There are household norms that make perfect sense to the people living in the house, until a guest hears one and goes, “Wait, that’s a real thing?” Every home has its little quirks, and a harmless little habit can stick around long enough to become an unofficial house rule.
People on Reddit shared some of these wonderfully specific laws after one user asked what oddly specific rule they enforce at home. We’ve rounded up some of the strangest ones, including rules with a story behind them and others so random you may need a minute to process.
#61
The chair with the mail on it is a forbidden zone because if i have to move it, my entire structural integrity collapses 📪.
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12points
#63
I work in a large Metropolitan hospital directly with patients. many times they have very severe communicable diseases or viruses. So during the first months of covid id undress outside on the apartment stoop. put it all in a plastic bag. that got some attention lol. i don’t do that anymore unless i’m drinking.
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12points
#64
Big trash goes in the big trash can. Little trash can is for little things only. Way too many guests throwing bottles or cans in the tiny trash can in my front room, you can get like 3 bottles in it and it's overflowing.
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12points
#65
Not at the moment, but when my 3 kids were teenagers. They were allowed as many friends over at any time so my house became the place to hang out.
I am very anti smoking so any of their friends who smoked had to go 2 houses down the sidewalk away to smoke a cigarette. I did not want them hanging out on the front porch to smoke and acting too cool to be inside. Smokers were banished down the street. Break my rule? You were blacklisted for a month and not welcome in my home with no exceptions.
Suddenly none of those teenagers smoked when they came over to hang out.
I am very anti smoking so any of their friends who smoked had to go 2 houses down the sidewalk away to smoke a cigarette. I did not want them hanging out on the front porch to smoke and acting too cool to be inside. Smokers were banished down the street. Break my rule? You were blacklisted for a month and not welcome in my home with no exceptions.
Suddenly none of those teenagers smoked when they came over to hang out.
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12points
#66
If you choose the show on TV, and the dog reacts to a knock or doorbell from said show, you have to be the one to get up and take the dog to the front door to show her no one is there. No pausing.
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12points
#67
When I have visitors over, after 9 pm you may no longer perceive me. Don’t talk to me, don’t touch me, don’t look at me. Be quiet, anything you watch needs to be on headphones, and my room stays closed. If I instigate interactions then you can respond, but other than that, act like I no longer exist.
My most common houseguest is my mom, and due to… events in my childhood, I get really tense when she tries to interact or even looks at me as I’m winding down for sleep. And when I’m actually sleeping, she’s not allowed in the room, ever. She WILL take pictures and post them on Facebook, and she doesn’t understand why I don’t like that.
My most common houseguest is my mom, and due to… events in my childhood, I get really tense when she tries to interact or even looks at me as I’m winding down for sleep. And when I’m actually sleeping, she’s not allowed in the room, ever. She WILL take pictures and post them on Facebook, and she doesn’t understand why I don’t like that.
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12points
#68
Toothpicks are either in your mouth or in the garbage. They are never to be left lying around. Ever.
My grandfather had a toothpick at all times and once my grandmother got one stuck under her fingernail while cleaning that led to a massive infection and I remember being so grossed out by it. I didn’t even buy toothpicks until my kids were old enough to follow this rule and now that I live alone, I just go floss if I need one.
My grandfather had a toothpick at all times and once my grandmother got one stuck under her fingernail while cleaning that led to a massive infection and I remember being so grossed out by it. I didn’t even buy toothpicks until my kids were old enough to follow this rule and now that I live alone, I just go floss if I need one.
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12points
#69
Shut the door to the laundry room when running the dryer. We really don't need the air conditioner fighting it out with the dryer.
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11points
#70
If we're at the dinner table, don't smack, slurp, or chew with your mouth open. Totally unacceptable.
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11points
#71
No eating ice cream with your hands. It’s rule #2, if that tells you anything.
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10points
#72
There's a chip clip on my kitchen towel hanging on the oven handle. Seems stupid, but the clip prevents the towel from falling off onto the floor 5 times a week forcing me to get a new towel and have an unnecessary amount of laundry. I hit my breaking point when I had an abdominal hysterectomy and couldn't bend over but my nightgowns I was wearing while recovering kept static clinging to the towel when I'd stand at the stove. Even with a grabby claw thing, I was in no condition to do basically anything, let alone trying to get yet another towel off the floor and go get a new one three times in one day. I'm recovered now and can bend over well enough, but the clip stays.
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10points
#73
Don't try to use *"pss pss"* cat call sounds. Our cats will just look at you funny.
The way to call them over is to say the cat's name and the words, "come here." It helps to offer pet-pet or a snack, but if you offer a snack then you have to actually give them a kitty treat.
The way to call them over is to say the cat's name and the words, "come here." It helps to offer pet-pet or a snack, but if you offer a snack then you have to actually give them a kitty treat.
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10points
#74
It's more that I enforce it *outside* of my home.
You do not share my address, or even suburb, with anyone without my express consent. This is partly to avoid the "pop-in" as I grew up with very little to no privacy, but also because of a history of my mother with whom I've been no contact for over 15 years constantly breaking boundaries and I don't want to risk her tracking me down.
Aside from my real estate and government stuff, 3 people know where I live, Dad, my NOK, and his wife.
Also no alcohol is to cross the threshold.
You do not share my address, or even suburb, with anyone without my express consent. This is partly to avoid the "pop-in" as I grew up with very little to no privacy, but also because of a history of my mother with whom I've been no contact for over 15 years constantly breaking boundaries and I don't want to risk her tracking me down.
Aside from my real estate and government stuff, 3 people know where I live, Dad, my NOK, and his wife.
Also no alcohol is to cross the threshold.
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9points
#75
The light switches must be in their proper positions at the end of the night.
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9points
#76
Kids can eat anything in any amount without asking that does not have “ingredients” basically packaged food. If hit has ingredients they need to ask.
This was to promote in our hopes healthy eating habits- not eating the whole box of fruit snacks in a sitting.
This was to promote in our hopes healthy eating habits- not eating the whole box of fruit snacks in a sitting.
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8points
#77
Bread sack towels are for drying dishes and patterned/textured towels are for drying your hands. If you dry your hands on the bread sack towel accidentally it must immediately go in the dirty laundry.
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8points
#78
No soda before 2pm or after 5pm, and only on Fridays and Saturdays, and only one drink allowed - and other extremely strict food-related rules - usually with deeply irrational fear and morality-related reasons why we can't do these things that I don't think I can type out here.
(I grew up in a strict household and developed disordered eating habits and I was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder a few weeks ago. I am starting therapy and medication now!).
(I grew up in a strict household and developed disordered eating habits and I was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder a few weeks ago. I am starting therapy and medication now!).
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7points
#79
I have a chair, you won’t sit in it and I will ask you to change places, kindly.
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6points
#80
Anything dangling must be tucked away. Hoodie strings, drawstrings, laces, everything. Fringe is absolutely not allowed, either. Not after last time.
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6points
