What small/boring thing has transformed your life?

[TheBeesKnee]

Colour catchers. No need to be as picky with separating colours when doing the laundry.

My new noise cancelling headphones.Have a lot of people doing renovations in the neighbourhood and am home 24-7..
Finally getting the aircon sorted in my car.

A four-slice toaster. Halves the time to make breakfast/lunch for six bread-monster family.

Fat hair elastics - last longer, hurt hands less, and don't camouflage themselves as much as the thin ones.

My iPhone 6Plus! I obviously got it a few years ago but it changed my life. Every new version since is just longer but not wider, so I've no desire to upgrade until Apple increase the size appropriately.

We unfortunately bought a huge TV at the same time, which has been almost unused as I'm on my phone and my DH is on his iMac.

The idea of watching something on a big screen now, with the volume blaring out for everyone to hear, seems very alien to me and it's really changed my viewing habits.

Re the colour catchers, pop them in a little net bag so they never get into filters or other parts.

@Roundtoedshoes thats what i have just done, brought some net wash bags ti put it one for colour catchers and other for dirty facemasks so i can chuck a load in at once

@sydenhamhiller

Electric heated clothes airer.

Have 3 kids, never had a dryer, and this has revolutionised my life in winter months...

You did say it could be boring 😁.

This is exciting news for me! I've been toying with getting one!

Re toast tongs: if you only ever toast sliced bread, it might never get stuck, but if you cut the bread/bagel/muffin yourself, it's easy to have a bit that's too thick. And you should never poke a metal object into an electrical device that's plugged in, there's always a risk of getting a shock.

I still don't get why you need toast tongs. Dont you lot have toasters that 'pop up' when they're finished then you just pick up the toast between your fingers? (Or is the toast fir another person and you don't want to touch it?)

My Roomba. I have two very hairy cats and its a total lifesaver.

I pin colour catchers to one of the pieces of clothing with a tiny safety pin. Never had an issue with them blocking the filter since - and it used to happen a lot!

Simple Solution for pet stains. I am very finicky about hygiene and have to balance this with having much-loved pets. The amount of cat vom it has miraculously made disappear off light carpets over the years is incredible. It contains enzymes that eat the bacteria in cat pee that makes it smell rank. Let’s face it, pets get sick and have accidents sometimes, this stuff means it is no big deal cleaning up after them.

I never saw the point in toaster tongs when I only toasted shop bought bread, but since switching to homemade sourdough during lockdown they have come in very useful as it's easy to slice it a bit too thick or wonky so it gets jammed in.

Apple airpods, I know they are a bit of an extravagance and I wasn't sure I wanted them but DH bought me them for Christmas. They have been invaluable for all the zoom meetings and exercise classes since lockdown as well as for listening to music and podcasts, so much better than my old cheapo earphones.

My areopress. Just makes the best coffee ☕

A small thing that has transformed my iife? My ten-week baby daughter! I wouldnt quite say she's boring but her conversation isn't the best

In terms of purchases, it has to be my mattress. I never even knew you could get them with a zip-off cover you could just bung straight in the washing machine! Not so worried about the baby in our bed now!!

Dehumidifier- dries clothes indoors quickly without doing the equivalent of throwing buckets of water at the wall.

Intermittent fasting - lost 2 stone without feeling deprived, and it feels sustainable.

Yes to the Aeropress, we bought one two years ago to take on holidays and it has been in daily use ever since, we got rid of our nespresso machine. Also the hotel chocolat velvetiser for frothy milk and hot chocolate.

Great thread 😎

I bought 3 large cotton peg bags in different patterns.. one for my socks, one for tights and one for coloured bras. I have them hooked on the bag of the bedroom door, and my knicker drawer is no longer a tangled jungle.

Plug in electric nightlight for our hallway.dans the kids have light to go to the bathroom at night without switching on the main lights and leaving them on. I've had it years and it cost a couple if pounds.

Food packet pegs for open flour, sugar, muesli, bird food etc etc.
Ankle wellies.
3 in 1 dog coats warm for chilly weather, thin waterproof for summer. Then you fasten them together for winter.
Paperwork shredder.

Also timer switch for Christmas lights and lamps when we are away in winter.

@DinosApple

Frozen ready chopped onions. Game changer.

This ^

Always on hand. Never go off. Much easier to use. Definitely made making a lot of meals much easier.

And switching from chemist bought Gluten Free flour to supermarket. It's almost (almost!) as good as regular flour. Coeliac so no choice in GF but this stuff is far better.

A washing up bowl with a plug. I used to slop water every when I drained it.

www.amazon.co.uk/Salter-EK2783-Electric-Boiled-Poached/dp/B077FXQ4BQ/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=egg+boiler&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1596522207&sr=8-14
I boil a lot of eggs, I love dippy eggs and I'm always eating egg salad and making egg sandwiches. This cooks them to perfection, whether soft or hard-boiled.

Bridecilla the egg cooker I have works by adding a specific amount of water depending on the number of eggs you're making. It comes with a little measuring pot. I bought it a few years ago now. I'm sorry that yours doesn't seem to work as well.

Not particularly small or boring really, but being given a kindle last Christmas is mine. I've read pretty much a book a week since I got it. It really saved my sanity during full lockdown.