Report: This Type of Guy Supposedly Does More Housework

Not many men or women look forward getting their mopping and dusting on. But like taxes and sharing the TV, keeping a clean space is something you’re obligated to do…or things could get ugly—like really ugly. Now, new research finds that how chores are divvyed up between couples could depend on how much money men make. 

For the U.K. study, published in the journal Work, Employment and Society, researchers interviewed 36 women and 12 men (all of whom were in relationships) about who took care of different household chores like cleaning, cooking, and taking care of the kids. They also asked the participants about their salaries, as well as the income of their partners. All of the women in the study (even the men’s significant others) worked at least 30 hours per week. After analyzing the data, the researchers found that men who are in relationships with women who make more money and/or work longer hours than them tend to do more work around the house than guys who make more and work more than their ladies. 

Granted, women still do more stuff around the house than their significant other, no matter how much they or their partners make. Bummer. 

While these results are pretty freaking fascinating, the study does come with some big limitations. First off, the sample size was small and unbalanced—and it’s really not clear why the study authors chose to include significantly more women than men. Another issue with the study is that participants self-reported how much housework they and their partner did, which leaves room for error. 

Whether you’re bringing home the bacon or your partner is, there is evidence that sharing the chores is actually awesome for your sex life—just in case either of you needed a little encouragment to get scrubbing.

More from Women’s Health:
The Best Way to Share Money and Split Costs with Your Partner
How Much Should You Tell Your Friends About Your Marriage?
13 Signs You’re the Best S.O. in the World