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?

@whenwillthemadnessend back on page 18 if you're not using the app. I tried to post them again for you but its not letting me sorry.

Freeze everything. Everything. I now freeze:
eggs (scramble up and freeze separately then put all together in a freezer bag)
pesto ( in ice cube trays)
cream (in ice cube trays)
passata and tomato puree (in ice cube trays)
most veg, especially mushrooms, onions, carrots
most fruit
ham and other sandwich meats

All the above are things that in the past I'd sometimes struggle to use up and would end up chucking half of. Not any more.

@SchadenfreudePersonified thank you. I was rather proud of myself 😂

@BalloonSlayer

These threads always make me smile. I always want to add:

• save time in the evening by not making your DCs' packed lunches till the morning. They'll taste better too.

• Save time showering by not cleaning the bloody bath while you're in there.

• declutter and tidy your hall by not leaving a box full of paperwork right by the front door for a whole year

• save time unpacking your shopping by not sorting every item into boxes in the fridge and just bunging it all in anyhow

🤣🤣🤣🤣

If you MUST have a dog - don't get a spaniel.

They are the dustiest dogs I've ever had - and I've had a lot of dogs (never less than 3, sometimes as many as 6).

There is something about spaniel fur that sucks up sand, mud, dust, burrs, twigs and teasels, and then deposits it all over the house as soon as you get them indoors. I've NEVER had such a dusty home as I have now since I got these three buggers! Other spaniel owners confirm this.

And if you get a boy dog, and he isn't neutered, keep him away from Lady Dogs In An Interesting Condition.

He will leak willie-juice for days . . .

Fold the duvet up and put it inside the pillowcase that it belongs with. You'll always have a match. It is also easier to keep tidy in the cupboard. Changed. My. Life.

If weighing any kind of messy ingredient, instead of kacking up your scales, put the entire container on them, weight it and remove ingredient until it's down by the required amount

Napisan.

@MrsBobDylan

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

I’d second this...

@redcandlelight

ironing is overated.

Totally this. My parents used to iron everything to within an inch of its life, even down to knickers, socks and handkerchiefs... ugh, life is wayy too short. Maybe fabrics didn't used to be so easy-care as they are now, I can't really remember, but I hardly ever iron anything. Just the odd garment that really doesn't look right worn unironed.

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion thank you! The method all purpose cleaner solved my weirdly sticky kitchen work surfaces which proved resistant to all other cleaners - couldn't find tangerine but worked a treat in peach

Clean gunk off irons by heating them then rubbing with paracetamol tablet - works like a charm!

What paint did you use 🤔 sounds nice

@EssentialHummus

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 .

This

White vinegar kills weeds! All these years of avoiding weed killer due to DC and the cat so getting fed up of weeds everywhere, all the time and hard work to keep on top of them and vinegar sprayed on them does it!!

ikeepseeingit & Ddot Thanks for the tips! Bleach on toilet roll I can try tonight and if it doesn't work by tomorrow I'll order the amazon grout pen.

@SilverFish78

Does it kill nettles? Cos that would be brilliant, if so. I've got loads of the buggers.

Never buy a casserole dish that doesn’t have heatproof handles/knob. Looking at you Lakeland.

A balled up piece of cheap white bread rubbed gently on wallpaper will remove some marks.

When you finish a box of cereal don't throw the bag away, wash it out and use it for freezing sliced home made bread, scones or cakes. Grate large quantities of cheese in the food processor and freeze in boxes. Useful for cheese sauces, cheese on toast etc.

Set up a really good filing system for everything, saves so much time and a nice feeling you can find it when needed.

Marry a tradesman

I often rue the day I married a pen pusher and didn't find myself a nice builder.

Buying meat reduced and then cooking it .Buy big joints and then cut them

@Muminabun

Marry a tradesman

Thank you!

So many useful tips, but this is a depressing thread.... can you imagine men having a thread like this??? They would be baffled and have just one hack: get a woman to move in!

@Changingwiththetimes

90% of being an adult is putting things away.

The other 10% is standing in front of a cupboard or fridge trying to remember what you were just about to take out.

A kettle of boiling water around toilet bowl after DC has had a dump. Instantly cleans!