What hack has blown your mind?

[MindblownMia]

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 😂

Well I don't do it, obviously. I have a DH who does all the ironing. 😁

When we moved in together I made it plain that I wasn't going to iron his stuff, only mine. Since then, I have made it my life's work to only wear clothes that don't need ironing. I then decided that as he had the ironing board out, he might as well do the sheets & pillowcases too. Literally the only thing I have ironed in the last 27 years is our Christmas tablecloth. I don't trust him with that.

Just tried this on an old margarine tub before chucking it in the recycling. Unfortunately I didn't have any kitchen roll so used a bit of toilet paper. It worked a treat, but unsurprisingly the toilet paper disintegrated which took longer to clear up than if I'd just used my normal method of rinsing the tub out several times! Presumably kitchen roll doesn't suffer from this problem?

"Presumably kitchen roll doesn't suffer from this problem?"

Which is why you mustn't flush it down the bog.

This is genius, it works! Will change my life! Thank you 😊

Yes, I was also stunned that such a simple change could make such a huge difference. I'm no expert in knots but I think it's essentially transforming a double granny knot into a reef knot.

I've tried it today but it didn't make any difference, perhaps I got it wrong?
It seemed to me that swapping the laces didn't do anything, the final bow just twizzles back. My laces came undone as usual. I try not to do double bows as I can't undo them.

Hmmm, are you swapping hands after tightening the first part of the knot? If so try doing so before tightening it.

Yes, I did

1. Knot - tight
2. Swap
3. Bow.

Will try

1. Knot - loose

2.Swap and tighten 3.Bow.

Genius!! Thanks!

I never leave my washing machine on when out either.

I think you should end up with this:

He ties the first part a bit differently, but the end result is the same as doing it the swap hands way.

me either, many many years ago I came home to a smoking washing machine...never ever again.

That’s not a hack, it’s just eccentric!

I nearly always use the rinse/hold function on our washing machine. I put the laundry in the afternoon or evening before, and then do a rinse/spin cycle the next day to refresh it and then hang it out to dry (we rarely use our dryer).

Oooh! I’m going to try this - haven’t used powder detergent for years (probably way better as is the norm with ‘improved products’).

I read yesterday on BBC Food the proper way to make a boiled egg, which blew me away a bit.

You put an egg(s) in cold water and bring to the boil, then turn off and leave for 12 minutes before serving (or making into egg mayonnaise etc). It prevents the yellow centres from going hard and grey and has much more flavour. Genius (for me anyway!).

Tesco ones are perfect for this

If you have a vomit bucket/bowl stashed away for whenever someone is ill, line it with a bin bag - makes clean up a lot easier (and may lessen gag reflex rather than having to pour contents down loo etc).

I switched to steaming eggs in a fan steamer usually used for steaming vegetables. It seems much easier to get the timing just right. Once the water is boiling, I put the eggs in and the lid on the pan. It takes 7 minutes from room temperature to soft boiled.

I have got a singing egg. You put it in the pan with the real eggs and it sings when they are ready. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brainstream-PiepEgg-Melodies-Hardnesses-A005895/dp/B08F9VL2Z2/ref=pd_lpo_d_sccl_2/520-8373979-9975521?pd_rd_w=b9kvb&content-id=amzn1.sym.bb13d3fc-af40-4fff-a822-e0e4c415da96&pf_rd_p=bb13d3fc-af40-4fff-a822-e0e4c415da96&pf_rd_r=VCNF9160YP5MRHD70EKK&pd_rd_wg=IR7yn&pd_rd_r=49b59063-0339-4594-8f22-ea58e54748e6&pd_rd_i=B08F9VL2Z2&psc=1

I'm after tips on clingfilm.
When you get a bit that's not unwound and your main bit is getting smaller and smaller?
I know you're supposed to hook the tube in the box at the sides but so often it doesn't work and I end up throwing a roll away.

Ugh, I have a boring colour change egg and now I want a singing egg.

I’ve just bought a Godfather singing egg!!

Not exactly a tip or hack, more a gadget, but Lakeland do a cling film holder that dispenses cling film however I think you have to buy their slightly pricey cling film due to sizing. I've also seen el cheapo versions on Shein, Temu, AliExpress. It makes me furious when that happens, ditto finding sellotape & packing tape ends that have disappeared. Need to get dispensers for them!

Last Christmas Day I was getting ready to mash the potatoes that we were having and my Mum suggested that I warmed the butter and milk up together and then added it to the potatoes. Game changer. Lovely mashed spuds. Don’t know whether it’s a hack but do it every time now.