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Polling 1,000 British men, research found that, on average, men spend seven hours a year in the bathroom specifically to escape from their families.
The study went viral online, and people had a lot to say. (Photo Credits: Instagram)
Men and bathrooms seem to share a uniquely intimate bond. What begins as a quick stop often turns into an unplanned retreat. Hours can slip by, phones mysteriously disappear, and before you know it, you’re left wondering if he’s hosting some secret summit in there. A recently surfaced 2018 study commissioned by self-proclaimed “bathroom experts” Pebble Grey sheds light on this phenomenon. Polling 1,000 British men, research found that, on average, men spend seven hours a year in the bathroom specifically to escape from their families.
“We all need a little bit of time to ourselves – to take stock or switch off completely,” a Pebble Grey spokesperson told The Independent. “And the bathroom appears to be the go-to place for those moments. It’s very much a sanctuary, somewhere we can cut ourselves off from the outside world, albeit just temporarily.”
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Men also head to the bathroom to dodge chores and grab some uninterrupted phone time. On average, one in 10 bathroom visits gets interrupted, adding up to around 171 interruptions over a typical year, as per the study.
The poll also revealed that 25 per cent of men feel they “don’t know how they’d cope” without bathroom breaks, and 23 per cent describe the space as their “safe place.”
The study also revealed that 10 per cent of households enforce a “do not disturb” rule for bathroom time but 85 per cent of those rule-setters still get interrupted.
One-third of the men admitted that they retreat to the bathroom for “quiet time,” especially when their partner is “nagging” or to dodge the children. “As the results suggest, peace and quiet is sacred and clearly men take the opportunity to get this where they can,” the spokesperson added.
The study recently went viral on Instagram, and people had a lot to say.
A user commented, “7 hours a week is more accurate.”
Another agreed, “7 hours a year? More like 7 hours a week.”
Someone said, “I do a solid hour – 2 hours a day.”
A user calculated, “1 min 15 sec a day? I’m sure it’s WAY higher than that.”
“7 hours a year ?! Those are rookie numbers I usually do 7 hours a day,” another wrote.
Someone shared, “I live alone & no kids so I’m at peace 24/7. I don’t need to hide in the bathroom.”
“And they want to marry. Will you?” said a person.
Pebble Grey also found that women (of 1,000 surveyed) also use the bathroom as a refuge, but only 20 per cent do. Yet women handle the cleaning duties in 72 per cent of households.
About the Author
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
Delhi, India, India
September 12, 2025, 06:00 IST
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