over responsibility for daily chores, although women put wiping down counter tops and loading the dishwasher among the top three causes of homestead disharmony, while men cited vacuuming and unloading the dish-washing.

AA spokeswoman Miriam O’Neill sympathised. “It can be tough, in our mainly two-pay-cheque society, to keep up with the house, as well as everything else you may have going on.” However, she added: “Our homes are the single biggest investments we’ll ever make. Regular maintenance will help to pick up on potential costly repairs such as leaks before they become a major headache.”

Other potential problems that can be averted by more cleaning and less fighting include a build-up of lint in tumble dryer filters, which can pose a fire hazard. Less shouting and more listening can also alert householders to unusual sounds in their heating system, allowing them to act before a breakdown occurs.