If you could share one household tip/life hack, what would it be?

[Dandelion78]

Mine would definitely be that drying clothes in sunlight gets rid of tomato/sauce stains. Am weaning my second child and it's a bloody lifesaver. No more soaking things for hours that still come out with orange marks on them.

What other gems are there that I need to know?

I love most of these! Especially always having eggs in the house, life saver when there is nothing cooked.

Train your kids well and get them involved in all the household chores. You’ll be happy as it frees up time for you and the kids will be happy as they’ll get to be competent and independent adults.

For hair in plug holes you need those bendy long wire things with a little brush on the end. Put it down as far as it will go, wiggle it around in a spiral motion and pull it out. Gross but satisfying but much better and cheaper than pouring acid into the water system.

Oh another one. You can freeze raw eggs and use them defrosted for baking/scrambling etc no problem. Maybe good enough not making meringues but basic stuff is 100% fine. Google for instructions for how to freeze (no shell!)

Aside from dishes, cooking and laundry, no one needs to spend more than 3 hours per week cleaning. Don't clean things that are already clean (as per Mrs Hinch and co).

Marry a tradesman

@MrsBobDylan

Don't have dogs, especially don't have three dogs. Or children. Or live with a partner.

This this and this some more

Don't spend a fortune on cleaning products for a textured wet room floor. Nothing bloody works

Have a small house and declutter the living daylights out of it.

@Muminabun

Marry a tradesman

Haha this made me smile! I married a programmer 🤷‍♀️

Give ur children a wash basket each and clean with noone elses wash in it - no sorting who’s socks or clothes are who’s.

I clean the bathroom with a dishmatic thingy, filled with detergent

Remember that the amazing thing about dishes is that if you don’t do them straight away, they’ll still be there when you come back later.

It’s all you need to know about the Hummus household .

When getting name tapes for clothing have them like this:

S. Smith. J.

Then for Sam's clothes fold under the J and for Jimmy's fold under the S.

@Muminabun Good tip! I didn't marry a tradesman but did get a very competent DIY'er. It has been so useful so many times instead of having to call someone in for a little job.

Store whole bedding sets together in a pillowcase. Fold it all - duvet cover, sheet, pillowcases, pop them inside the other pillow case. Then you don't have to dig them out and get confused about sheet sizes.

If you've got small children, make the bed up twice - do a waterproof sheet, then a regular sheet, then a waterproof sheet, then a sheet on top. If anyone is sick or wees the bed, it makes changing it much easier - whip the top too layers off before anyone wakes up too much.

If you are not good at household paperwork, get a box by the front door. Put everything you need to keep in that box as it comes in. At the end of the year, tie it up in string and put it away. If you need something relating to that year, it will be in there. After six years, shred it all and bring the box back into circulation.

@Sarahlou63

Never go anywhere in the house empty-handed.

Yeah great idea this is! I'm wandered about the house like a bloody pack mule while members of the family keep attaching things - I'm a human Buckaroo...

I always prep veg, salad and my breakfasts (fruit and yoghurt) all in Tupperware tubs and stack them by day in the fridge 🙈 means less mess everyday. I don't cook veg just prep it. I lay out the breakfast stuff the night before too. I even get the cup out with tea bag in it ready for the morning 🤣 always have a spray vanish and a bottle of elbow grease. Always gets rid of stains.

@Sarahlou63

Never go anywhere in the house empty-handed.

Definitely this. My DH just cannot do it. He'll run upstairs past something that's waiting to be taken up, drives me crazy.

@Chicchicchicchiclana

Aside from dishes, cooking and laundry, no one needs to spend more than 3 hours per week cleaning. Don't clean things that are already clean (as per Mrs Hinch and co).

I absolutely agree! There is far too much obsession with cleaning for hours every day. It’s not environmentally friendly, and it’s not needed. Same with too much showering/ hair washing/ clothes washing (I read people putting clean pyjamas every night with 7 kids, so 9 pairs a night!) Not needed, and life is too short!

I have a plastic boxes in the fridge.
All ingredients needed for tea, mon/fri go in the boxes on the day the shopping arrives.
Saves messing about on a busy week night.

Set breakfast things out before bed .

Basket on the stairs for anything needed to go up and take it up and empty regular

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles at human buckaroo.

Never go to bed with an untidy lounge, it takes only 5 mins to tidy the cushions, throws, clear the coffee table, it makes mornings so much nicer.

I too am a human Buckaroo
Also still waiting for my brain to take on board tips. I read and think I'll do it. But then don't
2p coin worked on tap but took off all the silver coating on my new bathroom aink's overflow

Store whole bedding sets together in a pillowcase.

I taught my mum this, from MN.

Don't get a cat. Your furniture will last longer.