My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

AIBU?

Household tips that aren't shit.

644 replies

EIsbethTascioni · 21/01/2017 20:08

I've been getting hugely into decluttering and keeping tidy since the new year. I've been looking on websites and in magazines for tips advice and most of it is unmitigated tripe that makes life harder rather than easier.

So I'm turning to you vipers for your non-crap tips for keeping on top of shit.

I've got three to start us off.

Clean the shower while you're in it. Gamechanger. Saves masses of time.

Storing duvet sets inside their pillow case. I was sceptical about this one but with four beds in the house it has a)made my linen cupboard tidier and b)means no more rummaging.

Using the big IKEA bags as laundry bags. They are just the right size for a load of washing in a standard machine and you can fold them up and put them away tidily instead of having plastic baskets hanging around.


Aibu to think you lot will have loads more?

OP posts:
monsterbrunch · 21/01/2017 20:15

Mr Muscle Shower Shine. Bloody brilliant.

Microfibre cloths.

Never go up the stairs without taking something up with you (that needs putting away).

Dyson cordless.

Anti bac wipes and bleach / toilet cleaner of choice in each bathroom / toilet. Quick wipe and squirt of cleaner often makes it easier to keep on top of things.

Teach DCs to tidy.

redexpat · 21/01/2017 20:22

Wash socks in a delicates bag so they dont get lost.

Cornettoninja · 21/01/2017 20:24

Don't have kids or pets.

Alternatively have lots of guests so you have to keep standards up.

Or win the lottery and buy a massive house so the mess doesn't show up as much and cleaner.

Katedotness1963 · 21/01/2017 20:36

If you see something that needs doing, do it now if you can. Don't let stuff pile up.
Spend 5/10 minutes before bed straightening up the living room and kitchen. It's so much nicer to come downstairs in the morning knowing everything is going to be tidy.
Make the bed when you get out of it. I know a lot of people say not to but I prefer to walk upstairs and see tidy beds.
Keep cleaning cloths in the bathroom, have a quick wipe round at the end of the day.
I expect my kids to do their share and it's not tied to pocket money. They don't get cash for chores, we clean because we all live in the house and it's up to us all to do our bit.

Thanks for the bedding tip! I'm going to do that, such a simple idea and so clever...

7SunshineSeven7 · 21/01/2017 20:37

Have a clear out once a year, if there is something you have kept ''just incase'' but haven't used it in that year. Just chuck it.

bunnylove99 · 21/01/2017 20:40

I'd be more inclined to share my tips if I hadn't been called a viper Shock

dontpokethebear · 21/01/2017 20:46

White vinegar for dishwasher rinse aid and cleaning mirrors/windows and mirrored surfaces like ovens and microwaves.

EIsbethTascioni · 21/01/2017 20:46

Sorry Bunny. You're clearly a lovely rabbit and not a snake Flowers

OP posts:
retainertrainer · 21/01/2017 20:48

Bulk buy birthday cards,get 6 months worth in one go. Write them and put them in order. It'll take an hour but then you're done and organised-no forgetting,no last minute rush to buy one or multiple trips to the shops.

Get a little basket by the front door. In winter put gloves,hats,scarfs,de icer,window scraper,lip salve,tissues,hair brush. In summer keep suncream,sunhat and again hair brush,lippie,perfume in it. Saves so much time faffing around for things and on a really hectic day you can quickly brush your hair/stick on some lipstick before you leave.

Buy a bag of 20 £1 coins from the post office,keep them in a pot ready for school lunches/beavers subs/car parking.

specialsubject · 21/01/2017 20:53

Two vacuum cleaners, one on each floor.
Air bed when getting up. Make before leaving house.
Stop all adult presents. Goodbye useless crap!

user1484394242 · 21/01/2017 20:54

Keep packs of wipes (face, baby, cleaning etc) upside down. It keeps the lid closed. And when you turn the pack the right way to take a wipe out the liquid is in the top one.

Use clear nail polish on buttons- right over the thread. I've done this at the beginning of each school year and in 12 years, I've never had to sew on a button.

Lilaclily · 21/01/2017 20:54

Get the kids to make their own packed lunches from about the age of 8

Ditto loading the dishwasher after they've finished eating

Have a mini white board stuck to the fridge and write on it immediately when you finish something that needs buying in the next shop

Online shopping

Always have a loaf of bread in the freezer , always have baked beans in the cupboard, beans on toast counts as a good nutritious meal in our house

Tell your partner that if he doesn't help out you will leave, no one wants an adult as an extra child, it's so unattractive

drinkswineoutofamug · 21/01/2017 20:57

I have a 3 month rule in my house. If it's not used for the said 3 months it's obviously not needed. So bin or charity. I have collected a huge bag of stuff for charity.
Clear out kitchen drawers monthly.
I've done the bedding one for years.
I vacuum pack a lot of stuff and put it in the loft. Summer clothes etc.
I want to clear the shed but that bike with no wheels, the seized up hedge cutter and blunt saw will apparently become useful one day Hmm

FoofFighter · 21/01/2017 20:59

This is probably going to be classed as disgusting but when I've used my face wet wipe thing each day, I then give the loo or the sink a quick once over with it Blush

**disclaimer, it does all get properly cleaned with proper stuff weekly too!

Flanderspigeonmurderer · 21/01/2017 21:01

Be ruthless with what you buy and what you get rid of. Think, do I really need this/will I ever use this again?

