Liverpool is home to the most houseproud residents in the north

A study of 3,000 adults across the country found 71 per cent of those in the north west city take pride in their home, spending an average of two hours and seven minutes cleaning it each week.

Leeds wasn't far behind, with 71 per cent describing themselves as houseproud, despite spending seven fewer minutes cleaning each week than Liverpudlians

The kitchen emerged as the highest priority with 41 per cent dedicating the most time to cleaning it, with just 19 per cent do so for the living room and 18 per cent in the bathroom.  

Cleaning the oven (44 per cent) and windows (37 per cent) are the lengthiest tasks, while scrubbing showers and baths (34 per cent) and removing limescale (21 per cent) also seen as time-consuming.

The tell-tale signs that the bathroom needs some shine include visible stains (44 per cent), limescale build-up (35 per cent) and surfaces looking dull rather than shiny (34 per cent).

Scarlett Moffatt, who has teamed up with Viakal, which commissioned the research, said: "It's clear people get a lot of joy from making their homes sparkle, with those in Liverpool and Leeds feeling this way more than most in the north.

“The north isn’t always blessed with the weather, but the research shows people are doing all they can to make their homes sparkle inside when it’s grey outside.

“I’m a proper houseproud Northerner and I love that feeling when the whole house is clean and gleaming, especially when it’s grey and miserable outside.

“But the bathroom is one of the hardest rooms to keep on top of, you’ve got watermarks and limescale popping up everywhere.”

Manchester (70 per cent), Sheffield (67 per cent) and Newcastle (65 per cent) emerged as the other northern cities where residents take the most pride in their homes.

With poor weather making 44 per cent overall more likely to clean, and 73 per cent of these said they are more likely to stay inside and have the time to tidy.

Meanwhile, 67 per cent said cleaning when it is grey outside improves their mood.

Decluttering a bedroom was found to be the most satisfying job (32 per cent) along with changing bed sheets (29 per cent) and vacuuming (27 per cent).

Although 13 per cent get a thrill from cleaning windows until they are streak-free, eight per cent said the same of removing streaks from shower screens.

A call to remove the chalky residue was most commonly prompted by watermarks not wiping away (43 per cent), stiff or blocked shower nozzles (42 per cent) or a lack of shine on taps (34 per cent).

Others get to it when they spot limescale build-up (35 per cent) and surfaces that look dull rather than shiny (34 per cent).

While 22 per cent were unaware that hard water build-up can occur in soft water areas.

Scarlett Moffatt which partnered with Viakal added: “We all want our bathrooms to be sparkling, but sometimes water build-up and limescale can leave them looking dull.

“Even up here in County Durham, where we have softer water, I still get limescale build up, which always requires special treatment.

“It’s a bit of a double whammy for me - it gets rid of that stubborn limescale, but it’s also my secret to getting the bathroom looking properly shiny. 

“There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing those taps gleaming when you’re finished!”