Seven in ten (68%) who work from home in the North West admit they fit in household chores during the working day.
New research from a study of 2,000 people revealed the top ten household tasks those in the North West do the most when working from home, with laundry (43%), wiping down surfaces (28%) and vacuuming (26%) making the list.
But with more people being encouraged back to the office, meaning less time at home, chores could be put on hold until after the evening commute.
The research, commissioned by Smart Energy GB, shows that those running their household are still getting stuck into their spring spruce-ups, with a quarter (24%) squeezing in more than 24 hours of household tasks each month.
And many have been embracing fun ways to make the mundane or time-consuming tasks more enjoyable. Having a boogie (39%) and belting out a favourite tune (23%) are just a couple of methods some use, while one in five (19%) have a cuppa or glass of wine.
When it comes to the chores that nobody wants to do, cleaning the windows (25%) and clearing out the kitchen cupboards (21%) are amongst the least favourite across the North West.
However, not everyone is put off by household tasks. In the city of Manchester, 9 per cent of people claim to enjoy all of them, which is 3 per cent more than Liverpool.
Managing a to-do list can be an entire job on its own, so finding ways to reduce it could provide a much-needed benefit for some. For those who say they have a smart meter at home, sending meter readings is one less task they need to worry about.
Getting a smart meter installed is an easy way to reduce household admin and take ‘send meter readings’ off the to-do list. A smart meter offers greater predictability and accuracy when it comes to energy bills, as it sends meter readings to your energy supplier automatically so they have the information to send you accurate bills, rather than estimates.
In the winter, when energy bills are traditionally highest, more than a third (35%) in the North West consider managing their household energy use the most important task.
And when it comes to spring and summer, gardening (50%), doing the laundry (35%) and decluttering the home (29%) climb to the top of households’ to-do list. However, 17 per cent still say they will make managing energy use a top priority during the warmer months.
Many people in the North West also plan to continue using energy-saving hacks, with four in ten (40%) saying they will use cooking appliances less by eating more fresh food like salads, showing the ongoing popularity of energy saving measures at home.
While some plan on putting those handy hacks to the test this spring and summer, those with a smart meter installed can see how much energy they’re using in near-real time via a handy in-home display. And more than seven in ten (72%) agree that it gives them greater visibility over their energy usage and helps them to be more energy efficient.
Victoria Bacon, director at Smart Energy GB, said: “As we go from spring to summer it’s great to see households in the North West getting motivated for their seasonal spruce-ups. It’s also encouraging to see people are still thinking about how to manage their energy usage, even as we go into the spring and summer.
“A smart meter can help make life easier for people, especially for those who want to track their energy use and don’t want the hassle of having to submit manual meter readings.
“With the help of the in-home display and user-friendly apps, households can track how much energy they’re using in near real-time. Smart meters are available at no extra cost from your energy supplier.”
