14 Weird Rules at Friends’ Houses We Had to Follow
This listicle shares 14 unusual and memorable rules people had to follow when visiting their friends’ homes.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
These are the strangest house rules people have experienced at friends’ places. Some were funny, some were strict, and some made no sense at all. Each one left a lasting memory that visitors still talk about years later.
1. The “Hello Back to the Parrot” Rule
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At one friend’s house, the family parrot expected a polite greeting from every visitor. If the bird said “Hello” and you did not respond, you were told it was rude. It quickly became clear that ignoring the parrot was treated just like ignoring a person.
2. No Washing Hands in the Kitchen
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One household had a strict rule that you could never wash your hands in the kitchen sink. Even though a towel was nearby, the sink was considered off-limits for anything but dishes. Guests had to trek to the bathroom no matter how messy things got.
3. Penny Stays Face Down
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If you dropped a penny and it landed face down, you were not allowed to pick it up. The belief was that bad luck would come if you touched it before it flipped on its own. Sometimes that penny would sit there for weeks as everyone avoided it.
4. One Tub of Water for All
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At one relative’s home during a water shortage, everyone bathed in the same tub of water. Guests had to wait their turn, which often meant the water was cold and not exactly fresh. It was an experience that made you appreciate your own bathroom even more.
5. Must Puke Outdoors
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One friend’s parents insisted that if you were sick, you had to go outside to throw up. They believed the plumbing could not handle it, no matter the situation. Even in the middle of the night or during bad weather, this rule was enforced without exception.
6. Do Not Touch the Dining Table
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In one household, you were never to touch the dining table unless you were eating. You had to sit straight in your chair and keep your hands in your lap until food was served. Leaning on the table was seen as a serious breach of manners.
7. Baby-Voice Is Forbidden
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At a certain home, talking to pets in a baby voice was not allowed. You were expected to speak to dogs and cats as if they were adults. The rule felt odd at first, but it made for some surprisingly formal conversations with animals.
8. Clocks Always 5 Minutes Fast
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Every clock in the house was set exactly five minutes ahead of the real time. The idea was to trick everyone into being early for everything. After a while, visitors started doing mental math automatically whenever they looked at a clock.
9. No Talking Before 8 AM
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Mornings in one house had a rule of complete silence until 8 o’clock. The family believed it made for a calmer start to the day. If you needed something, you had to write it down or use hand signals until the clock struck eight.
10. Always Tell the Parrot It Is Polite
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Another home with a talkative parrot had a twist on the greeting rule. You not only had to say “Hello,” but you also had to tell the bird it was polite. It became a running joke among friends who visited often, but the hosts took it very seriously.
11. Read Aloud to the Dog
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One family encouraged guests to read books to their dog before bedtime. They said it was a way to help children practice reading while making the dog feel included. The dog seemed to enjoy it, curling up and listening as if it understood every word.
12. Vegetable-Test Before Dessert
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Dessert was never served until you ate at least one bite of a vegetable. Even guests were not exempt from this rule. Sometimes, this meant powering through a brussels sprout or a spoonful of spinach just to get a slice of cake.
13. Only Use “Bagel Towel”
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In one kitchen, there was a towel meant only for bagels. Plates were never used, and you had to wait for your turn to wrap your bagel in the towel before eating it. The towel was so specific that it even had “Bagel Only” stitched on the corner.
14. No Folding Pizza Slices
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At one friend’s house, folding pizza before eating it was considered bad manners. Slices had to be eaten flat to show “proper appreciation” for the food. Anyone caught folding their slice was teased for being a “gluttonous beast.”