Brits spend three weeks per year on housework

As we approach National Spring Cleaning Week the report reveals that men and women in Britain spend six-and-a-half days cleaning, one day vacuuming and more than two weeks preparing food in the kitchen each year on average.

According to a poll of 2,000 adults, Brits spend two-and-a-half days making breakfast, nearly four days making lunch, nine days making dinner and eight hours preparing snacks throughout the year.

In terms of geographical location, the research shows people in Aberdeen spend the most time making food each week, spending five hours in the kitchen.

People surveyed in Wrexham were found to spend the most time cleaning every week, clocking up an impressive 203 minutes every week.

On the opposite end it was revealed that Plymouth residents spend the least amount of time cleaning every week, spending just under two hours cleaning.

Those living in Portsmouth make the most cups of tea or coffee, totaling at 4.3 cups every day.

Women still do twice the amount of housework as men, according to the new survey figures from domestic appliance repair company Glotech.co.uk.

The study shows women still do the majority of the cleaning with females spending more than four hours every week cleaning their homes.

This is double the amount of time spent by their male counterparts, who clocked up just under two hours doing chores every week.

The report reveals women do nearly 130 hours more cleaning than men every year.

Dr Heather Brown, a social scientist from the University of Sheffield, said: “In our own research we found that if women work the same hours as their male counterparts and then have to do the housework their emotional well-being really suffers.

“We think the reason why women still do more housework is the lasting power of social norms.

“I’ve got one child and another on the way so I know first-hand the pressures of juggling a career and housework.”

Mikael Anderson, Business Development Manager at Glotech, commented: “With Brits spending so much time cooking and cleaning each week it puts a lot of pressure on their appliances.

“This makes it ever more important to carefully maintain their appliances such as washing machines and ovens, to reduce the chance of these breaking down.”

ACTIVITY WOMEN MINUTES / DAY MEN MINUTES / DAY

MAKING BREAKFAST 10.2 9.3

MAKING LUNCH 16.3 14.7

MAKING DINNER 37.7 32.2

ACTIVITY WOMEN MINUTES / WEEK MEN MINUTES / WEEK

Ironing 37.4 22.9

Washing 167 66.3

Hoovering 42 28.5

Using oven or grill 221 104.5

Using microwave 31.74 26.5

Women - 246.71 minutes (4.1 hours) of housework every week

Men - 117.7 minutes (1.9 hours) of housework every week.