Page 20 | What hack has blown your mind?

MindblownMia · 2025-12-01T14:36:04+00:00

On the weekend I burnt some black felt onto my iron and it was impossible to get off. I tried spraying it with cleaner, scrubbing it with a sponge and scraping it when hot but nothing worked. I was about to give up when I learnt that if you pick up a piece of paracetamol or ibuprofen with some tweezers and then wipe it all over the hot iron, the marks literally disappear. My mind has been blown. My mind was also blown when I learnt on Mumsnet that the stripes on a super king duvet go horizontally not vertically 🤣 I just thought none of my duvet covers fit 💀 What other things like this have blown peoples minds? I can’t keep living without all these amazing hacks 😂

WingingItSince1973 · 04/12/2025 23:26

BrownTroutBluesAgain · 02/12/2025 01:57

I remember that duvet thread
The poor woman had spent ages trying to put a duvet cover on and gave up and asked mumsnet
It was hilarious

My recent best hack is about making poached eggs

Boiling water in a pan
Hold in a tea bag strainer and crack the egg in it
Its so easy and the poached egg actually looks like a restaurant poached egg

Oh wow. I’m trying this tomorrow! I’ve tried all sorts of ways to poach an egg and never thought of this! Thank you xxx

Pearlyb · 04/12/2025 23:53

I fold my carrier bags into triangles like this!

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/QaK3Apd_j8Y

My drawer is a lot less cluttered, and it's more convenient to take one with me when I go shopping

Before you continue to YouTube

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/QaK3Apd_j8Y

EleanorReally · 05/12/2025 06:45

yes i did do the triangle bag for a while @Pearlyb
very good tip

Lifestooshort71 · 05/12/2025 08:35

Catpiece · 03/12/2025 15:43

Not RTFT so don’t know if this gem has been mentioned. I have quite fine hair and I like to hold my fringe back with a thin hair grip. It tends to slide about so I’ve roughed up the grip with an emery board to improve the hold.

I rough up my tweezers the same way when I'm attacking the beard 😊

Lifestooshort71 · 05/12/2025 08:40

WingingItSince1973 · 04/12/2025 23:26

Oh wow. I’m trying this tomorrow! I’ve tried all sorts of ways to poach an egg and never thought of this! Thank you xxx

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Don't you get strings of white escape through the holes and make the strainer a b*er to clean?

Justputsomeyoghurtonit · 05/12/2025 08:56

WingingItSince1973 · 04/12/2025 23:26

Oh wow. I’m trying this tomorrow! I’ve tried all sorts of ways to poach an egg and never thought of this! Thank you xxx

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The best way, is to get completely fresh eggs from ones hens, boil water and literally just drop the egg in. Perfectly round egg three mins later.

I do have hens and their eggs are the best ever!

Failing that, you should look for the longest BB date on the box and that way your eggs will be as fresh as possible.

Gilmoregirly · 05/12/2025 12:30

Bloozie · 02/12/2025 19:21

It’s a variant of the scandi method - of which there are oodles of videos online - but that method you put the firelighters on top of a pile of wood so it burns down. This way was shown to me by a chimney sweep as being more foolproof.

I’ve drawn a picture. It may or may not clarify matters… The logs don’t have to be perfectly symmetrical or nicely quartered. As long as they are roughly the same height and you can bridge them without the kindling sliding off and wedge a fire lighter in, it’s fine. And it doesn’t have to be perfectly neat - though it’s very satisfying when you lay a perfect jenga fire. see below when it uploads.

Edited

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Thank you so much for this. I did a fire yesterday like this and it was perfect. Not only it started quickly the fire also lasted for 3 hours. My husband always uses loads of newspaper, and he wasn't in yesterday. I am going to brag and show him today!

Gilmoregirly · 05/12/2025 12:30

Bloozie · 02/12/2025 19:21

It’s a variant of the scandi method - of which there are oodles of videos online - but that method you put the firelighters on top of a pile of wood so it burns down. This way was shown to me by a chimney sweep as being more foolproof.

I’ve drawn a picture. It may or may not clarify matters… The logs don’t have to be perfectly symmetrical or nicely quartered. As long as they are roughly the same height and you can bridge them without the kindling sliding off and wedge a fire lighter in, it’s fine. And it doesn’t have to be perfectly neat - though it’s very satisfying when you lay a perfect jenga fire. see below when it uploads.

