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Original poster

Genius shortcuts

24 replies

Ilovecleaning · 14/04/2023 08:45

Maybe not genius but could be helpful 😊. Just been reading Laziest Things You Have Ever Heard’ Very funny. But some are clever shortcuts. This thread won’t be as funny… 😆 … but handy. Here are some for starters:

Buy cheap paintbrushes for DIY then throw away when finished. Avoids a shed full of stiff old brushes or brushes forever soaking in turps.
I only have white bedding on my bed. I never have to think of matching bedding, I buy in sales and it always matching. Plain, striped, embroidered, it always looks ok. I know some people would hate all white bedding.
take old stuff on holiday and ditch it before coming home (knickers past their best, dressing gown, slippers, sandals.
when self catering in the UK take raggy old tea towels, cloths, ketchup, jams, cereals, shampoo - anything - that only have a few days left in them, use up and dispose of the bottles before packing.
don’t peel potatoes. Almost never necessary. Even unpeeled potatoes make great mash.

I can think of a lot but this is a start. I am sure lots of people have more and better ideas 😊

OP posts:

Valid8me · 14/04/2023 09:45

Apart from maybe the mashed potatoes, they aren't really shortcuts though, are they?

Buy cheap paintbrushes for DIY then throw away when finished. Avoids a shed full of stiff old brushes or brushes forever soaking in turps. And end up with a terrible paint finish with random broken bristles stuck to your woodwork/walls.
take old stuff on holiday and ditch it before coming home (knickers past their best, dressing gown, slippers, sandals. What about that makes it a shortcut? You still have to pack it in the first place. I also like nice clothes on holiday not holey knickers, stinky slippers and worn out sandals (and who takes a dressing gown on holiday anyway?)
when self catering in the UK take raggy old tea towels, cloths, ketchup, jams, cereals, shampoo - anything - that only have a few days left in them, use up and dispose of the bottles before packing. Same as above really.

hotdiggetydog · 14/04/2023 09:49

Can I just thank you from the bottom of my heart for not referring to these as "life hacks"

ShirleyPhallus · 14/04/2023 10:13

Who wants to take all their skanky old clothes on holiday just to avoid a few kgs of suitcase weight on the way home?!

i dont think that buy something just to throw it away (paintbrushes) counts as a shortcut really

What I would add is to buy frozen garlic, ginger etc so you don’t have to chop it yourself

AndyandTeddyarewavinggoodbye · 14/04/2023 10:19

hotdiggetydog · 14/04/2023 09:49

Can I just thank you from the bottom of my heart for not referring to these as "life hacks"

Came on to say exactly the same.

see also "side hustle"

Straightomyhead · 14/04/2023 10:21

I really don't understand taking the old clothes on holiday and binning them. I like to look good on holiday and feel comfortable.

And even with kids clothes surely if they are just to small they could be donated to a charity shop and not put in the bin.

Upwardtrajectory · 14/04/2023 10:25

I’m struggling to see taking old past-it clothes on a little holiday before binning them as a short-cut. Just binning them would be quicker, surely?
I take the point about the food though.

stbrandonsboat · 14/04/2023 11:37

The paintbrush thing doesn't work. I tried it and ended up with bristles all down the wall. I had only been painting 20 minutes 🙄

Original poster

Ilovecleaning · 14/04/2023 13:42

Straightomyhead · 14/04/2023 10:21

I really don't understand taking the old clothes on holiday and binning them. I like to look good on holiday and feel comfortable.

And even with kids clothes surely if they are just to small they could be donated to a charity shop and not put in the bin.

Not going out clothes 😊 and only a few items like dressing gown and slippers. I’m not going to restaurants at night in scruffy old stuff🤣🤣🤣

OP posts:

Original poster

Ilovecleaning · 14/04/2023 13:44

Upwardtrajectory · 14/04/2023 10:25

I’m struggling to see taking old past-it clothes on a little holiday before binning them as a short-cut. Just binning them would be quicker, surely?
I take the point about the food though.

The shortcut is you don’t have to pack them for the home journey and you give yourself a bit of room for buying new stuff.

OP posts:

Original poster

Ilovecleaning · 14/04/2023 13:46

Valid8me · 14/04/2023 09:45

Apart from maybe the mashed potatoes, they aren't really shortcuts though, are they?

Buy cheap paintbrushes for DIY then throw away when finished. Avoids a shed full of stiff old brushes or brushes forever soaking in turps. And end up with a terrible paint finish with random broken bristles stuck to your woodwork/walls.
take old stuff on holiday and ditch it before coming home (knickers past their best, dressing gown, slippers, sandals. What about that makes it a shortcut? You still have to pack it in the first place. I also like nice clothes on holiday not holey knickers, stinky slippers and worn out sandals (and who takes a dressing gown on holiday anyway?)
when self catering in the UK take raggy old tea towels, cloths, ketchup, jams, cereals, shampoo - anything - that only have a few days left in them, use up and dispose of the bottles before packing. Same as above really.

