Life hacks, day to day time saving tips, common sense to you but not to others?

[Namechange8123]

I've had a search and can only find (years) old threads along these lines, so I've started a fresh one.

What are your day to day life hacks that make things easier? Could be common sense to you, but others could benefit?

My contributions are freezing lemons and limes to double up with your ice in your gin, layer the cot sheets in DC cot with another sheet and bed mat so if they have an accident, you whip the top layer off and don't have to remake the bed, tin foil behind the radiators...

What do you have?

Plus me and my son drilled holes in the bin as per a top tip further up and it doesn't seem to make the rubbish come out any easier and it looks as though the bin has been shot

it doesn't seem to make the rubbish come out any easier and it looks as though the bin has been shot

When you're down tto your last five fags, buy another packet

This sort of behaviour works for everything, if you use it regularly and especially if it's non perishable, buy some more when you open your last one.

I didn't realise that many people left buying things until they'd (nearly) run out until just before the start of lockdown when everyone was clamouring for toilet rolls etc, or even more odd, bought toilet rolls in packs of 4 each week, or bought a single tin of beans each week, instead of buying a 16 pack of toilet roll once a month, or a 4 pack of beans once a month.

I know some people have money or storage issues, but most people have a bit of space and a bit of spare money so are able to replace things before they run out, which works out so much cheaper and it meant that you were able to just wait and use up your existing stocks when there were no beans, pasta, toilet roll etc in the shops instead of needing to replace things Right Now.

My favourite top tip was from something like My Weekly - £20 paid if we use your tip: “If a mug chips, or the handle comes off, it makes an excellent pen holder.” Er... seriously? Somebody got £20 for that?

Favourite Viz tip: “Can’t afford a personalised number plate? Change your name by deed poll to GF16 PPC.”

Don't waste money on buying binoculars - simply stand closer to the object that you wish to view.

Check first that it isn't just small. Often confused with "far away"

(h/t Father Ted)

I have 2 sick buckets which are actually just plastic waste paper bins. They each have a pedal bin liner in. If someone is sick the bucket is ready to use and plus clean up is literally tie the handles of the bag and put into outside bin. Spray bin with Zoflora/nice smelling disinfectant. Re-line bin.

A tip is to put the bin edge under your nose but above your mouth, that way the smell doesn't hit you for a few seconds or more.

School socks are all plain black as they have to be, no pairing just every one in the drawer. They are in a small container so they can be rotated for wear and tear.

Pre-sorted washing, I have several wash baskets all the in same place, as you take your clothes through you put each item into the correct basket, whites, lights, darks and blacks. No double handling and sorting through a basket to find a wash.

Something I've just recently started doing; my cutler drawer gets full of bits from the worktop, so I've lined each section with a piece of kitchen paper so that I can lift it straight out.

I keep a few pegs in my kitchen for closing opened bags, cereal bags etc.
If you open frozen peas or other veg cut the top 1cm off the bag all the way along and use that to tie round the top to close it.
I use Klippits, they come in different sizes. www.amazon.co.uk/Lakeland-Klippits-Storage-Sealing-Assorted/dp/B00BND4F4A?tag=mumsnetforu03-21
Frozen vegetables that I use a lot of (chopped onion, peas, soffrito mix) I decant into large plastic tubs; and just grab a handful when I need them.

@Plummy987 you are a genius, how have I never thought of putting all of the cutlery together in the dishwasher before?? I started yesterday after reading this thread and it saved loads of time (well seconds but I was really impressed!)

@LunaLoveFood haha, glad to help!

Ha ha. Shop bought quiche is particularly awful though; it bears no resemblance to the lusciousness that is proper quiche.