Edited

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Thank you so much for this. I did a fire yesterday like this and it was perfect. Not only it started quickly the fire also lasted for 3 hours. My husband always uses loads of newspaper, and he wasn't in yesterday. I am going to brag and show him today!

Gilmoregirly · 05/12/2025 12:30

Bloozie · 02/12/2025 19:21

It’s a variant of the scandi method - of which there are oodles of videos online - but that method you put the firelighters on top of a pile of wood so it burns down. This way was shown to me by a chimney sweep as being more foolproof.

I’ve drawn a picture. It may or may not clarify matters… The logs don’t have to be perfectly symmetrical or nicely quartered. As long as they are roughly the same height and you can bridge them without the kindling sliding off and wedge a fire lighter in, it’s fine. And it doesn’t have to be perfectly neat - though it’s very satisfying when you lay a perfect jenga fire. see below when it uploads.

Edited

Show quote history

Thank you so much for this. I did a fire yesterday like this and it was perfect. Not only it started quickly the fire also lasted for 3 hours. My husband always uses loads of newspaper, and he wasn't in yesterday. I am going to brag and show him today!

Gilmoregirly · 05/12/2025 12:30

Bloozie · 02/12/2025 19:21

It’s a variant of the scandi method - of which there are oodles of videos online - but that method you put the firelighters on top of a pile of wood so it burns down. This way was shown to me by a chimney sweep as being more foolproof.

I’ve drawn a picture. It may or may not clarify matters… The logs don’t have to be perfectly symmetrical or nicely quartered. As long as they are roughly the same height and you can bridge them without the kindling sliding off and wedge a fire lighter in, it’s fine. And it doesn’t have to be perfectly neat - though it’s very satisfying when you lay a perfect jenga fire. see below when it uploads.

Edited

Show quote history

Thank you so much for this. I did a fire yesterday like this and it was perfect. Not only it started quickly the fire also lasted for 3 hours. My husband always uses loads of newspaper, and he wasn't in yesterday. I am going to brag and show him today!

Gilmoregirly · 05/12/2025 12:30

Bloozie · 02/12/2025 19:21

It’s a variant of the scandi method - of which there are oodles of videos online - but that method you put the firelighters on top of a pile of wood so it burns down. This way was shown to me by a chimney sweep as being more foolproof.

I’ve drawn a picture. It may or may not clarify matters… The logs don’t have to be perfectly symmetrical or nicely quartered. As long as they are roughly the same height and you can bridge them without the kindling sliding off and wedge a fire lighter in, it’s fine. And it doesn’t have to be perfectly neat - though it’s very satisfying when you lay a perfect jenga fire. see below when it uploads.

Edited

Show quote history

Thank you so much for this. I did a fire yesterday like this and it was perfect. Not only it started quickly the fire also lasted for 3 hours. My husband always uses loads of newspaper, and he wasn't in yesterday. I am going to brag and show him today!

Gilmoregirly · 05/12/2025 12:30

Bloozie · 02/12/2025 19:21

It’s a variant of the scandi method - of which there are oodles of videos online - but that method you put the firelighters on top of a pile of wood so it burns down. This way was shown to me by a chimney sweep as being more foolproof.

I’ve drawn a picture. It may or may not clarify matters… The logs don’t have to be perfectly symmetrical or nicely quartered. As long as they are roughly the same height and you can bridge them without the kindling sliding off and wedge a fire lighter in, it’s fine. And it doesn’t have to be perfectly neat - though it’s very satisfying when you lay a perfect jenga fire. see below when it uploads.

Edited

Show quote history

Thank you so much for this. I did a fire yesterday like this and it was perfect. Not only it started quickly the fire also lasted for 3 hours. My husband always uses loads of newspaper, and he wasn't in yesterday. I am going to brag and show him today!

Luckyingame · 05/12/2025 12:59

Driftingawaynow · 01/12/2025 16:31

It floats! So on the bath. Either with or without human

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😮

Ahfiddlesticks · 05/12/2025 13:05

HonestBrickQuoter · 04/12/2025 22:51

I think what's confusing everyone is the "boil 2 inches of water in the saucepan AND ALSO boil the kettle and add more water".
Yes, the water will boil faster in the electric kettle. So why not just boil the kettle and add ALL the water to the saucepan?
Not to be snarky (this is Mumsnet after all so being disingenuous) but it isn't a "hack" if everyone has to argue about it for fourteen quote posts. It's a "hack" if everyone goes "OMG I NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT".

