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

[Bookbooks]

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.

Proper coffee machine. We've had it for several years, came into it's own during lockdowns and now that we WFH. Having a lovely coffee just the way I like it every morning lifts me every day.

A spoon plate.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09JK19Z64/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

@Arewehumanorarewecupboards I should mention it is washable and it can be used overnight on a bed but only on the low setting.

Heated dryer
Cordless vacuum
Dedicated desk for laptop where I keep paperwork and invoices I need to do each month
Converted understairs cupboard into a walk in pantry
Washable wipes

I use a local service wash for all bedding, towels and everything non-delicate. Bag it up and drop it off. Comes back next day clean and folded. Game changer.

Alexa, I wasn't sure I'd be a fan but I use it a lot! For timing in the kitchen, reminders, radio.

Ninja 15 in 1 I think I use it most days a week. I love being able to walk away from it. Vast majority of recipes can be adapted for it

Dyson cordless I would never go corded again - although I might look into one of the robot ones after all this talk.

If I can find the right ones I think vacuum seal bags will be great for swapping winter/ summer wardrobe.

Can it move around kitchen table/ chairs? Also we still have 1 saddle board would it make it over?

I would love one. I hoover most days and now DS is crawling sometimes a few times a day. My dog sheds a LOT

Having a cleaner.

@Lottsbiffandsmudge ·
Understairs fitted drawers

Damn ! I want these :)

Boiling water tap.

Oh yes, my Scandi sherpa fleece electric blanket. Absolute game changer.

Buying frozen pre-chopped veg. No more crying cutting onions or faffing around slicing peppers or crushing garlic.

We have a Roomba and it cleans around and under the kitchen chairs, I move them away from the table so it can clean around all 4 legs without getting stuck.

We don't have a saddle board so can't help with that unfortunately.

A gorgeous bedspread to go on top of the duvet. Makes the room look lovely and is incredibly cosy. Haven't even used the electric blanket all winter. Plus the extra weight means that other person turning over doesn't pull the duvet off you.

Marine grade stainless steel multi peg hanger for socks and underwear. It has lasted years...the plastic ones would just snap
Whetstone for sharpening knives. A steel just hones or straightens the blade, the stone actually sharpens. Makes chopping a cinch
Trolley bags for Aldi. The ones with the rods to hang on the trolley to put stuff into. Amazingly easy to pack the bags in some sort of sense no matter how fast they go
Decent shoes. I am a size 43. Acknowledging that and getting the right size shoes in good quality makes my day. I don't have a big collection but they are all fitting correctly
A well seasoned frying pan
Cordless vac

The one thing that really changed my home life was getting rid of my partner staying single and having no children .

A second clothes airer. Sad I know. But we don't have a tumble drier and with two small children drying clothes in winter was a nightmare and I was always slowed down on the laundry by the previous load still being wet. Don't know why it didn't occur to me to by a second airer until about a month ago 🙄

A Joseph Joseph recycling unit. Transformed the tidiness of the kitchen.

This is genius....!

Cheap socktopus style hanger from wilko to dry underwear inside or out, plus so easy to bring it all in when it inevitably rains.

Heated airer plus dehumidifier. Dries clothes quickly without the damage of a tumble dryer, and the cat loves to sleep under it. The dehumidifier means the house doesn't get damp and makes it easier to heat. The air just feels better when it's on in winter even if we aren't drying clothes.

Having an easily accessible place for everything to live (and doing a big declutter). Still a work in progress mid house renovation, but the storage I planned out for the bits we've done makes life so much simpler. Can't wait until it's all done.

Recently got a eufy robovac for upstairs and he's amazing. Will be getting one for downstairs when renovations are done.

Automatic washing machine.

Cordless upright hoover. Hoovering has gone from my most hated/ignored chore to my favourite and I now enjoy doing it daily

Which one did you go for?

hmm, several for household things. Choose from:

dishwasher. I know most people have them now, but I do still visit friends without and it reminds me how glad I am to have it.

long wooden pole: hangs up high horizontally in our utility room. All tops/dresses /trousers etc go on it on hangers. It can take at least 3 loads of washing. Don't need to use expensive tumble dryer and doesn't need folding, so much easier than hanging outside. Combine it with extractor fan or dehumidifyer to make it work fast enough

storage: doesn't matter what or where, just enough so that everything can easily be put away because there is enough space and it has a place. No room for more storgae? Time to get rid of stuff then.