Dirty clothes dumped next to the washing basket and toothpaste left in the sink are the top bugbears for mums, it was revealed in TheBabyWebsite's most recent survey.

This survey of 3,000 mums unveils the top 50 irritations they have to contend with on a daily basis.

Over-flowing bins, wee on the toilet seat, skid marks in the toilet and tissues left in pockets in the wash all drive British mums mad!

Other bugbears to make the top ten list include leaving empty toilet roll holders, leaving the toilet seat up, empty cartons and boxes in the back of the cupboard or fridge and leaving wet towels on the bathroom floor. Indeed, eight out of 10 mums say they never realised they did so much for their families, and 79 per cent admit they mutter their way through the days complaining about everything they have to do.

Kathryn Crawford, co-editor of TheBabyWebsite, said:
"These irritations might seem small and insignificant to other people, but when mums find themselves doing absolutely everything for their families, the endless list of tasks soon starts to grate. Mums already have enough to do without cleaning up after dad and the children. It would make life so much easier, and the housework would get done so much faster, if other family members chipped in and tidied up after themselves. The fact of the matter is that many mums in the UK are taken completely for granted, and because of this they find themselves 'mothering' everyone who lives in the house, including dad!"

What about this one?... 36 per cent of mums can't stand picking up the phone to find out they are on the end of an automated phone call. Sound familiar?

A third hate to see crumbs in the butter, and the same percentage often find themselves tripping over shoes which have been left in the hallway.

Lazy blokes also get the blame for leaving a room and not turning off the lights, leaving curtains closed when they're the last out of bed, and for pubes in the bath. Dads are also accused of shaving their hair or beards over the sink and then leaving it there, dumping muddy shoes outside the back door and failing to wake up in the middle of the night when the kids start crying.

Children are not without fault either - as mums hold them responsible for storing dirty cups and mugs in their bedroom, and leaving toys scattered all over the floor.

Other daily bug-bears endured by mum include narrow shopping aisles, finding the toothpaste has been squeezed in the middle and not the end, and lack of 'me time'.

The top 50 list of bug-bears also includes skinny jeans, as mums find they can no longer fit into them, low waist trousers as mum's saggy tummy hangs over the top, and school paperwork.

Kathryn continued: "As we can see from the results, this poll shows that it isn't just household chores which annoy mums: There is nothing more maddening than making your way to the shops with the children happily strapped into the buggy, only to find there are two steps up into the shop and the aisles are too narrow to fit round. Similarly, shops which don't have lifts and escalators are a nightmare for mums - who either have to leave the buggy and other personal possessions in everyone's way while they shop upstairs, or ditch that particular shop altogether.

And talking about being out and about - why do people think it is acceptable to touch and talk to a child who they don't even know? Mums understandably get really upset when their child is approached by a total stranger when out shopping!"

So here they are:

The Top 50 Bug Bears

1. Dirty clothes dumped next to the washing basket
2. Toothpaste in the sink
3. Over-flowing bins
4. Wee on the toilet seat
5. Skid marks in the toilet
6. Tissue left in pockets in the wash
7. Leaving empty toilet roll holders
8. Toilet seat left up
9. Empty cartons and boxes in the back of the cupboard or fridge
10. Leaving wet towels on the bathroom floor
11. Automated phone calls
12. Crumbs in the butter
13. Lack of time to get everything done
14. Shoes lying in the hallway
15. Teabags left on the kitchen side
16. Leaving the washing up
17. Pubes in the bath
18. Muddy shoes dumped inside the door
19. Leaving lights on when leaving a room
20. Unopened curtains
21. Leaving dirty glasses and mugs in the bedrooms
22. Overflowing washing baskets
23. Crumbs on a newly vacuumed carpet
24. Lack of 'me time'
25. Shaving hair over the sink
26. Cut bread on the kitchen side
27. Unmade beds
28. Bunched up socks in the wash
29. Thinking about what to cook for dinner
30. Forgetting to clean down the kitchen sides
31. Narrow shopping aisles
32. Partners who never wake up when the children cry in the night
33. Chewing gum on the carpet
34. Wearing shoes in the house
35. Low waist trousers
36. Shops without lifts or escalators
37. Teabags in the sink
38. Strangers commenting on why your child is crying
39. Other mums interfering about how you raise your child
40. Heavy doors
41. Shops with steps at the font door
42. Squeezing the toothpaste tube from the middle not the end
43. Narrow doorways which don't fit pushchairs through
44. Nursery fees
45. Toys scattered over the floor
46. Putting a glass down without a coaster
47. Strangers touching and cooing over your child
48. Skinny jeans
49. Wonky rug
50. School paperwork

1st Feb 2010

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