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?

Yes! Top tips😃

Tipping a large container full of water down the toilet to flush it if the flush not working, probably a tip most people on here would know but remember being caught out as a teenager staying at someone’s house and finding the flush didn’t work 😑

• wrap a towel around baby then warm water on the towel to wash newborn (no screaming)
• conditioner as shaving gel
• roll an orange before peeling

I have an issue with the plural ‘tips’ @Vaguelyclassical as a few years ago I was in company and was saying about some useful things I’d learnt when a friend said rather loudly ‘those are great tips’ and the whole room looked at my chest (or so it seemed) Embarrassing. 🫣

🤣

@Newsenmum that's a good tip about the baby washing.... wish I had tried that,!!

I use shower gel as shaving gel.

Sorry to derail, but do you think it would work for butternut squash as well?

My hack - jar lid related. Give it a sharp tap on the work surface/chopping board. The seal will pop and it unscrews easily.

Nooo that’s the worst! Have you
tried conditioner?

Microwaved Halloween pumpkin is delicious with butter 🎃

Cut an orange in half and pop each half inside out to release the segments. Easy peasy, no peel under the fingernails and it takes all the pith off too.

I learned this last year and I love it more than is reasonable.

Should probably add this is best on satsumas and Clementines. Proper big oranges it probably would be less effective

There is nothing better in the world than washing the lenses of your spectacles in fairy liquid and using your fingers to rub a generous amount of the liquid into the lenses glass on both sides before rinsing off with very warm water. Dry with T-shirt material.
Wonderful.

Nope, although will do (looking down at winter hairy legs)

My aunt used to put hers through with the washing up every morning.
Has anyone tried cooking a salmon in a dishwasher, or is it an urban myth?

I'd be a bit worried the spray would ruin the coating of the glasses. Maybe a one off is ok but over time?
I'm no expert but I do buy into these purpose built products for peace of mind! I like things that specifically say what it's for 🤣

If you cut a v in the top of any frozen food bags you can tie it and stop spilling things in the freezer, works wonders with peas!

Not sure it’s a tip/hack particularly, perhaps everyone does it ,but I do now store a complete set of bed covers/sheet in the matching pillowcase. I read that here years ago.

Or just bang the edge of the jam jar lid on the side of a table.

Hand sanitiser gets turmeric stains out of a cheapy laminate worktop.

Something I read on Mumsnet a while ago: Always use a jam spoon. Sticking a knife into the jar of jam risks transmitting the breadcrumbs from your toast into the jam and that is why your jam turns mouldy.

To avoid large packets of crisps going stale, eat the whole packet in one sitting.

If you have a blocked toilet, tie a plastic carrier bag around a plunger and plunge the toilet and it will unblock (you then just discard the carrier bag by pulling it inside out) I'd advise using rubber gloves to do that part just incase it's a bit trickier to remove the bag!

@Redheadedstepchild

“To avoid large packets of crisps going stale, eat the whole packet in one sitting.”

Best tip so far.

Re the microwaved suede/turnip - do I need to cut the ‘lid’ off first?

Doesn’t the house stink of turnip afterwards?

I love turnip so am very tempted to try this.

My life was changed a few months ago when someone said they used a spatula to put on tight fitting sheets on a tight bedframe. My dsughter has a mid sleeper and a far better mattress than would normally be on such as bed as I had it anyway. Unfortunately it makes it incredibly hard to make the bed and I'd end up cross and sweaty. Swearing was involved. It still isn't easy, but it is a definite improvement.

For jars I use strap wrenches

Used by plumbers, they are effectively a big rubber band with a handle

You get a lot of purchase and can use a fair bit of force without hurting yourself

I don’t scoop out, though. Microwaving means it’s easy just to peel the skin off. Same with beetroot.

be careful not to overcook.

extra bonus- the microwave is cheaper to use

My silicone oven gloves work a treat to unscrew bottles, specially if they’re oily or sirupy.

Avon dry oil works a treat to remove residue from stickers. I can’t remember how I got there in the first place but you’ll thank me later 😂