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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Random services people use

186 replies

wand3rer · 03/06/2025 15:39

Hi everyone! 😊

After seeing another thread where lots of people mentioned being signed up for a bin cleaning service (which I’d never even heard of before), I got curious.

What other services do people use? Aside from the usual ones like general cleaning, window cleaning, gardening, ironing, magazine subscriptions, or even cooking subscriptions, are there any useful services you swear by?

I have to admit, I don’t use any of those myself, but the bin cleaning idea is definitely making me think 😁

OP posts:

BashfulClam · 04/06/2025 21:49

Gall10 · 04/06/2025 08:48

Worms are fabulous creatures!

Show quote history

Can’t help a phobia. Anything wriggly and I have a freak out. I have no issues with spiders etc.

1StrawberryDaiquiri · 04/06/2025 19:27

TooTiredToType77 · 04/06/2025 11:41

That sounds amazing! There are people near me who do this but the cost is quite high £350 to do a 3 hr wardrobe decluttering and £350 for 3hr shopping trip

Where is yours based? I'm in SW London

Show quote history

looking at the website, prices depending on stylists are:

Decluttering duration: 2 Hours from £115-£125
Duration: 3 Hours from £160-£175
Duration: 4 Hours from £205-£225,

online shops from £35 to £90

3 hours personal shop from £175 to £190 to £210 in London

They work around Bluewater/ Brighton/ Westfield Shepherds , Guildford, Birmingham, Solihull or Kingston

Honestly the team is brilliant!

JDM625 · 04/06/2025 19:16

CruCru · 04/06/2025 17:28

I know of a woman who cleans urine crystals out of horses’ penises. All the owners of male horses at the stable sign up and she turns up and deals with them all.

I saw this done on a vet show one time. Its called sheath cleaning and they remove 'beans' of hardened smegma by hand from the horses penis.
Please don't google it- you can never unsee the photos 😱

CruCru · 04/06/2025 17:30

sheathcleaning.co.uk/prices

CruCru · 04/06/2025 17:28

I know of a woman who cleans urine crystals out of horses’ penises. All the owners of male horses at the stable sign up and she turns up and deals with them all.

LastPostISwear · 04/06/2025 17:07

I have someone come and scoop my dogs’ poop from their yard

buffyandspikeandfaith · 04/06/2025 17:05

BIWI · 04/06/2025 16:59

@buffyandspikeandfaith ooh! Can you let me know who you used? That’s exactly what we need for one of our sofas.

Sure! There’s a video about measuring but if you need help they’re quick to reply by phone/email too

https://www.gbfoamdirect.co.uk/

Foam Cut to Size - GB Foam Direct - Best UK Foam Suppliers

Buy Foam Cut to Size at GB Foam Direct. Next Day Delivery. Instant quote on replacement sofa cushions, upholstery foam, padding, packaging foam & more

https://www.gbfoamdirect.co.uk/

Ketzele · 04/06/2025 17:03

In London there is a handyman service called Silver Saints, which I have used a lot. They charge by the hour, so I save up a load of tasks and get them done together. They're also very polite and clean up after themselves.

I also found a gutter cleaning company run by two well presented young brothers. I booked them just before Christmas and they gave me a box of chocolates, so they are definitely coming again!

BIWI · 04/06/2025 16:59

@buffyandspikeandfaith ooh! Can you let me know who you used? That’s exactly what we need for one of our sofas.

RunningNananananananananana · 04/06/2025 16:46

I wouldn't class the milkman as a random service 🥴

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 04/06/2025 16:45

Milkman. Everything else costs a fortune.

Apollo365 · 04/06/2025 16:15

SusanOldknow · 04/06/2025 10:38

Regular deliveries of, or subscriptions to:
Loo roll (Who Gives A Crap)
Specialist cat food for urinary diet (can't find in shops)
Windows cleaned
Oven cleaned annually
Guttering and fascia cleaned annually
Boiler service annually and all gas fire checked
Some specialist stuff to do with hobbies for me and DH
Ad hoc deliveries of compost, gravel, chipped bark etc for garden (Wickes deliver and also carry it through to where I want it)
Weekly email showing which Kindle books are free or very cheap, for authors or genres I like (Bookbub)

I love who gives a crap ☺️ The kids use the paper for crafts.

buffyandspikeandfaith · 04/06/2025 16:14

Not a service as such but I used a company to do new foam for my sofa and it’s brilliant
it was getting saggy and unsupportive and it feels like new again. Very helpful people too

Apollo365 · 04/06/2025 16:13

Salumthecat · 04/06/2025 06:40

I have an amazon subscription for a Sudafed nasal spray every 6 weeks.