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Because you should always cook pasta in the largest pan you have, which should ideally be much bigger than your kettle.

And you shouldn't heat an empty pan, or you'll spoil it. But you should add the kettle water to a hot pan. So by boiling some water in the pan whilst the kettle boils, you get more boiling water and a hot pan.

SheilaFentiman · 05/12/2025 13:08

I agree you should have plenty of space to stir your pasta but I don’t see how cooking it in the biggest pan you have is required?

Ladybird69 · 05/12/2025 14:32

@Potatoelephant i had some beautiful but huge plates and hand washed them for years until a friend of mine pointed out that the rack went up and down!!! 🥴

RescueMeFromThisSilliness · 05/12/2025 14:48

MyrtleLion · 04/12/2025 23:09

But why would you remove tannin from the pot? It adds to the flavour.

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Years of blackened scaly gunk in the spout? There comes a point in life when you have to decide enough's enough.

Not to mention, that sometimes DH forgets to tip the old teabags out before putting the teapot back in the cupboard and next time you go to use it, there's furry blue stuff in there. 😂

MyrtleLion · 05/12/2025 14:49

RescueMeFromThisSilliness · 05/12/2025 14:48

Years of blackened scaly gunk in the spout? There comes a point in life when you have to decide enough's enough.

Not to mention, that sometimes DH forgets to tip the old teabags out before putting the teapot back in the cupboard and next time you go to use it, there's furry blue stuff in there. 😂

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Good point, well made!

Anniegetyourspoon · 05/12/2025 15:16

RescueMeFromThisSilliness · 02/12/2025 00:11

If you buy one of those great long stalks of sprouts, they keep fresh for at least a week if you just lean the whole thing up against the wall outside the back door.

I put mine out in the shed one year, but unfortunately it was nibbled by rodents 😂
I went to get in on Christmas Day… and no sprouts!

Blingismything · 05/12/2025 17:36

If you are tumble drying towels, put a dry one in the dryer with the damp ones and it will speed up the drying time.

If you are running a bath, put the cold water in before the hot, this will minimise the steam in the bathroom.

RescueMeFromThisSilliness · 05/12/2025 18:23

CherryRipe1 · 04/12/2025 05:03

Good tip, going to try this on my stair & hall carpets as apart fro m it being awkward to do, I'm fed up with hairs wrapped around the vacuum, which brings me to my top tip; if your vacuum cleaner doesn't have one of those hair snipping gizmos on it, remove it with stitch ripper. It's easy to get under the hair tangled round the brush.

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Barbie hair is the absolute worst for wrapping itself round the brushes.

RescueMeFromThisSilliness · 05/12/2025 18:27

Blingismything · 05/12/2025 17:36

If you are tumble drying towels, put a dry one in the dryer with the damp ones and it will speed up the drying time.

If you are running a bath, put the cold water in before the hot, this will minimise the steam in the bathroom.

Conversely, if your sheets have dried with creases in and the buggers won't iron flat, put them in the tumble drier with a wet tea towel for 10 minutes and they come out at just the right level of slightly damp to iron beautifully.

MyrtleLion · 05/12/2025 18:30

RescueMeFromThisSilliness · 05/12/2025 18:27

Conversely, if your sheets have dried with creases in and the buggers won't iron flat, put them in the tumble drier with a wet tea towel for 10 minutes and they come out at just the right level of slightly damp to iron beautifully.

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I'm sorry.

What is this "ironing sheets" you speak of?

nomas · 05/12/2025 18:31

MyrtleLion · 05/12/2025 18:30

I'm sorry.

What is this "ironing sheets" you speak of?

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😂

ABeerInTheSunshineMakesMeHappy · 05/12/2025 19:45

HonestBrickQuoter · 04/12/2025 22:51

I think what's confusing everyone is the "boil 2 inches of water in the saucepan AND ALSO boil the kettle and add more water".
Yes, the water will boil faster in the electric kettle. So why not just boil the kettle and add ALL the water to the saucepan?
Not to be snarky (this is Mumsnet after all so being disingenuous) but it isn't a "hack" if everyone has to argue about it for fourteen quote posts. It's a "hack" if everyone goes "OMG I NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT".

Show quote history

The cold saucepan takes the water in the kettle off the boil. You need just enough water in the saucepan so it boils at the same time as the kettle .