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

[JumpLeadsForTwo]

[quote inchoccyheaven]@HeronLanyon I bought a silicone washing up thing but sadly not impressed as it's just not tough enough on dried on food. The scourer side of a washing up sponge is much more effective.
I am disappointed as trying to be more eco friendly.[/quote]
@inchoccyheaven
I love my coconut scourer - bought after being v disappointed with the silicone one. Eco friendly, lasts ages and can be composted afterwards. Scrubs v well without scratching. I also have a thin one for glasses

[Bloodybridget]

Ah thanks @invisibleoldwoman!

[TatianaBis]

Amazon only stock Chinese fake Apple leads. Can overheat the device (happened to me).

[speakout]

I do try and avoid amazon so as not to help Jeff Bezos and his sickening wealth

55% of stuff on Amazon is sold by independant sellers.
Like me- I work full time making and selling on Amazon.
I pay tax, it pays my mortgage, I spend my earnings locally too.
It doesn;t all go to Bezos.

[MidnightHangingTree]

Light bulbs for:

Lamps
Normal lights
Kitchen/bathroom lights (in our house these are weird two prong ones)

So much easier to have a stash ready for when one goes rather than then scrabbling around moving bulbs until you can order some.

[TreacleHart]

If you dislike Amazon try Lakeland ( plastics ) instead. Most of the items on your list will be found there. A big plus , is there customer service is excellent .

[giantangryrooster]

@Reluctantsportsmum

I use a fabric table mat under the car bowl and just wash it regularly. I have 4 coz I bought a set

I use plastic table mats for the cats, but guess you can use them for cars too .

For those with leftover fizzy wine, if you want to keep the fizz put a silver teaspoon, handle down in the bottle, it keeps till the next day in the fridge.

[BeBraveAndBeKind]

I've just ordered an under cupboard hanging kitchen roll holder to get it off the work surface.

@BearandaSpare Thank you! I had no idea that those Joseph Joseph cutlery trays existed but I've just looked and they are amazing! I've ordered one and am already looking forward to sorting out the drawer of doom.

[PixellatedPixie]

Even better than the very long phone cables are the little charger battery packs so you can walk around with your phone while it’s charging.

I also recommend keeping spare bin bags in the bottom of the bin under the liner in use as then you don’t have to go searching for a new liner every time you empty the bin.

Also keeping a huge sandwich bag in handbags or backpacks so you can stow away rubbish eg used coffee cup that might mess up your bag when out and about and there is no bin in sight.

[Fluffycloudland77]

www.amazon.co.uk/Restor-18040-Microfiber-Gloves-Pair/dp/B004TX6242/ref=pd_ybh_a_21?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&refRID=TF1SVMAX97EA764NTB4W&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

These microfibre gloves make dusting so much quicker

[iwantmyownicecreamvan]

@VinylDetective

Mat to go under pet bowls

Don’t bother. Ours got completely disgusting and was a lot harder to clean than giving the floor a quick wipe. It went in the bin.

I have a silicone one - goes in the dishwasher.

[Sarcobaleno]

A welly-taker-offer. There's probably an actual name but it's the best thing ever.

[ThumbWitchesAbroad]

Things I have that I really appreciate having:
• A picky-upper thing that older people use - my grandad's one, as it happens (he doesn't need it any more)
• A long bendy tool with a retractable grip at the end - even better than the picky-upper thing, because it can go in small places and retrieve things like screws. Car maintenance people use them. So do I.
• Really fine-nosed tweezers. Mine came from a friend whose GP husband had died, and she was giving some of his stuff away. Bloody useful things to have!

I think that's it for my Really Useful Things To Have list.

[lachy]

@Sarcobaleno

A welly-taker-offer. There's probably an actual name but it's the best thing ever.

Buy a welly taker offer is a much better name

[Cccc1111]

Cable ties. I’ve temporarily fixed/held so many things up with those.

[Blibbyblobby]

Metal packet clips are better than plastic - last much longer. We have these: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0749NZZQH?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Silicone baking liner and baking sheet. We have two and use them for cookies, over chips, roast veg, pretty much everything really. Hardly ever need to faff around with foil, greaseproof paper or manky trays now.
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00JLPURNK?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0000BVFIC?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

A stash of wrapping paper, tags etc

[giantangryrooster]

One of those exfoliating gloves, great for potatoes.

[thinkingaboutLangCleg]

Little mesh bags for keeping small things together in the washing machine, padded ones for fragile items, a stiffened one for bras. I know there are other handy items, but my mind's gone blank for the moment.

I'll sit down later with a cup of tea, read this thread and write a shopping list for myself!

[CardiganBlobby]

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.theunusualgiftcompany.com/spillnot-no-spill-mug-holder/&ved=2ahUKEwjVnoCAwu7tAhV2QEEAHZ9rBjMQFjAFegQIEBAB&usg=AOvVaw19dvY6BKxf6gePrW6zruMx" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.theunusualgiftcompany.com/spillnot-no-spill-mug-holder/&ved=2ahUKEwjVnoCAwu7tAhV2QEEAHZ9rBjMQFjAFegQIEBAB&usg=AOvVaw19dvY6BKxf6gePrW6zruMx

Don't spill a drink again!

[supersop60]

@Lostinacloud

Magnetic wooden toaster tongs so you easily extract hot cross buns and crumpets etc

Yes to this. My DP is forever using a knife to prise out crumpets etc from the toaster.

[ThumbWitchesAbroad]

@Lostinacloud

Magnetic wooden toaster tongs so you easily extract hot cross buns and crumpets etc

Ah yes, these things too!
The magnet means I can hang them on the microwave, so they're always handy for removing the toast from the toaster.

[SunshineCake]

Saving this thread and will add some of my own.

[Oldraver]

I use two of those foldy up basket things in my chest freezer as they stack on one another. It means you can get at stuff really easy, bloody revolutionised the freezer storage

[Tweaker]

This thread is right up my street (tragic ). I'll add:
Strong metal hooks and broom holder with adhesive backing. I stuck three up on the inside of my under the stairs cupboard. Broom, mop, dustpan etc all neatly hanging up.
I also bought a pair of plastic bag holders. No longer a mountain of unruly Tesco bags in the cupboard.

[Harpydragon]

These are fab if you've got anyone who struggles with laces

www.amazon.co.uk/Elastic-Reflective-ElastiShoelaces-Generation-Disabled/dp/B071CYL8KR/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?dchild=1&psc=1&crid=1M960I00Q73GN&keywords=elastic%20laces&sprefix=Elastic%20%2Coutdoor%2C278&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExWlowM0syWTNTVThEJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDExODI4MUFINklCMllXNk1OVSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzc2NDA3Mlk2OElCOEYyUlNCTyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU%3D&qid=1609084897&sr=8-2-spons&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21