I’m ND and when I got a blocked nose when trying to sleep and lying down it used to cause me to panic being unable to breathe properly.
It’s great in summer for hayfever and in winter for constant colds.

I can’t describe the relief of being able to breathe again when I unblock my nose, I have a spray in my bag and it’s top of my list of things to pack when we go away.

I have a few spares atm and should pause the subscription, I just worry I’ll run out and have forgotten to activate it. I think I’ll just reduce the frequency of deliveries.

Is that random enough? 😂.

I used to be addicted to Sudafed..
If you get to the point where it’s causing more issues it’s possible to come off, I use the saline one now. Not saying you are addicted.. but just incase it does go that way.

Sweetpea333 · 04/06/2025 16:12

Yeah but i want to know what band @mondaytosunday's guy was in!

Original poster

wand3rer · 04/06/2025 15:55

Sweetpea333 · 04/06/2025 15:51

@mondaytosunday Cone on now, you know the rules! What was the band????

Seona Dancing 😎 It was huge in the Philippines!

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/ABjYSxyUD98

OP posts:

Original poster

wand3rer · 04/06/2025 15:52

Delphiniumandlupins · 04/06/2025 01:33

I used to work in an office who used a plant-maintenance service and realise I need that now as I kill houseplants regularly. They supplied the plants, watered them, treated any bugs etc and replaced sad plants with new, healthier ones. Not sure if they came weekly or fortnightly.

I definitely do need that! Unfortunately, there are not many residential options. The one I found near me charges £35 per visit 😬

OP posts:

Sweetpea333 · 04/06/2025 15:51

@mondaytosunday Cone on now, you know the rules! What was the band????

LaLaLaLavaChChChChicken · 04/06/2025 15:21

@comeondover The sell it service is a local person who set it up to earn extra cash. She is doing a brilliant trade and has given up her part time job just to do this. It has saved me time but also I often cba to sell things. This gives me an incentive!

mondaytosunday · 04/06/2025 15:10

I used to use a mobile car valet. Can’t do it now as no room but when I had a driveway I had him come every six weeks to do the car inside and out. I found him when I was selling my car and it needed a proper clean and he (cleverly) suggested I get him regularly (for my next car). With young kids and two dogs it was great. Fun fact: turned out he had a band in the 80s and had a couple big hits in Japan! Their manager stole all their money though. There are YouTube’s of a couple concerts. You’d never know it to look at him now (a bit how Ricky Gervais was a stunner when younger but you wouldn’t think of him as a pretty boy now).

Taniot · 04/06/2025 14:49

We have a smoked salmon subscription (the Pished Fish) and in the past had a cheese subscription.

DS16 has Skin + Me for acne. His skin is amazing now, and I’m planning to subscribe as well instead of buying expensive branded face creams and getting distracted by K beauty items as soon as I’ve finished my existing products.

CMOTDibbler · 04/06/2025 14:30

We have a housekeeper, and on top of cleaning she organises the kitchen cupboards, does laundry/ironing, takes the dogs out, dog/cat sits overnight, and generally does everything that needs doing in the house.
I have a gardener every two weeks who cuts the grass and hedges, plus pressure washes the patio and paths twice a year.
we’ve just found a reliable handyman and will be having him an hour a month going forward so all the jobs get done
Cars get washed and cleaned by a regular visit from a detailed.
Window cleaner every 5 weeks
repeat prescriptions are automated.
We have a private gp who comes to the house and all blood tests, vaccinations and so on are done with them.

Tagyoureit · 04/06/2025 14:16

linelgreen · 03/06/2025 18:54

We have an extra bin collection done by a local firm ever since our council went to 3weekly general waste collection. Also have a 4 monthly contract with company to empty, clean and refill the swim spa as did it once myself and never again!! The cars get valeted once a month which is well worth the money as they stay looking brand new.

Edited

I just got my car cleaned at the local valet place and it smelled cheesy 🙈

I was so upset as it looked so lovely and clean but we had to keep the windows open for a week! 😂

YourQuickBee · 04/06/2025 14:05

IceIceBabyBump · 03/06/2025 16:53

Monthly cake subscription - just one box a month, so enough for one weekend. But its so wonderful to have a different pudding once a month.

Any company that you would recommend? Love this idea as a monthly treat

the80sweregreat · 04/06/2025 13:41

Didn’t have dog walkers ‘ back in my day’ but that has ‘ blown up ‘around my way especially for anyone wanting to earn a bit of money and take their own dog out too.
Doggy borders are big too. People don’t always want kennels.
It’s nice to see milkmen around again, they seemed to disappear once , but are back round our way again!

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