ToastieRoastie · 21/01/2017 21:04

User...242 genius idea to keep packs of wipes upside down!

buckeejit · 21/01/2017 21:05

If there's room above wardrobe or shelves in bedrooms use a large cardboard open top box & wallpaper it & use for storage-all the crap dc insist on keeping can go in it. I think it looks awesome-we have 3 in our living room too.

With the cards I have an A4 folder with poly pockets for each month & a list of date of events, e.g. John's birthday & the card type needed, brother, uncle, anniversary, then make a list of what's needed for the year, go buy them all & split them into the polypockets. I used to get so pissed off when I'd have to take dc to town just to buy a card!

Use a sponge to apply suncream to dc

ToastieRoastie · 21/01/2017 21:06

FoofFighter I use my used face wipe to wipe away DCs toothpaste mess in the sink. And now my wipes will be more hydrated cos I'll be keeping the pack upside down.

Rixera · 21/01/2017 21:10

-scribbling in notebook-

User543212345 · 21/01/2017 21:12

Turn all the hangers in your wardrobe the wrong was round. If you wear something turn the hanger back the right way. If after twelve months something is still on a wrong way hanger then take it to the charity shop.

Get a cleaner.

Dailymaildailyfail · 21/01/2017 21:12

Always make bed when you leave it. Use a lint roller to clean fabric lampshades of fluff and general grime. Coffee beans in a little cup in the fridge if it smells. Always splurge on the specific cleaner for stainless steel- it will keep your steel looking super Shiny.

MouseholeCat · 21/01/2017 21:14

Once a year, turn all your clothes hanger hooks the wrong way around in the closet. When you take clothes out, wear them and put them away, turn the hanger around the right way. Anything that is still the wrong way around in 6-7 months time (allows for seasons), you probably need to get rid of.

Keep a large tupperware in the freezer and scrape your leftover veg and potatoes into it after finishing a meal. Once it's full, add stock, garlic and onions for a nice vegetable soup.

Turn your duvet covers inside out before putting them on the duvet- put your hands through to the corners, grab the corners of the duvet and pull it through. Saves a huge amount of time when changing covers.

Buy some wicker baskets / nice looking buckets or something and label them one per person in the house. Put them against a wall in the area crap accumulates. Anyone can deposit items in their crap bucket, but once it's full it need to be emptied and the contents tidied away. Have consequences if it overflows or stays full for more than a week.

On the weekend change the wifi password. Only give it out once the chores are finished (Mum did this with me... it worked.)

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

MusicToMyEars800 · 21/01/2017 21:16

if you have cups that are stained with tea/coffee, put a little drop of bleach in and fill with warm water leave to soak for about 10 mins then wash, nice white shiny inside again. slices of lemon in a bowl of water put it in the microwave, it steams and makes cleaning it easier also smells good too.
oven pride for cleaning the oven!

TypicallyEnglishMustard · 21/01/2017 21:16

Play the minimalist game at least every few months to keep clutter down. You play it for a whole month, removing one item from your home on the 1st, then two items on the 2nd, and so on, up until 30 items on the 30th (or whatever). It really adds up, and forces you to make decisions about what you really need, as you have to try so hard to find enough items to keep up the game in the last week of the month!

JeffreyNeedsAHobby · 21/01/2017 21:17

Be really objective next time you take a top out to wear - jeans out and look at the hem...if you saw this in a shop or on someone else what would you think? I did a double take a few times this week looking at bobbly long sleeved tops and cami's I bought cheaply years ago and haven't got around to replacing. They were only a few quid from Primark so have bagged up 6 and will replace with 4 (two of each rather than 3). Aim is to eventually get a capsule wardrobe of sorts.

Zoflora can be used in many ways - dilute it for window cleaning, kitchen cupboards and surfaces wiping, skirting board wiping or use it neat in the conditioner drawer to clean the drum on a short spin or to freshen up particularly stinky items (a few old tops with ingrained BO smells from a family member have been perked up this way!).

If you can get an ottoman bed do - I put all summer stuff under it and rotate for winter. So the thin duvet is under there now with vacuum packed shorts/t'shirts etc and even some left over Xmas presents for the DC I can use for b.days instead (they can't lift it up as it is too heavy).

Putting things in drawers so that they are on their side - rather than flat. Saves loads of space and also keeps them a bit more ironed as they are squashed together in a folded pattern rather than being ruffled up each time you rummage underneath for the right colour.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.