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

@Graphista rep the veg bags - I buy veg from out local market so it comes loose. I use the veg bags that now almost all supermarkets have for safe for a few pennies each. They are kind of mesh bag which slow for air circulation and can be washed. My veg seems to last longer in those than plastic bags.
I also bought this for lettuce/ salad - bit pricey but definable lasts longer without getting sweaty/ slimy and you can get different sizes.

www.amazon.co.uk/Produce-ProKeeper-2-8L-Fresher-Longer/dp/B073TZJMV4

If using bagged salad, you can use the tip of putting a piece of very slightly damp kitchen roll in the bag which keeps it fresher for longer

Pyrex are going to do well from me.

I have some embossed numbers jugs and I can’t see the flipping things any more, I’ve been meaning to buy a Pyrex one with red numbers for ages and have just gone for it. I already a small one like that and it’s lasted years.

That, and an enormous door mat are on their way.

@Graphista. Use some of your extra baking soda in a small dish in the fridge, to deodorise it.

For wellies in the car we use IKEA big blue bags, we stuff anything wet after a walk in there really and then it's just one bag to carry into house.

This thread is wonderful.

I have two contributions for now, 1 cheap and 1 expensive but both make my life so much easier

Crates from Argos - use these for everything, but main use is for laundry. They fit under washing machine door and the crate holds a load. Fold flat and store easily

m.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/7657494/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CHome+and+furniture%7C14417894/Trail/searchtext%3ECrate.htm

To add to the Joseph Joseph love, the totem bin. I treated myself for my lockdown 40th 😂 . There are just 2 of us in this house, so our old kitchen bin was too big- by time we filled it, it was grim, so we were emptying half-fills. Plus the floor space saved is a winner in our pokey kitchen. We had normal bin and a recycling box. I got it on sale, not sure I would have paid full price, but I love it.

eu.josephjoseph.com/collections/waste-recycling-bins/products/totem-max-60l-waste-recycling-bins-stone?variant=32586250518588

@Graphista it’s excellent. I don’t have knife sets either.

On the subject of knives, Victorinox do terrific serrated paring knives, super cheap. They don’t need sharpening and they come in a range of brightly coloured handles. They are my most used knives.

www.amazon.co.uk/Victorinox-Pointed-Serrated-Blister-Packed/dp/B0050DIPNQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=victorinox+paring+serrated&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1609418488&sr=8-5

Little things for the kitchen that I've found immensely helpful are magnetic hooks (stuck on the fridge to hang tea towels, apron, oven gloves, etc) and a magnetic pen holder (stuck on the fridge to hold pens, unsurprisingly).

Magnetic hooks: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ant-Mag-Neodymium-Accessories-Refrigerators/dp/B088LYQ1MY/ref=mpssa111sspa??encoding=UTF8&c=ts&dchild=1&keywords=Magnetic+Hooks&qid=1609422355&s=diy&sr=1-1-spons&tsid=1938462031&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFKV01MMk8wUEMxRzYmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA2Mjc0NTQ1VjFRWVhVSTdFOUEmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDMxNDE5OTJBR0RZUFpBVERHTjMmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Pen holder: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnetic-Whiteboards-Refrigerator-Organizer-Anisotropic/dp/B086X23S16/ref=mpssa113?dchild=1&keywords=magnetic+pen+holder&qid=1609422317&sprefix=magnetic+pen&sr=8-3

I am about to sort a set of extra dice for board games. Ours seem to regularly disappear so I'm sure we'll need them.

@QuestionableMouse I may well get these! I prefer glass to plastic as they don't stain and can go in the oven

A shark handheld and vileda spin mop. Expensive but worth it.
Plenty of rubber laundry buckets with handles.
Zippy laundry bags for small items or bras so they don't hook on things
Dishomatic for washing up all day long
Pan rack on wall. Saved so much space
Save margarine tubs for things like keys, batteries, screws, anything small like that. Even use one for garlic on the windowsill currently
Baskets everywhere
Oven liners
Rubber oven edging to stop you burning yourself on the racks
Google screen for showing recipes in kitchen, timers and playing music or podcasts
Robot hoover
Remote holder
Sectioned laundry basket
Extra long phone charger cables
Bed basket (for tablets, books etc)
Hue bulbs
Hooks that go over doors

I really like them. They have smaller sets too which is handy. I usually take one to work and they cope brilliantly with travel - never had one leak!

