Want more action in the bedroom? Then do the ironing.

Ever been turned on by your partner vacuuming the floor, washing the dishes, or cleaning the bathroom?
It might sound obscure, but studies have revealed that seeing men perform household chores like these is a turn-on for most women.

And it doesn’t just apply to housework.

Studies by the ‘Journal of Family Issues’ have also revealed that high-achievers and people who spend a lot of hours doing ‘paid’ work, often make sex a priority in their relationships. This is contrary to the popular belief that time-poor professionals compromise their sex lives in exchange for time spent achieving and gaining recognition at work.

In fact, experts predict that we will be seeing much more of these sex-prioritising, professional couples in the future as their relationships are kept strong with their ‘work hard, play hard’ mentalities.
Going back to housework, Chicago writer Julie Danis explains that this phenomenon in the link between shared housework and frequency of sex between couples is down to the perception of ‘working together as a team’ and building a life together.

Helping each other out with the chores helps to maintain a feeling of closeness and teamwork, therefore naturally leading to a stronger, more intimate relationship.

There is speculation, however, that too much housework or indeed taking a ‘perfectionist’ approach to household chores, can have the opposite effect on intimacy – indicating a point of diminishing returns. ‘If you can’t rest until your entire spice rack is in alphabetical order, before you know it, it’s one in the morning and you haven’t spent any time with your spouse’ says Tracy Evans, New York.

A survey by 2,020 US adults showed sharing chores to be the third most important factor in a successful marriage, behind faithfulness, and a happy sexual relationship. Showing just how important the sharing of household chores is to the strength of relationships.

Housework even outranked necessities such as adequate income and good housing, with regards to maintaining a fruitful, intimate relationship with a partner.

So if it’s more action in the bedroom that you’re after, get out the bathroom cleaner and start scrubbing!
We would love to hear how you and your partner handle your household chores and whether you feel this has an impact on your relationship. Give us some feedback on this article and get in touch by sending an email to the Institute of Men’s Health at info@imh.com.au. http://www.imh.com.au/