Bleeding radiators, unblocking drains and assembling flat-pack furniture are among the challenging DIY tasks Brits struggle to grapple with, new research has found.

After surveying 2,000 Brits, UK-based marketplace MaterialsMarket.com discovered that almost half of the UK adults polled don't know how to change a lightbulb, 55% can't put up a shelf and 61% are clueless when it comes to unblocking smelly bathroom drains.

Whether you own your own home or are responsible for returning a rented property back to how it was when you first moved in, taking care of some of the household tasks that spring up can often be overwhelming.

In fact, the study also found that as much as two fifths would call a professional to complete a job for them, while 35% would try to do it themselves. The remaining quarter would rely on either their partner, a friend or family member to help them out.

male hands compare an incandescent light bulb and a led lamppinterest
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It also seems that men and women differ in their approach when it comes to finding out how to do a household task that they are unfamiliar with. Over half of female respondents would use YouTube and the tutorials that they can find on there to discover how to carry out a job. On the other hand, 64% of men admit that they would just "wing it".

How many of the top 10 have you attempted?

Top 10 household tasks that Brits struggle with

  1. Change a plug fuse (73%)
  2. Bleed a radiator (66%)
  3. Unblock a drain (61%)
  4. Reseal a bath/shower/sink (59%)
  5. Put up a shelf (55%)
  6. Change a lightbulb (52%)
  7. Use an electric drill (35%)
  8. Hang a picture on a wall (27%)
  9. Assemble flat pack furniture (19%)
  10. Paint a room (15%)

Samuel Hunt, co-founder of MaterialsMarket.com, says: "When it comes to DIY tasks around the house, most of us don't know how to do the simplest of tasks until we move out and are left to our own devices.

"I can't lie, some of the findings were pretty shocking, with many people unable to do necessary jobs for anyone owning a house or living alone, such as changing a lightbulb or putting furniture together. I do wonder if an electrician has ever been called to change a lightbulb for people! Hopefully by releasing our findings, more people will learn the ropes and give these tasks a go - I promise most of them aren't as hard as they sound!"

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Ellis Cochrane
Freelance writer

Ellis Cochrane is a Freelance Contributor for House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, covering everything from expert tips and tricks, to gardening advice, product roundups and the newest properties to hit the market. Ellis has been writing about homes, interiors and gardens for four years now, and her work has also been published on Ideal Home, Prima and Elle Japan. Over the years, Ellis has also written at a number of publications such as Cosmopolitan, Tyla, Daily Express, Expert Reviews UK, Stylist and IndyBest, covering beauty and style, TV and films, books and celebrity news. Ellis studied at the University of Strathclyde, where she completed a Joint BA Hons Degree in English and Politics. Follow Ellis on Instagram at @ellistuesday.