Unexpected life hacks you stumbled across

[Janboree]

I’ve just discovered that my body mist cleans my spectacles brilliantly. As good as my opticians cleaning spray and a lot cheaper. Added bonus it makes my glasses smell nice too and I didn’t like the smell of the glasses spray. I only used it as it was to hand and my other spray had run out.
Have other mumsnetters stumbled across any life hacks unexpectedly?

Cutting onions - place a very wet paper towel next to them. Stops the stinging.

My friend told me this about four years ago and I always cook it whole but I now take the outside skin of first which I didn't before which cuts the cooking time down a bit.

Frozen onions are an absolute boon. Also frozen onions, carrot and celery, variously called soffritto or chefs base . You can have a Bolognese or whatever on in no time.

If you don't have your heating on in the morning (I don't) and it's pretty cold when you get up, blast down the leg of jeans/trousers with a hairdryer, it warms the material and makes it easier to get them on, jeans in particular as they often feel clammy when cold.

I also do this for socks and t-shirt style tops, just blast the hot air and it makes them easier to get on and feels lovely and warm.

It only needs about a minute or so for each item.

Best tip ever

Offspring used an entire roll for their toilet?

A solitary dishwasher tablet plus kettle of boiling water will clear it within an hour.

I saw someone else said washing up liquid and I’m sure washing powder would achieve the same. Anything designed to break down biological waste would do it.

I came on here to say just this. Hero product is so hyperbolic, and the beauty industry is the biggest sinner here. It's not a hero, it's a jar of face cream. Get over it

This works for removing plasters too and was a lifesaver when my son was small as he has sensory processing disorder and would get very distressed. Warm them slightly and they just slide off with no skin pull. See also, stickers on shoe soles.

Just googled this and you can get it in Asda as well as from Amazon.

That's right. Just use cool water rather than hot water to ensure any coatings on glaases stay intact (i used to work on opticians)

When you can't get any more out of a tube (Flexitol heel balm, decent hand cream, I am looking at you) cut the tube in half horizontally. You can scoop more cream out from each half, using your finger, and the top will fit over the bottom to prevent it drying out. It can stand on its lid.

A couple of tablespoons of bleach in your powder drum of the washing machine. Put it in after the powder as has been taken.

Another jar opening hack ; bash the side of the lid on a counter top. Jar lids are hard to open because of a vacuum, not usually because of top being screwed on too tightly. Knocking the side of the lid disrupts the vacuum, you can tell if it has worked if the lid can be pressed in.

I’m thinking bashing the jar would work well and you can just scrape all the stuff off the floor and put it in a dish. 😀

I do this with anything in a tube and find it very satisfying.

Thanks!

yes to frozen especially onion and garlic but also make it yourself (when time permits). I buy a pack of chillie, chop them all up and put them in freezer bags.

@breezyyy

LoL It doesn't take much of a bash, more like a firm knock. I've never broken a jar yet, it does work though.

Yes!
I also remember ‘Top Tips’ in various women’s magazines that Viz so cleverly parodied.

lol, I know. It was the word bash that made me smile.

Clean stainless steel with olive oil it comes up lovely put olive oil on some kitchen towel wipe all over the stainless steel then wipe off with a soft cloth I use it on my cooker splashback it gets rid of all the marks and comes up really shiny

@breezyyy

😄

Great idea re chillies, but one of the reasons I fo for ready chopped onions and soffritto is I'm terrible at chopping because I have limited range of motion on both hands so I'm crap at getting an even dice and I find doing it in the processor pulverises it

I get you! I dont do the onion or garlic myself haha.

This is such a good idea, so many times I’ve fancied doing a bolognaise or chilli con carne and not bothered because I was too lazy to do all the prep.