Little things for the house that make life easier - I’m doing a shop

[Dollywilde]

Right. I’m getting my act together. As I once again realised we’d run out of little clippy things for reasealing food packaging, it also occurs to me I keep meaning to buy an extra long iPhone cable so I can use my phone when it’s charging in the living room (I can rest it on the table but can’t look at it while sat on the sofa which is pissing irritating and means I’m constantly on 3% battery). I do try and avoid amazon so as not to help Jeff Bezos and his sickening wealth but sod it, I’m going to sit down this afternoon and do an Amazon shop for all those little things that make life easier but I never get around to buying. Basically all the stuff my mum used to go to Woolies for when I was little (RIP Woolies, gone but not forgotten)

So far my list is:
Kitchen clips
Extra long iPhone cable
Lighters - if I can buy them online? (I don’t smoke but I’m a candle obsessive and I am always running out of long matches)
An oven liner, threw mine away a couple of months ago as it was rank and now I need to clean the oven base instead which is much harder than running the liner through the dishwasher - sigh

Please could you suggest other things I need but can’t think of right this second? Much appreciated

Re. de-bobblers, I find disposable razors much more efficient .

Thanks, Giant. I should have said that I'd prefer to be able to look at them in real life.

Very tempted by the space saving cutlery organiser. Am a big fan of Joseph Joseph stuff.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie
Sorry for foreign link , just search for mepal modula storage boxes, I'm sure you can find them in stores too (they are on Amazon, but guess that doesn't work).

@feesh

My somewhat lame contribution to this excellent discussion is to suggest that you buy an extra toothbrush and toothpaste tube for the downstairs loo - it saves you having to go back upstairs again when you need clean your teeth before you pop out. Because I’m lazy like that.

Not lame at all. I used to do that for my DDs as the usual response to "Have you cleaned your teeth?" When just about to go out the front door was "No!"

@SunshineCake just found them on Amazon. Searched for 'clean dirty dishwasher magnet'

This thread is amazing, thank you all.
I have now ordered said dishwasher magnet, a single mug teapot, rubber broom (with hand brush), magnetic pen holder, toast rack to dry my beeswax sandwich bags, and a flexible USB lighter for my candles

These are brilliant to have around the house. Never hammering any more nails into my walls, they've been able to hold some pretty heavy frames:

Command Picture Hanging Kit (38 Pieces), Damage-Free Hanging, Hangs up to 15 Pictures https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01C6ZA3UI/ref=cmswwrcppapifabccqH46FbRGCKPHX?encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Also discovered last month that fizzy wine stoppers exist so I have been drinking more fizz this Christmas than ever before as I would never usually open a bottle before as I'm the only one who likes it .

Anyone know where i can get a measuring jug that has embossed measurements on rather than printed on? I have about 5 pyrex jugs that the print has washed off of. I found a metal one on amazon but its £21! I'm not spending that on a bloody jug

I bought a stainless steel one in Sainsbury ....though even with embossed numbers they're not much easier to see !

Thanks again, Giant. Appreciated. Will look.

Should have said that it's not food storage I'm looking for, just general storage. I like these but too expensive to buy more than one!

Some more ideas:

soap bars - buy a load and keep them in your knicker and sock drawers!

batteries

Nakd bars - so delicious and useful, and last forever, so you can always have a vaguely healthy snack to hand!

pre-cut baking tin liners

spares of: toothbrushes/sellotape/plasters/extension plugs (the ones that take two plugs)
ribbon/gift tags - plain ones so you can use them for birthdays and Christmas

@giantangryrooster thank you! I had seen those boxes before, but had forgotten the name. They are brilliant!

I've just bought the sticky hooks.

Can anyone recommend any cheap but big bags for hanging boots in?

Lids to stop pans boiling over

Love the USB candle lighter 😊

Could you use a sharpie to add the measurements back in?

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie do you want pretty boxes? We have mostly kallax boxes or plastic weave baskets which are pretty good

@choppolata

Also yes to the tech-eufy robot vac is great & Alexa, (alarms/reminders/radio/lists/audiobooks, ringing people...) & smart plugs everywhere in this house. Also smart thermostat thing for the heating.

I'm waiting to get a Victorian type clothes pulley airer in the utility which I think will help. We've no tumble dryer & just use the radiators! In the meantime I'm going to try hanging wet clothes on hangers in there & seeing how it goes...

I became a bit of a mini prepper over the last couple of years so always have at least a spare of things which is good. Nobody else here would add to a shopping list when things were running out or empty! The Marie Kondo idea of assigning everything to a place is massively helpful. Also, all sizes of the Ikea sandwich bags - they are great for storing lots of things.

Also, just remembered one of my favourites - I bought plastic plain brown dispensers for shampoo & shower gel but it's great for washing up-I just squirt a little onto the brush. It feels a lot easier than lifting the bottle & looks nicer.

I'm debating a karcher window vac, already have a 'golden glove' thing that windowcleaners use to smear the soapy stuff on the windows. Even with a normal squeegee it's very fast.

Also, big log basket is good by the fire!

@buckeejit

Could you use a sharpie to add the measurements back in?

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie do you want pretty boxes? We have mostly kallax boxes or plastic weave baskets which are pretty good

Thanks. They don't need to be pretty, but they do need to have lids, so I can stack them.

Just purchased: pyrex riasting dishes and baking trays, dryer balls, USB candle lighter, potato scrubber, silicon scrubbing things, silicon covers and one of those things for obliterating addresses. This thread is dangerous!

A battery tester.

one of those things for obliterating addresses

and shredding scissors ( I have some 5 blade ones , actually for cutting herbs but great to cut paper . I do two cuts at rightangles to make tiny squares )

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie have you tried Really Useful Boxes? They're not pretty or cheap, but they are brilliant. All stack and the smaller ones are perfectly sized to stack within the bigger ones if needed

I've bought them at staples and Ryman in the past, they are on Amazon too

[quote DoveOfPiss]@SunshineCake just found them on Amazon. Searched for 'clean dirty dishwasher magnet'

This thread is amazing, thank you all.
I have now ordered said dishwasher magnet, a single mug teapot, rubber broom (with hand brush), magnetic pen holder, toast rack to dry my beeswax sandwich bags, and a flexible USB lighter for my candles [/quote]
Thank you. Looking now.

I hadn't heard of USB candle lighters but ordered one immediately after reading this thread and it arrived today, along with a portable phone charger which I'd been meaning to buy for ages.

I'd already bought the longer cable for my ipad which has made life easier, just like the OP.

A silicone sheet for the oven is next and the ice cube trays.

It all costs a bit but well worth it to feel more organised.

@ouchmyfeet

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie have you tried Really Useful Boxes? They're not pretty or cheap, but they are brilliant. All stack and the smaller ones are perfectly sized to stack within the bigger ones if needed

I've bought them at staples and Ryman in the past, they are on Amazon too

Thanks, Ouch.

I was hoping for something a bit nicer looking, but am beginning to think it either doesn't exist, or certainly doesn't exist at a price I'm willing to pay!

Buckeejit
try to find a Dri-Buddi on eBay or Facebook marketplace , they are great for fast drying and I bought them for both my children when they were at uni.
It will save a lot of your time and money. For what it's worth ,unless you have a great heat source and ventilation a clothes maid will only create condensation.

My best buy was a Joseph Joseph knife and utensil holder , it keeps my expensive knives separate and gives instant access to all my cooking utensils. I like JJ stuff but recommend looking in BrandAlley or TK's to buy more cheaply.
If you ever get a chance to redesign your kitchen , get as many drawer units as you can , now that's a game changer !!