When I was a child because I was part of a family of six our parents very sensibly instilled in us the guidelines for peaceful co-existence and respect for others.
However, this did not always work and there were plenty of fights along the way, but the rules had to be followed and most of these have been passed on into my own family and then hopefully to my grandchildren.
These rules are primarily to ensure the house is available and undamaged to all who inhabit it.
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.
Unwritten rules
Yesterday 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.
‘’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.
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 insist mobile phones are banned at the dinner table.
Nearly half of those polled insist having rules makes for a better family home and a smoother day to day routine.
The 50 home rules to abide by:
- No shoes on the sofa
- Always flush the toilet
- Take your shoes off in the house
- Put clothes in the wash basket
- Turn out the lights when you’re not using a room
- Empty the bath when you’re done
- Don’t leave wet towels on the floor
- No swearing
- Turn off the TV when you’re not watching it
- Toilet seat down
- No balls in the house
- Coats hung up not on banister
- Put your shoes away when you take them off
- Always lock the door when you leave
- No slamming doors
- Never leave anything lying about on the stairs
- Don’t eat messy food on the sofa
- Last one to go to bed must check the door is locked/windows shut etc.
- Last one out locks the door
- No looking at phones at the dinner table
- Placing keys back in their designated spot/hook
- No cups on table without a coaster
- No food upstairs
- Always put something back where you found it
- Complete homework before playing
- No shouting
- No pets upstairs
- Put plates in the dishwasher after eating
- All food eaten at the table/ no food in living room
- Don’t go to bed on an argument
- No going to bed angry with each other
- No snacking and ruining your dinner
- Always use a coaster
- No leaving dishes ‘to soak’ overnight because you’re too lazy to wash
- No running in the house
- Kids not allowed in the parents’ bedroom
- No video games past 9pm
- No feeding the dogs at the dinner table
- If you cook, your partner cleans
- No boyfriends/girlfriends sleeping over
- Certain windows shut at all times
- No pets allowed on the sofa
- No drawing or painting in the bedroom/lounge
- Not allowed to sit in dad’s chair
- Leave keys on the side near the front door
- Put your dirty shoes in the garage
- Pet not allowed in the front room
- No kids in the study
- No ball games in the garden
- No talking with your mouth full
No shouting to people in different rooms, we’d add! Mother’s strictest rule “if you want to talk to me you must come into the same room”.
Did you have rules in your house and do your family follow them?
