THE most-postponed home maintenance jobs in British homes include servicing boilers, clearing gutters, and cleaning behind the fridge.
A poll of 2,000 homeowners revealed the top 20 overlooked tasks around the home, with replacing shower heads, draught-proofing doors and windows, and cleaning vents and fans also featuring on the list.
It emerged more than one in 10 (12 per cent) think about these jobs on a daily basis – even if they rarely get around to actually doing them.
And 20 per cent admitted they care more about how their house looks than the maintenance below the surface.
Nearly a third (31 per cent) prioritise aesthetic tasks like painting walls or hanging pictures over functional ones like bleeding radiators or servicing boilers.
Jessica Rawstron, engineer at British Gas, which commissioned the research, said: “Keeping on top of the little things around the house might not seem urgent, but it can save homeowners a lot of time, money, and stress in the long run.
“Summer can be a good time to catch up on home maintenance tasks that have been forgotten or delayed, with boiler servicing a prime example – especially before colder weather returns.
“Think of it as an MOT for your boiler – it helps identify and resolve any potential problems early, and by booking one in the summer you can have peace of mind that your heating is in full working order before you need it during the colder months.”
According to the research, two thirds of respondents would only take action on a home maintenance task if the problem became visible.
And 38 per cent of people who have had something go wrong around the home had been putting off fixing it for ages, only for it to then break completely – with 31 per cent of people who have put off a job admitting this left them with a bigger, costlier problem down the line.
The top reasons people put off these little jobs are lack of skills (27 per cent), the cost (26 per cent), and a lack of time (25 per cent).
But 21 per cent of those polled via OnePoll worry about making the issue worse, while 15 per cent have looked at the weather forecast and decided to wait for a different day.
British Gas has created a home maintenance checklist to give homeowners handy reminders for when tasks need doing throughout the year – whether that’s the best time to bleed radiators or a date in the diary to sense check the thermostat settings and consider a smart tech upgrade.
Spokesperson Jessica added: “A dripping tap or a patch of damp may seem minor now but left unchecked they can quickly turn into much bigger, and more expensive, problems.
“Regular maintenance not only protects your property but also helps preserve its value.
“Whether you own or rent, staying on top of small fixes is one of the simplest ways to avoid nasty surprises and keep your home running reliably and efficiently.
“With seasonal offers available, summer is a sensible time to make sure everything’s in good working order before colder weather returns.”
1.Cleaning gutters
2. Cleaning behind the fridge
3. Fixing a leaky tap
4. Fixing a squeaky door
5. Replacing a toilet seat
6. Servicing the boiler
7. Bleeding radiators
8. Installing a new tap
9. Cleaning vents and fans
10. Replacing kitchen appliances
11. Replacing a light bulb
12. Replacing a showerhead
13. Repairing a roof leak
14. Changing a door lock
15. Installing a doorbell
16. Installing curtain rods
17. Repairing plasterboard
18. Weatherproofing windows and doors
19. Unblocking a sink or toilet
20. Building a garden shed
IRELAND’S KELLIE Harrington has sent the boxing world into a frenzy after teasing a sensational comeback.
The double Olympic gold medal winner posted a cryptic message ahead of a flight to meet professional promoter Eddie Hearn.
35-year-old Harrington called it a day after she defended her lightweight Olympic title at last year’s Games in Paris.
Now the Portland Row native has stunned fans on Tuesday morning when she shared a photo from Dublin Airport alongside two top Irish coaches.
She was snapped with James Doyle of Monkstown BC and Lynne McEnery of St Paul’s BC in Waterford.
All three were bound for Liverpool on the early flight, but it was the caption that caught everyone’s attention.
Harrington tagged Matchroom supremo Hearn and cheekily added a boxing glove emoji and a contract icon – all of which hinted at a stunning return could be on the cards.
Eddie Hearn, who’s manages the likes of Katie Taylor, Anthony Joshua and Canelo Álvarez, could be the man to bring her over to the professional ranks.
Her long-time friend and coach Lynne re-shared the photo to her own Instagram.
She simply penned: “Exciting times.”
Before Christmas, Harrington admitted she needed time to “breathe and decompress” during an interview with RTE Sport.
She explained: “There is a lot more to life than sport. I’m slowly getting to realise that again.”
But the Dubliner also left the door open to a shock return to the ring.
She added: “If I don’t like life without boxing, I can always get back to coaching – or boxing.”
Her words from that interview – and today’s social media post have fans very excited about a potential return.
HAVING a dog can be the best thing in the world.
They are brilliant companions, get us out and about on walks and generally make a house a home.
