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?

Agree. Our oven looks like new, husband uses Oven ride. It is quite caustic so he does it when no one else is in and takes the door off but it does work.

Not sure if it's been mentioned as I've not read the whole thread but Tesco hairspray removed nailpolish a treat, they might have changed the formula as it was while ago now, other hairsprays didn't seem to work.

Store whole bedding sets inside the pillowcase.

Vac pack a whole clean bed set with covers on including pillows with cases on. Store and so easy for friends family staying over late. Also great for first day of uni when dropping them off.

Going on holiday and putting all my houseplants in the bathtub together with lots of standing water the night before. Draining the tub the next morning and closing bathroom door to keep it humid.

Freezing meat flat in ziplock bags especially mince.

Doing the same with pureed tomatoes. And onions. You can then stack the bags like a bookcase and snap off as much as you need.

Batch cooking basmati rice and freezing flat.

When I'm cooking smelly food I shampoo my hair beforehand and stick loads of conditioner in, clingfilm round my head and then shower afterwards.

Rub bog standard sunflower oil into damp skin after each shower including a few drops into face. My skin glows and always complimented. Mid 50s but skin looks late 20s with no wrinkles.

Keep spf cream, lipstick and bottle of perfume on hallway table so I remember to put it on.

Keep black shoeshine sponge bottle in door of car.

Packet of baby wipes in ziploc bag in glove compartment as they otherwise dry out.

I have a few more tips but these are the ones I can recall immediately. Hope they help someone.

Thank you @breezyyyand @fancytoesI’ll give them a try.

@nine9nein wouldnt the plants die from lack of sunlight?

I just whack it in on full power.

Warm the bed with a hairdryer before getting in.

Or get an electric blanket. Can't live without mine.

Even better get an electric blanket

My bathroom has a window and plants seem to get plenty of light. Might not be so healthy if you're away for months but fine for a week or a fortnight.

And for breaking in to your own home when you have forgotten your key...

For small bloodstains

E.g. from insect bites on the pillow, or a shaving cut on your shirt collar (if applicable)

Dribble on your fingertip and dab the mark with saliva. It contains an enzyme that digests blood. It will take a couple of applications so be nearly gone, leaving only a pale smudge on a white shirt, and not noticeable on patterns or colours.

It bleaches out the red and you could continue wearing the shirt until later. You can then sponge it with cold water if the wet patch will not be a problem.

If you are sewing sequins or wedding dresses, you havd probably heard that.

Well I didn’t know that!

Works on old fashioned nightlatches, but not on British Standard nightlatches or on deadlocks.

Good thing, too.

Just about any of Nancy Birtwhistle’s but my current favourite is rolling pastry between two opened out inner bags from a cereal packet. No mess and no splits.

Have two cordless vacuums. One downstairs in utility room, one upstairs. I have a plug in Miele and I haven't used it for a long time now. An attachment comes off the upright cordless to do the stairs too. No lugging anything up and down stairs anymore.

They were very inexpensive from Amazon, vytronix brand. Don't know how long they'll last but for now they are doing a great job and have a 40 minute battery life. Can't argue with that.

Yes! Your own saliva is the best thing to get out your own blood

Ffs stop bashing jars with everything just buy one of these

I had a very sad looking teak bowl that was transformed by rubbing with walnut oil .

During the summer, put your lipstick in the fridge to harden it.

Hope the lady who made a thread about her mil getting ink on her velvet sofa sees this!

And tap the egg all over before rolling it up and down on a chopping board, it makes the skin inside the shell come away.

Anyone have anything for black taps to cover up the scrapes and scratches?

Anyone have anything for stubborn baby poo stains on clothes (tried vanish).

I did something similar - and it did take the coating off my expensive varifocals!

I think it's actually an exploding swede, which is what I would expect if I microwaved one for 25 minutes.