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Original poster

What is ONE item that changed dramatically and surprisingly your home life for the better

288 replies

Bookbooks · 17/04/2023 06:18

Looking for inspiration to start the process of tidying up (all aspects of) my life.
I already posted another thread related to this.
As an individual, I am very organised and perfectionist. I love order, cleanliness and tidiness. BUT, my house/ life rarely looks the part. I want to sort out my life once and for all so that it is always either spick and span or easily back on track.

On this thread I'd like to ask you what is ONE item (big or small/ expensive or cheap) that, when you acquired, changed your home life for the better so dramatically and surprisingly that you honestly wonder how you were able to cope before it graced your life.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
SpringOn · 17/04/2023 06:19

Robot hoover.

Namechange224422 · 17/04/2023 06:22

She’s not an item obviously, but having a competent, trustworthy, proactive cleaner makes my life a million times easier.

I would manage without an awful lot of things before I gave up having her come weekly.

Theos · 17/04/2023 06:23

A cleaner

HerkyBaby · 17/04/2023 06:27

My lovely cleaner who has transformed my house and life. I pay her a month in advance and over what she asks for as I seriously can not face trying to manage this house again without her.

MrsHsGirl · 17/04/2023 06:32

Not to do with cleaning the house but - my air fryer. It has completely changed my eating habits and got me cooking every night again instead of relying on takeaways or frozen crap - so it has cleaned up my eating habits, if not my house!

Paq · 17/04/2023 06:36

Robot vacuum.

sunlovingcriminal · 17/04/2023 06:42

Heated airer

Original poster
Bookbooks · 17/04/2023 06:45

Hi everyone and thank you for your posts! Just to clarify: I am asking for an item related to any aspect of life not just cleanliness which is vital but not the only aspect.
I agree with Airfryer. Love mine.
Robot cleaner too but I have no carpets.
A cleaner must be a great help but I wouldn't want one as I'd be cleaning everything before she comes as I'd be too embarrassed to let anyone outside of my family see any mess/ dirt. Weird I know.

OP posts:
SootspriteSearcher · 17/04/2023 06:50

A few things...

handheld Dyson, makes hoovering so much quicker and I do it every day.

Spray mop - quicker to mop and dries fast.

Slow cooker. Perfect for my working days as dinner is ready when I get home!

Rice cooker - I cannot cook rice in the hob but this I chuck it in and it does it itself. Saved me a fortune in microwave/boil in the bag rice!

Dehumidifier- washing dries quicker indoors so hanging around less time.

My chores list on the whiteboard with meals available to cook and shopping list. Plus my family calendar, with an extra column for the meal plan. Helps me focus and not have so much in my brain.

The springy shelf thing for the corner of the bath. Everyone has a shelf each, the bath is so much tidier and easier to clean rather than moving loads of bottles. Plus individual plastic storage boxes under the sink for extras/bath bombs/sanitary products.

Paq · 17/04/2023 06:55

After re-reading your first post is say "a changed mindset". If you live with other people, especially children, a perfectionist will constantly be disappointed with the state of their house and life.

As long as your house is mostly clean most of the time, and you have enough good food to eat then relax!

hippygirllucky · 17/04/2023 07:00

I stopped trying to separate socks for everyone in my house (we all wear roughly the same size sock), got rid of them all and bought 20 pairs of plain black socks. They all get washed and live in a big fabric clothes storage bucket in a wardrobe. No more trying to match socks, no more losing one in the washing. Everyone just grabs two black socks from the bucket. Seems simple, but soooo effective and saved so much time.

cptartapp · 17/04/2023 07:02

An air fryer

squashyhat · 17/04/2023 07:04

Not cheap but new windows. I loved the original single-glazed rattly wooden sash windows but the new lookalike triple-glazed ones have transformed my house in winter.

Beaniesmumsie · 17/04/2023 07:04

Spray mop is amazing

Sausagerolex · 17/04/2023 07:05

Using a meal service eg Green chef, mindful chef, Gousto etc.

I swop between them regularly but they have given me so much time back and have got everyone else in the house cooking a bit too when it was always such a bind for me to plan, shop and churn out evening meals.

Twilightstarbright · 17/04/2023 07:05

A peloton- makes working out easy so I actually do it! Huge choice of instructors and music plus strength classes, yoga, Pilates, barre.

slow cooker and air fryer.

Proper storage to put things away into.

RampantIvy · 17/04/2023 07:08

A cordless lawn mower. No constantly flicking the cable out of the way. I can do my lawn in about 20 minutes (small garden).

Simonjt · 17/04/2023 07:08

A husband, getting one cut my work load in half and slashed my bills in half too.

Robot hoover.

TheProvincialLady · 17/04/2023 07:09

The Green Roasting Tin recipe book has been a game changer for us - lots of super easy, very low effort, delicious meals.

Puffthemagiclizard · 17/04/2023 07:10

Dehumidifier, it makes drying laundry so, so quick and easy. I'd never be without one now.

Shittenshite · 17/04/2023 07:12

Recently we got a large Kallax unit from IKEA (4x4 cubes so 16 in total) and customised it with their range of inserts. We have two fabric drawers, two glass shelves with glass doors to make two of the cubes into display cabinets for ornaments, two shelves to split two of the cubes into two to maximise storage and got two sets of magazine files as well. The remaining cubes are 'free'.

It stands behind one of the sofas against a wall and we've put stuff like box files and books that we don't need regular access to at the bottom (hidden by the sofa).

Towards the top are the fabric drawers (floral to give a softer look), two glass cabinets and two shelves, all symmetrical. I've put an unlit candle, vase of very real looking artifical flowers and my favourite ornament on the top so that it looks homely and not just a dumping ground.

It houses an incredible amount of STUFF which is tidied away there when it has no other obvious home. Important paperwork which needs dealing with goes on one of the shelves so it's easy to find.

I really do love it very much. I'll try and post a pic later. It has given us loads of storage yet doesn't take up much room in our living room so there's still plenty of floor space for our two young children to play.

In total the unit and all the inserts and accessories cost slightly over £300.

AgnesNaismith · 17/04/2023 07:13

Peloton, slow cooker (use outside for cooking curries), the dog, side of fridge whiteboard calendars - weekly and monthly.

SnarkyBag · 17/04/2023 07:14

Gousto food deliveries complete an utter game changer for me.

slamfightbrightlight · 17/04/2023 07:16

https://boxcleverpress.com/products/magnetic-menu-planner-and-shopping-list

yes, I could just write a list. But with this it lives on the fridge and everyone adds to it in the week when things run out, and I can meal plan super easy and everyone knows what we’re having so they can make a start on dinner without waiting to be told

Magnetic Menu Planner and Shopping List

Save time, effort and money! Make great meals on a budget and cut food waste by planning your weekly menu in advance.

https://boxcleverpress.com/products/magnetic-menu-planner-and-shopping-list

PermanentTemporary · 17/04/2023 07:18

This is in the past as mine eventually broke but I do plan to replace it - yogurt maker. A litre of natural live yogurt for the cost of a litre of UHT milk. Yes you can get cheaper yogurt but if you tend to get distracted by fancy yogurts then it's worth it many times over.