Nick Knowles debunks frequent family myths Brits ‘take as gospel’

A ballot of two,000 adults discovered half doubt family hacks truly work, however keep it up doing them anyway, as DIY SOS star groups up with Sensible Power GB

Hundreds of thousands of Brits depend on family ‘tips’ regardless of being uncertain whether or not they truly work. Analysis involving 2,000 adults revealed that half (49%) doubt the issues they do of their house truly do the job, however keep it up doing them anyway. These practices embrace watering their gardens after darkish, utilizing vinegar as an all-purpose cleaner, and placing conkers on window ledges to discourage spiders.

Different households all the time rinse dishes earlier than placing them within the dishwasher on account of warnings it’s higher for the dishwasher, or do not use picket chopping boards as a result of they imagine they’re unhygienic with out ever questioning whether or not they’re true or not.

Brits are additionally confused about power saving ‘hacks’, with some swearing by the assumption that it is routinely cheaper for everybody to make use of electrical energy at evening, leaving heating on low on a regular basis saves cash, and portray radiators black maximises power effectivity – however admit they do that with out the information that it really works.

TV presenter Nick Knowles, has teamed up with Sensible Power GB to place among the myths to mattress. He mentioned: “For a very long time, I believed that lemon juice cleans all the things, and that I might undoubtedly catch a chilly if I went exterior with moist hair.

“On the time you’re taking it as gospel, however in a while you realise a few of it could not truly be true. The identical goes for power – plenty of individuals suppose it is cheaper to run the washer or cost the automobile at evening, and this may be true, however you really want to enroll to a selected tariff or scheme to be rewarded for utilizing electrical energy flexibly.”

The analysis went on to seek out 44% wish to experiment with the way in which they do issues across the house and 53% of these do that as a result of they’re in search of methods to avoid wasting time.

For half of adults, the preferred approach to get on a regular basis family recommendation is from pals or household. And 40% say many of the suggestions they comply with have been handed down by generations of family.

Social media platforms and information articles additionally function fashionable info sources. While two thirds guarantee they double-check what they have been advised to confirm its accuracy, based on the statistics by OnePoll.

Across the identical quantity (67%) mentioned they’re all the time looking out for tactics to avoid wasting power of their house, and 41% mentioned they’ve modified their power habits primarily based on one thing they noticed on-line.

A spokesperson from Sensible Power GB mentioned: “Sensible meters allow you to entry schemes that reward you for being extra versatile together with your power utilization, which you’ll’t entry with a conventional meter.

“That may be particularly useful presently of yr once we’re spending much more on heating, sizzling water and lighting. It is nice to see tens of millions of good meter homeowners are benefiting and saving cash on their payments.”

Prime 30 family habits Brits do however are uncertain in the event that they work:

1. The very best time to water the grass is within the night
2. It is best to all the time scrub stains instantly
3. Turning off Wi-Fi at evening saves electrical energy
4. Leaving the heating on low on a regular basis is extra environment friendly
5. You should utilize bleach on mould
6. Vinegar cleans completely all the things
7. Wood chopping boards are unhygienic
8. It is best to all the time rinse dishes earlier than the dishwasher
9. It is best to all the time heat up your automobile for a couple of minutes earlier than driving it
10. You’ll be able to’t dry garments indoors with out inflicting dampness within the room
11. Conkers in your windowsill will maintain away spiders
12. Cheese is the most effective bait for mousetraps
13. It is best to all the time maintain the oven door closed after cooking
14. You should utilize lemon juice to wash all the things
15. Bleach cleans all the things
16. You’ll be able to’t save power with out sacrificing consolation
17. Photo voltaic panels don’t work in cloudy climate
18. Extra detergent means cleaner garments
19. It’s routinely cheaper for everybody to make use of electrical energy at evening
20. It is best to all the time maintain home windows closed in winter
21. You solely want to vary bedding as soon as a month
22. It is best to all the time maintain curtains open for heat
23. Setting the thermostat larger will warmth your house faster
24. You’ll be able to’t use good plugs with older home equipment
25. You should utilize washing-up liquid within the dishwasher
26. It is best to all the time soak pans in a single day
27. The tumble dryer kills germs
28. Espresso grounds can unclog drains
29. It is best to all the time wash garments at 60°C
30. Portray a radiator black will make it extra environment friendly