What ingenious little life hacks would you like to share?

[Rainbunny]

Apparently I have vastly improved the quality of a friend's life by sharing my method of storing (for disposal) used tampons. It's probably not original but simple and easy. I throw them into scented biodegradable doggy poop bags (I buy the them in bulk anyway so they're really cheap). Then they can be thrown into the kitchen trash without any unpleasant sights or smells. Very useful when we're staying as guests at other's homes. My friend is preparing to temporarily move in with her inlaws and has actually been a little worried about this since her inlaws are maniacally houseproud and any reminder of human presence is frowned upon . Just wondered what other little things people do to make life easier?

Mum is more anal now about doing this.....

Should add that it also came in very useful when dad got very ill on hols. He had scanned and email their insurance docs to both of them, so she just got the info from the email while they were at the hospital.

Cut an onion on kitchen roll it absorbs the smell and doesn't make yr eyes run.

Is that really true? Even for those strong ones that can make someones eyes water three streets away? Because I really suffer with this and the chewing gum/cold water tips dont work for me!

To avoid tears put a metal spoon in mouth when chopping onion

Puppy pads or bed liners work really well as changing mats, fold up nicely in the changing bag and means no direct contact with those nasty plastic changing tables.

I've also put them under the throw on my brand new sofa as my kids are prone to spelling things, means they are not stuck on the dog shelf (floor)

@Sadmother

Are you shit at cooking rice? Microwave any quantity of rice in any microwaveable container by filling up with water so that if you touch the rice with a fingertip, the water is level with your first finger knuckle bit. Zap for 13minutes and done.

If you have indoor Guinea pigs and are fed up of wood shavings all over the carpet, change to vetbed. It's dust free, warm for pigs and cheap. I have two cut to the size of my cage. Shake off outside and tie up in an old duvet cover to throw it in the wash every fifth day.

Or - for rice: cover saucepan, bring to boil on hob then switch off. It will be perfectly done in about 10 mins and you don't get a burned saucepan. Ditto for perfect boiled eggs - bring to boil then turn off and leave for a couple of minutes.

On a kitchen theme: scissors for everything - pizza, toast, herbs

I am going to change the beds today so that I can try the burrito method. I am actually looking forward to it

I buy microwavable frozen rice. Grab a sachet from freezer, put in microwave and cook for three mins, tip onto plate.

hairdryer under your duvet before you get in. when you are in, continue hairdryering your feet. you'll have to turn the volume up on the telly and you may never get a bed partner again but it's nice to be warm in bed.

If you have a contact lens wearer on the house get them to chop the onions - seriously! I thought I was 'immune' to onion vapours then cut onions without contacts in and ouch!

If anyone is choking on an ice cube, quickly pour some boiling water down them , works in seconds!

Jenny's wouldn't it just be easier to get an electric blanket?

I just used a Febreze one on my sausages and it was rank. Don't do it!

To get rid of cat hairs on the back of curtains, gently rub the curtain using a dry plastic household glove.

Cheap baby wipes are the best to clean the car dash board.

1. Keep an emergency twenty pound note inside your phone cover.

1. If cooking spaghetti for kids, break the spaghetti in quarters as you put it in the hot water. Much easier than cutting cooked pasta.

1. If you want valium but the doctor drivels on about mindfulness and horlicks, make an appointment with the oldest doctor in your practice. They give you anything.

An easier tips for getting rid of cat hairs everywhere is to simply get rid of the cat.

Works for dogs and rabbits too.

ROFL at "kids prone to spelling things'

Love the thread! :D

My favourote is swapping all the onion and garlic peeling/crushing/tearing/smells with spring onions.

Also pinning socks together before they go into the wash saves time sock hunting when hanging up.

And slicing a lemon and putting it into a jar of water (just top up water until the lemons go a bit bitter, about 3 days). Saved me £££!

If you get a hole in your rubber gloves, don't throw the gloves away. Cut the gloves off above the thumb so you now have a tube of yellow rubber. Cut the tube into rings and you get brilliant elastic bands.

Don't bother with pegs/clips on bags of frozen food. When you open the bag, cut it open on the shortest side by cutting a strip off the top of the bag. So now you have a plastic tie to tie round the bag.

Leta86 Oh no spring onions instead of the brilliant flavour (and health benefits) of freshly prepared garlic.

You don't need to peel garlic anyway; just crush it (with the flat side of a knife or a rolling pin) and it slips out of its skin with no trouble at all.

For perfectly boiled eggs so that the yolk is runny and the white is firm:
Put eggs on to boil for 3 mins - put on alarm. When alarm goes off, switch off gas and put the button down for the bread in the toaster. Toast is then ready and egg at exactly same time.

2nd tip

On email, create a special folder entitled FRE (fucking rude emails). You now have somewhere to file anything that angers you.

To avoid crying when chopping the sodding onions, stick tissue up your nostrils. That stops the tear making stuff from getting up yer nose into your tear ducts.

Or use goggles.

Or what the hell, do what I do and use onion granules instead.

the greatest tip i can give, one that i actually got off of my wonderful OH is this.

Whenever there is anything that needs doing, get some other dickhead person to do it. That way you can just sit and play FB Games instead.

On email, create a special folder entitled FRE (fucking rude emails). You now have somewhere to file anything that angers you

But that would be every work email I receive.

Awesome username, btw Sue

To charge up your iPhone faster, put it in Airplane mode then charge.