More than half of house proud Brits 're-clean' behind their partner's back - because they are so particular about keeping their home 'just so'

A study of 2,000 adults found 43 per cent deem their other halves' efforts below par, resulting in them re-stacking dishwashers or vacuuming a second time over.

This means they spend an average of two-and-a half-hours every month following up someone else’s cleaning efforts to get the home ‘up to standard’.

And six in 10 admit to doing it in secret - waiting until their housemate or partner has left home before tackling the chores again.

The study, commissioned by household cleaning products manufacturer SC Johnson, found 22 per cent blamed their need to re-clean on disliking germs.

While 15 per cent said they are control freaks and nearly half simply felt the job wasn’t done properly.

It also emerged nearly a third find themselves cleaning more because they are at home with their families due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A spokesperson for SC Johnson said: “With more families spending time at home, it’s interesting to see how home cleaning dynamics are changing, both in terms of who cleans and how much time they spend on it.

“We don’t believe anyone should do more cleaning than they have to, and people should use the right products for the right job.

"It’s one of those things where you are either the person who re-cleans or the person who did a bad job in the first place – and it seems to be pretty much split down the middle for the nation.”

The study also found 72 per cent aren’t shy about the fact they are having to go around the house re-doing household tasks.

Wiping down kitchen work surfaces, cleaning the sink and scrubbing the toilet emerged among the top five tasks people are starting over.

Mopping floors, putting away clean clothes or crockery and making the bed also feature in the top 20.

The research, conducted via OnePoll, found 38 per cent will make more work for themselves and often re-do housework even if it’s done to a satisfactory level, simply because they think they do a better job.

However, there are also tasks that won’t be done again, as 69 per cent admitted to letting a substandard cleaning job go because they don’t want to have to do it themselves.

It also emerged 16 per cent claim to ALWAYS get recognition from their household for the jobs they do around the home.

But 47 per cent reckon they deserve more credit for the scrubbing and polishing they undertake.

A spokesperson for SC Johnson added: “It’s clear Brits enjoy having a clean home, and understandable why people are going out of their way to do so.

"But families deserve a clean home that doesn’t take re-doing, or extra hours.

“Products like Mr. Muscle and Duck can help that cleaning be more effective, first time around. Maybe the problem isn’t who’s cleaning, but what they are cleaning with.”

Top 20 cleaning tasks Brits find themselves ‘re-doing’:1. Cleaning the kitchen counters2. Washing the dishes3. Vacuuming4. Cleaning the sink5. Cleaning the toilet6. Disinfecting surfaces7. Mopping the floors8. Loading the dishwasher9. Making the bed10. Putting away the food shopping11. Wiping down the shower12. Doing the recycling13. Putting away the clean washing14. Putting away clean crockery15. Folding the clean washing16. Cleaning the fridge17. Cleaning the windows18. Emptying the bins19. Dusting surfaces20. Cleaning the mirrors