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

[MustDust]

Vacuum bags to create space in the airing cupboard?

[SmudgeButt]

Greaseproof paper.

I use this on baking trays to make washing up avoidable easier.

I also love my honking big weber propane bbq. The vast majority of mucky stuff you cook in the oven can be cooked on it and there is NO washing up, just give it a good burn through after. OH did the Christmas day beef roast on it - blinking marvellous!

[xxmassy]

@PoisoningPigeons

I bought a long-necked USB electronic lighter for lighting my candles and tea lights while they're in the hurricane lamps/jars. It is absolutely, life-changingly brilliant (and when outdoors, doesn't get blown out by the breeze unlike matches).

I have one too - equally life changing!

[Whatisapension]

I have a load of wire or plastic baskets to store little open packets that don’t stay upright/neat, or that are too small so would get lost if loose in cabinets or drawers.

Open packets of peanuts or other small snacks. Open packets of rice, pasta etc. That way the kitchen doesn’t get covered in rice as I can just pull the basket out without tipping everything over.

Also use them for bobbles, hair grips, plasters, small cleaning items.

I have a big plastic box for all of the unstackables in the kitchen (tupperware, graters, bowl lunch boxes, funnels etc). No more unwanted jenga, much easier to slide a box out and rummage through.

[TeaSoakedDisasterMagnet]

We have a 40 pack of wooden pegs instead of kitchen clips.

[Downunderduchess]

Spare light bulbs.

[81Byerley]

@Dollywilde

We’re good for scissors but you’re absolutely right *@Rainallnight*, I need one of those foldy boxes for taking laundry downstairs from the hamper - the one I’ve got is missing a side so I trail socks behind me when I’m bringing clothes down thank you!

Damn it, I suspect this is going to become one of those shopping lists that only has items of £5 or less on it but inexplicably hits 3 figures. Maybe I should cut my losses and go to Ikea

I bought net laundry bags to go inside the laundry basket. We have four, because I'm fussy about sorting colours, (I don't want to wash light bright things with more sludgy colours) so when we put dirty washing in, we just put it in the correct colour bag. When a bag is full I just carry it down, and put the bag in the machine as well.

[ladygracie]

I have this to remove pet hair. It’s brilliant. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PP63XH8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_OBj6FbPJ74Z95?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[maddiemookins16mum]

A spaghetti measurer.

[81Byerley]

And I've got those kitchen clips, but clothes pegs work better!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I have most of these things ( for I jave lived a long life and gained wisdom along the way )

I do have a lighter ( can't do matches because I'm superstitious with lighting 3 ) but I have cats ...so no candles except the LED flickering ones


Laundry bags -
I put DD underwear ( very ££) in one , my underwired bras in a heavy duty padded one (life is too short to handwash bras)
Each persons socks in their own bag .
And jumpers so they don't end up stretched to billy-oh and tangled .
My machine can turn clothes outside-in ! In the wash .

I found a plastic spiral whisk after years of searching ..so I bought 2 .
Multiples of spatulas , knives

Rubber brushes are brilliant on hair ( cat or human) I have a JML long brush and a Lakeland Brush Buddy

Plastic basket in the upstairs hall for recycling bedroom/bathroom (otherwise no one will bother walking to the recycle bin with it)

4 laundry baskets (white/light colour/dark colour/black)
Those peg hanging thingies for small items


I am looking for white lidded serving bowls - ok for microwave but not just clear pyrex.

[HeronLanyon]

I’m currently really quite excited about silicone kitchen sponges - bacteria free etc. Love this thread as I didn’t just want to get those.
Btw can I say I finally bought a three meter iPhone cable and it has absolutely revolutionised my life.

[perditaplum]

Has anybody seen a device which has an extremely strong magnetic field which grabs teenagers and doesn't let them go until they have collected up the plates etc from their room, brought them downstairs and washed them? That would change my life and theirs

[Tangledtresses]

@perditaplum

Has anybody seen a device which has an extremely strong magnetic field which grabs teenagers and doesn't let them go until they have collected up the plates etc from their room, brought them downstairs and washed them? That would change my life and theirs

😂😂😂 although when they do bring it all down, I'm so happy to see long forgotten plates and glasses

[FleetwoodRaincoat]

Not very little, but I have one of these for dirty washing. One for darks, one for lights and one for whites. Makes life so much easier.

[3rdNamechange]

These , don't need cling film.

[Akire]

I was going say wooden or plastic clothes pegs work just as wel can go in freezer and much cheaper.

Little sticks hooks that don’t leave a mark for keys near the door.

Ditto hair brush by the mirror and one under sink for dust pan and brush.

Sharpie pen for labelling kids stuff, when you open jars and bottles that need using in 4 weeks and stuff going in the freezer.

[Didthatreallyhappen2]

Have a look at the Lakeland catalogue. How I lived without some of their gadgets I'll never know .... but you might spend a lot more than you intend to!

[Honeyroar]

@70isaLimitNotaTarget why can’t you have candles with your cats?

[Fedup21]

I like the look of those usb candle lighters! How often do you need to charge them? Is it like a rechargeable screwdriver which seemingly never has any charge when I need to use it?!

[Meruem]

I second transparent fridge storage boxes. Absolute game changer.

I’ve also sorted my food cupboard with plastic baskets. I have some high cupboards that I can just about reach and it’s so much easier to pull out the necessary basket instead of having to stand on a chair and root around.

Next I’m going to be working on drawer dividers and I want one of those rubber brooms for the stairs.

[HermosaMain]

Thank you for this thread. I've finally managed to remember we need more scissors

[pictish]

Can’t speak for the other poster but candles are tricky with our cats as they have a habit of walking into and brushing past them. They get burned.

[RupertRupertTheBear]

Is there such a thing as a pet food tray or mat which has upright sides to stop the pet food going on the skirting board?

[Washinglinewench29]

Apple corer