But they can also make a big mess – especially if they are a hairy breed.
Now a vet has revealed the surprising reason behind why mutts can turn into moulting monsters – and it’s nothing to do with the weather.
Vileda, the experts behind the Pet Pro cleaning range, has teamed up with pet specialist and influencer Cat The Vet to shed some light on the hairy issue.
Cat revealed the main trigger isn’t what you expect.
She says: “Did you know that light, not temperature is actually the major trigger for shedding?
“The changing amount of daylight leads to hormonal changes
that impact on the growth cycle of hairs, causing them to either thicken up, or gradually fall out”.
So, as the days get longer or shorter, your pet’s body clock tells them it’s time for a new ‘do’.
Our cosy homes can confuse things even more.
Cat says: “Ambient temperatures do have an impact which is why some dogs shed far more in the winter because the shorter days are causing their fur to grow but our heated houses are encouraging it to shed.”
But despite their hairiness, new research from Vileda shows
a whopping 64 per cent of women are more excited to see their pet than their partner after a long day at work.
Meanwhile, 70 per cent of pets have their own dedicated spot on the sofa.
With our furry overlords so firmly in charge, keeping on top of the
fluff is a national obsession. In fact, Brits spend an average of FOUR HOURS a week, or 208 hours a year, on pet-related housework.
But there are ways to cut down on the creature clean-up.
Clare Bolland from Vileda says: “We created the Vileda Pet Pro range to make tackling the inevitable household havoc easier.”
When it comes to tackling the sofa and soft furnishings, Clare said: “We know that cuddles on the sofa with our pet can cause havoc when it comes to cleaning fabric couches, which can often cling on to fine strands of fur causing them to look tatty and unclean.
“Having the Vileda Pet Pro Electostatic Brush on hand means a quick brush down of the sofa before bedtime will help you keep on top of this task in a matter of minutes – its clever rubber bristles attract and collect pet hair using electrostatic action – and after using it, you can simply rinse it under the tap and use it again and again.”
Clare also recommends that when mess occurs, it’s best to deal with it as quickly as possible: “It’s always quicker to clean up a mess while it’s fresh rather than letting it sit.”
THIS is the horrifying moment a Qantas workers falls 20ft down from a plane’s airbridge onto the rock-hard tarmac – leaving her in critical condition.
Customer experience supervisor Olivia Hristovska, 51, dropped from a huge height as she was peeking through viewing windows in the wall of an aerobridge.
Her harrowing drop, which left her with a fractured spine and fighting for her life, was recorded on May 3 at Sydney Airport.
She also suffered a broken clavicle and a collapsed lung, before she was placed in an induced coma.
In the shocking footage, the staff member is seen approaching the gaps in the aerobridge walls with her back hunched over.
As she creeps closer, she is unaware of the fact there is a gaping hole between the floor and the wall.
She then takes a step too close, and takes a horror fall down.
Her co-worker looks absolutely baffled as he approaches the gap and realises where the other member of staff has gone.
Olivia’s daughters Monique and Sienna revealed this week they found out about their mum’s accident through doctors and the media.
They claimed that Qantas were yet to inform them of their mum’s horrifying accident.
Monique, 27, also revealed her mum has since been discharged from hospital – but is still suffering life-changing damages.
The heartbroken daughter told Nine News: “Bones can heal, but the brain… you don’t know. She’s lost her identity.”
Both Monique and Sienna are currently acting as full-time carers for their mum.
Monique previously told the Daily Mail Australia she hadn’t left her mum’s side since the traumatic accident.
She said: “We feel it’s important the full human impact of this incident is understood.
“Not just the event itself, but the long-term effects on her body, mind, and our family.”
The two daughters are now pleading for more information about the accident to be revealed, after they claimed they had been left in the dark.
Olivia is believed to have fallen through an opening where the shutter wall of the aerobridge came loose from its tracks.
She was rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney’s inner west before being placed in an induced coma.
A friend said of her condition at the time: “She has bleeding on the brain and a broken collarbone, broken ribs, and probably a broken pelvis.
“She fell sideways, then backwards, and hit her head. She is not breathing on her own yet. What an absolute tragedy.”
Olivia had been working with Qantas for 14 years, according to her LinkedIn profile.
A fellow Qantas employee posted on social media that staff working at the airport at the time of the horrific fall had been “traumatised” by the accident.
Safework NSW confirmed that investigations into the tragic incident had started and were still underway – but said that the probe could take two years to complete.
Sydney Airport told Daily Mail Australia its aerobridges were frequently inspected and serviced under a “scheduled systematic preventative maintenance program”.
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