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01DBQ2SLI?pf_rd_p=6e878984-68d5-4fd2-b7b3-7bc79d9c8b60&pf_rd_r=2CMSCYNGA5Y3346NZ3TY&pd_rd_wg=no8E5&ref_=pd_gw_unk&pd_rd_w=OPsYH&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&pd_rd_r=df917720-932b-450d-a254-786bbf067d5a
Great broom rack

Also YouTube how to fold up plastic bags into little triangles. Game changer

Anyone know of good silicone baking tray liners? Preferably ones I can cut to size and can be put in the dishwasher?

Also can you get a hand held rubber brush? Our cat likes to sleep under the bed!

Yes to both! I’ve just got mine from Amazon just general silicone mats that I chopped to size
My rubber broom has just arrived! Is got adjustable length handle and 2 other hand brushes for stairs etc. One says ideal for pets
I’ll look up my order and post it

I’ve just got back from the Range and there were a good few people wandering up and down the Pyrex aisles!

Managed to track down some storage boxes in our local, "We Sell Shite" shop. Not quite what I wanted but cheap and will do for now. The only lidded ones were a bit bigger and deeper than I wanted, but fine as a stop gap and I'll keep looking for the perfect ones.

Now I feel like I need some strong zip-lock bags and something to organise sewing stuff.

@JumpLeadsForTwo thanks yea I've used veg bags of various kinds before I'd like though something that was like a liner for the veg drawer though? I think that'd be easier?

@sueelleker that's a good idea thank you

@deux I'm possibly looking to move home next year and I'm planning to have the next place much more organised!

@Graphista something like this?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fridge-Kitchen-Drawer-Veggies-Washable/dp/B00ZCS0MAI/ref=ascdff_B00ZCS0MAI/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309839393037&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1208124299340349777&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046455&hvtargid=pla-347218817982&psc=1

Just ordered a canvas bag for all the wrapping paper and ribbons! Hoorah!

I’ve used this company when I was looking for plastic storage boxes with very specific dimensions. I mean, it’s called the Plastic Box Shop. You’re all welcome 😂

www.plasticboxshop.co.uk/

[quote Graphista]@JumpLeadsForTwo thanks yea I've used veg bags of various kinds before I'd like though something that was like a liner for the veg drawer though? I think that'd be easier?

@sueelleker that's a good idea thank you

@deux I'm possibly looking to move home next year and I'm planning to have the next place much more organised!

[/quote]
Lakeland have these.www.lakeland.co.uk/73207/Lakeland-Fruit-and-Vegetable-Cushion

[quote Graphista]@BearandaSpare That's genius!!! I'm sorely tempted! My cutlery drawer needs a proper sort out!

Zip lock food bags which I rarely use for food, mostly for craft storage, medicines etc so handy!

Anyone know of something which would be like a liner for the veg tray in the fridge? Storing in plastic makes them sweat I feel and they last longer if there's something to draw the moisture out of the box, I'm currently managing using regularly changed kitchen roll but it's far from perfect. I'm thinking something canvas/jute or even linen and washable?

My contribution - toastabags - not just for toasties you can make loads of things in them and they're easy to wash Love my loaf tin liner from the same company too so much easier than scrubbing the tin

@Haggertyjane I've had my echo for over a year but feel I'm not using it to full advantage I only really use it as a speaker and for reminders (very handy for this when hands full/wet/dirty and it suddenly occurs to me I want to check on whether I need to add x to shopping list or to order meds or chase up something) I've tried asking it stuff but it either says it doesn't know or gives weird answers! I need to learn how to use it properly! [/quote]
This?

Totally because of posts on this thread I cooked pigs in blankets in my glass dish. I can report back that they were totally fine, didn't stick like the ones I cooked in a metal tray (different shops, wanted to compare] and I think I'll use glass more in future. I didn't get the post about using a lid for cooking chips though.

I just pop a tea towel in the veg drawer then just lob it in the wash as required.

The mats that @SunshineCake linked are very good but they do stain if not washed often enough. They also tear. That said, they last years and they do work, and they stay drier than teatowels. They are also available for much less on Amazon