Ok, ‘good ideas’ as well as shortcuts. Cut me a bit of slack! 🤣🤣🤣

OP posts:

Original poster

Ilovecleaning · 14/04/2023 13:48

Straightomyhead · 14/04/2023 10:21

I really don't understand taking the old clothes on holiday and binning them. I like to look good on holiday and feel comfortable.

And even with kids clothes surely if they are just to small they could be donated to a charity shop and not put in the bin.

No kids now. And I wouldn’t do it with kids clothes. Very wasteful as kid’s clothes are rarely worn out and I would always pass them on.

OP posts:

Original poster

Ilovecleaning · 14/04/2023 13:53

Update, folks. For fuck’s sake! I was asking people to add their own ideas or shortcuts, not to accuse me of wearing stinky old clothes on holiday which is so NOT what I said.
Who the actual hell would pack shitty old stuff to wear the whole holiday then bin it all at the end???
🤪

OP posts:

Amdone123 · 14/04/2023 13:57

@Ilovecleaning , 🤣, hey, I like your shortcuts ! I do that with the holiday clothes. I take clothes that are still in good nick but I know I'll not want for future holidays. And, yes, I buy new when I'm away. Great fun.
I like the white bedding idea - I'm going to that.

Original poster

Ilovecleaning · 14/04/2023 13:59

hotdiggetydog · 14/04/2023 09:49

Can I just thank you from the bottom of my heart for not referring to these as "life hacks"

You’re welcome ☺️. At least you haven’t started pulling me apart for wearing smelly, holey clothes 24/7 on holiday 😀.

OP posts:

Original poster

Ilovecleaning · 14/04/2023 14:04

Amdone123 · 14/04/2023 13:57

Thank you Amdone123. I love you 🥰😁. You have explained the clothes idea better than I did. I’m actually laughing at some silly sods on here.

OP posts:

Amdone123 · 14/04/2023 14:08

@Ilovecleaning , 🤣🤣🤣, sometimes that's all you can do !!

Puffthemagiclizard · 14/04/2023 15:18

When dc want new socks I buy packets the same. So if its a pack of 5 woth different motifs or colours or whatever you should always be able to find a pair as there are soooo many of the buggers.

Buy about 20 pairs of the white girls school socks to last a few years. Then you're not introducing different patterns that need matching.

Buy cheap multipacks of toothbrushes in the pound shop. Good for cleaning dog shot off the kids shoes and can be binned.

All footwear related I realise, but genuine time savers.

Original poster

Ilovecleaning · 14/04/2023 20:57

Puffthemagiclizard · 14/04/2023 15:18

When dc want new socks I buy packets the same. So if its a pack of 5 woth different motifs or colours or whatever you should always be able to find a pair as there are soooo many of the buggers.

Buy about 20 pairs of the white girls school socks to last a few years. Then you're not introducing different patterns that need matching.

Buy cheap multipacks of toothbrushes in the pound shop. Good for cleaning dog shot off the kids shoes and can be binned.

All footwear related I realise, but genuine time savers.

👍😍

OP posts:

PrincessHoneysuckle · 14/04/2023 21:06

Take dental floss on holiday and it can double up as a makeshift washing line

Original poster

Ilovecleaning · 15/04/2023 07:25

PrincessHoneysuckle · 14/04/2023 21:06

Take dental floss on holiday and it can double up as a makeshift washing line

🤣

OP posts:

Pyri · 15/04/2023 07:39

Ilovecleaning · 14/04/2023 14:04

Thank you Amdone123. I love you 🥰😁. You have explained the clothes idea better than I did. I’m actually laughing at some silly sods on here.

Show quote history

Rude

Simonjt · 15/04/2023 07:41

I don’t see how purposely buying things to throw them away after one use is a shortcut, surely it justs shows a lack of awareness of natural resources?

ssd · 15/04/2023 07:53

Great thread and tips here!!

pickledandpuzzled · 15/04/2023 07:54

Old clothes on holiday is genius- I used to do it. It saves coming home with suitcases full of dirty washing.

4 kids meant that there were socks and pants galore that were at end of life, ready for a holiday.

Similar- take old jeans and trousers camping. If it's hot, cut the legs off for shorts.

Crocks function as wellies. You can wade through puddles in crocs, shower in crocs.

I used to camp with 4 kids which meant the car was full to the brim and then a bit more. Taking two pairs of trousers per child that could be turned into shorts if necessary, plus t shirts and underwear that could be binned at the end, was massively useful.

On a different note, take a thin sarong to use as a shawl on hot holidays. It can cover up your arms if you need to be modest in a cathedral or stop sunburn, keep you warm if it gets chilly, and if you dip it in water and wear it wet round your neck, it stops you getting sunstroke.

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