Am loving this thread. Keep coming back to it each day

@sleepismysuperpower1

you can freeze eggs (crack them into an ice cube tray and freeze). They can be used for cooking, and taste perfectly normal. they last up to a year :)

This cannot possibly be true

(If I'm that shocked after one post goodness knows how I'll be after 7 pages)

If your.hoover is blocked and has no suction, and you cannot access the.blockage (often paper, fluff, lego) cut a short length of flexible garden hose to push it out.
(Ive used this hack many many times)

To unblock a.slow running basin, boil a kettle of water, three times and pour down in succession. Running the hot tap wont work because cold water sinks, and it will.be cold when you first run it forming a plug lower down in the pipe, conditioner, soap hair etc.
Make cakes in the magimix.is my last hack...I tend to just throw butter flour sugar eggs and flavouring in by eye, it is usually delicious. There is a magimix cake book btw!
Emergency comfort food hack for sour milk and ordinary milk...drop.scones in the frying pan

If you have a struggle opening jars turn them upside down for 10 mins then right them up and try again ..how it works i have no idea but i promise you it does...one the few that it does work with pierce the top with a knife and let the air out that works then seal with clingfilm and add top on.
If you can;t bend down to do the skirting boards put an old sock on and walk round them.glossing over with your foot .this has been a godsend to me who cannot bend due to illness.
Cupboard tops are hard to clean usually but not if you lay some paper on the top once you have cleaned them...next time its a doddle

If you have a struggle opening jars turn them upside down for 10 mins then right them up and try again ..how it works i have no idea but i promise you it does...one the few that it does work with pierce the top with a knife and let the air out that works then seal with clingfilm and add top on.

Alternatively, a firm thwack against the worktop edge also often works. Also frees stacker glasses stick together.

If you can;t bend down to do the skirting boards put an old sock on and walk round them.glossing over with your foot .this has been a godsend to me who cannot bend due to illness.

I can reach my skirting boards just fine. But it simply doesn't occur to me to bother specially cleaning them - by hand or foot!

Cupboard tops are hard to clean usually but not if you lay some paper on the top once you have cleaned them...next time its a doddle

This I have done since forever (my mum does it and I guess her mum also did). The number of people who have thought me a genius for it...!

I have 3 little girls and we live quite rurally. I would get caught when they needed to go to the bathroom and no public toilets were about. Its hard to get a little girl to squat and aim, the wee gets all down their legs.

Anyway I used to keep a potty, wipes etc in the boot. Now the potty has been replaced with a disposable coffee cup. They can aim, then I can throw it away and it takes less space than the big potty!

Put the roll of bin bags in the bottom of the bin along with a magic tree air freshener then when you empty the bin a new bag Is right there

Chop apples and pears or any fruit really up when they are just about to turn bad freeze them then use as a quick dessert or cereal topping or lunch box snack

Shower caps over buggy wheels in the winter saves a mess on the carpet or flooring

Overnight oats... Breakfast already done saves at least 20 mins in morning just take jars out of fridge and heat up for 1 min

Bar of soap in washing machine drawer instead of tablets or powder obviously remove it before it gets too slushy

Hair bobbles around the hairbrush handle never looking for bobbles in the morning rush

Tumbler dryer sheets behind radiators smells lovely and last longer than most air fresheners

Put the roll of bin bags in the bottom of the bin

we always end up with bin juice for whatever reason. so that one doesn't work...

When my kids were younger I had a basket next to the front door for school shoes and only school shoes. They had to put them in there as soon as they got in from school and it meant they knew exactly where to find them in the morning!

For jars that won't open (depending on the type) often you can break the vacuum by turning them upside down and carefully pushing a table knife between the lid and the jar (there are usually a couple of thicker points in the lid where it grips the jar). Satisfying sucking noise and the jar opens easily.

@Sallycinammonbangsthedruminthe love the sock and skirting board idea..... mine is to give my 8yo £1 to do it for me 

@Threelionsandalioness with the frozen apples do they go brown once defrosted?!

@silentpool tell us!! I need to know now

with the frozen apples do they go brown once defrosted?!

As you chop them, put them into a bowl of water and lemon juice. Swish them around a bit then drain. As they freeze, keep rustling the bag to stop a massive clump of frozen apple forming.

When I had a glut of courgettes last summer, I invested in a dehydrator. I now also use it if I have any fruit or veg that's going off. I even dried some mushrooms the other week! It's amazing how little space dried food takes up.