Millions of Brits swear by household ‘hacks’ they aren’t sure even work, new poll finds

MILLIONS of Brits swear by household ‘hacks’ they aren’t sure even work.

A poll of 2,000 adults found half (49 per cent) doubt the things they do in their home actually do the job, but carry on doing them anyway.

These include watering the grass at night, something said to be the right thing to do to keep it in tip top condition, despite more than one in 10 (12 per cent) being unsure of whether this technique works.

While nearly a tenth (eight per cent) clean everything with vinegar, with seven per cent placing conkers on the windowsill to keep away spiders, even though they feel they are likely to be myths.

Others rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher due to warnings it is better for the dishwasher, or they think wooden chopping boards are unhygienic, with many not really knowing the truth.

It also emerged there is confusion about energy saving “hacks”, with some swearing by the belief that it’s automatically cheaper for everyone to use electricity at night.

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Others say leaving heating on low all the time saves money, and painting radiators black maximises energy efficiency – but admit they do this without the knowledge that it works.

TV presenter Nick Knowles, who has teamed up with Smart Energy GB, which commissioned the research, said: “We’ve all grown up with those little household myths our family passed down.

“For a long time, I believed that lemon juice cleans everything, and that I’d definitely catch a cold if I went outside with wet hair.

“At the time you take it as gospel, but later on you realise some of it may not actually be true.

“The same goes for energy – lots of people think it’s cheaper to run the washing machine or charge the car at night, and this can be true, but you actually need to sign up to a specific tariff or scheme to be rewarded for using electricity flexibly.

“Otherwise, you’ll be paying the same amount for electricity no matter the hour.

“The good news is, more of these flexible tariffs and schemes are becoming available, meaning households with a smart meter can be rewarded for being flexible with their leccy – turning what used to be just another myth into a real chance to save.”

The research went on to find 44 per cent like to experiment with the way they do things around the home and 53 per cent of those do this because they are looking for ways to save time.

For half of adults, the most popular way to get everyday household advice is from friends or family.

And 40 per cent say most of the tips they follow have been handed down through generations of relatives.

Social media (30 per cent) and news articles (25 per cent) are also popular sources of information.

While two thirds (66 per cent) make sure to double check what they’ve been told to make sure it’s accurate, according to the stats by OnePoll.

Around the same amount (67 per cent) said they are always on the lookout for ways to save energy in their home, and 41 per cent said they’ve changed their energy habits based on something they saw online.

Furthermore, 50 per cent would be interested in signing up for flexible tariffs or reward schemes to help save money during off peak hours.

Currently, more than a third (34 per cent) incorrectly believe everyone pays less for energy at night.

A spokesperson from Smart Energy GB said: “Smart meters enable you to access schemes that reward you for being more flexible with your energy usage, which you can’t access with a traditional meter.

“That can be especially helpful at this time of year when we’re spending a lot more on heating, hot water and lighting.

“It’s great to see millions of smart meter owners are benefiting and saving money on their bills.”