Household tips that aren't shit.

[EIsbethTascioni]

I've been getting hugely into decluttering and keeping tidy since the new year. I've been looking on websites and in magazines for tips advice and most of it is unmitigated tripe that makes life harder rather than easier.

So I'm turning to you vipers for your non-crap tips for keeping on top of shit.

I've got three to start us off.

Clean the shower while you're in it. Gamechanger. Saves masses of time.

Storing duvet sets inside their pillow case. I was sceptical about this one but with four beds in the house it has a)made my linen cupboard tidier and b)means no more rummaging.

Using the big IKEA bags as laundry bags. They are just the right size for a load of washing in a standard machine and you can fold them up and put them away tidily instead of having plastic baskets hanging around.

Aibu to think you lot will have loads more?

I put oven shelves and all the parts from the stove (pan rests, burners etc) into the dishwasher

When I put the empty dishwasher through a wash with a bottle of dishwasher cleaner once a month , I put the washing machine drawer in at the same time so it gets good clean

Well this has spurned me on! I've gutted the house, got unworn clothes in charity pile, cleaned up. The only room I didn't need to do was my daughters.

The metal grilles in extractor fans will usually go in the dishwasher.

Vinegar as weedkiller? That is useful!

witsender - thanks for the tip, those look as if they might work for her (love your name btw).

I've also been productive today. I took the two spinner arms out of the dishwasher and cleaned them- seeing the little food bits poke out the holes before coming loose was weirdly satisfying . Cleaned the filter, threw a cup of white vinegar in and ran a hot wash.

Everything has just come out squeaky clean and sparkling, before we were starting to get that sandy stuff welded to everything.

Would the tip about white wine vinegar work in a washer dryer too?

It's not white wine vinegar. That was a mistake I made too

This is my white vinegar but I've just noticed the BBD is Sep 2016 so err yeah ...I've had it a while

It would be fine for eating or cooking with for long after the BB date but f0r cleaning it is even more fine.

One I learned from my German landlady (they dry clean a LOT in Germany): if you've got something that needs dry-cleaning, and it isn't actually dirty, just stale from being worn, hang it outside in a stiff breeze for two days. It will be completely fresh, as if you've had it cleaned. If you're sceptical (I was), try it. It really, really works.

Washing soda and boiling water shifts tannin stains from mugs very quickly. Also very good for cleaning burn-on pans.

Keep a spray bottle with 50/50 vinegar and water in the bathroom to wipe the shower/bath down with each time you use them.

If you dry your clothes outside on hangers you can get away with not ironing them, mostly.

You can wash silk lampshades in warm soapy water. Dry them outside on a warm day (I only discovered this recently).

To the person who said bag your bedding in the matching pillowcase: you've about saved my life. Just off to sort them all.

Amazing tip here (I've just sat and read the whole thread instead of cleaning )

But this

Save those little pouches of silica you get in everything and put in old socks to dry out wet shoes.

If you mean the little white packets that come In handbags etc., Please don't do this especially if you have small children to your house.

I was on a paediatric first aid course once and the paramedic explained what happened if one of these got put into a mouth. Basically they suck all the moisture out of whatever they are in. Feel sick every time I see one of those things.

Cereal Tupperware for carrier bag storage.

Wipes for everything!

Oven pride makes cleaning oven easy.

Empty dishwasher whilst in kitchen cooking meal so it's empty ready to put dishes straight in afterwards

Hang/fold drying straight up whilst warm to avoid ironing.

Bar keepers friend removes stains from pretty much everything. Keep a permanent marker in the fridge to date when you open something.

Never go upstairs without anything

Get a cleaner

Use coke to get rid of stains in mugs

I will use one drop of thick bleach and water to get rid of stains in mugs, rather than a mug full of coke which is going to cost me what? 40p/50p? Whereas a bottle of thick bleach costs 80p and lasts me about 3 or 4 years.

All the fluff/ dirt inbetween the parts of the radiator, blast it out with a hairdryer (facing down) and Hoover it up off the floor.

For those asking about the Lidls Viakal, it's W5 Limescale Remover, blue bottle with a red lid.
I clean the shower while I'm in it using washing up liquid on a green sponge scourer, which is also good for cleaning bath scum rings.
Old toothbrush for nooks and crannies, and the brushes with rubber bristles are really useful.

Margo yes mine is a combined washer-dryer and it works a treat in it.

I use a mini hanger for socks like this and would echo the advice to hang them up together. When they are dry it makes it much easier to pair socks as they are already together.

Those magic eraser sponges are fab for the tea stained mugs, quick wipe and they sparkle.

Tub for loose change in kitchen, little tin of change in car.

I have a nice basket in the living room so we can chuck toys and other crap in for a quick tidy up.

Set fifteen minute timer to motivate yourself.

Box for shoes by front door.

Blackboard and calendar in kitchen.

Label kids clothes with dots with a permanent marker- one dot on label for eldest, two dots for next kid and three for next and so on. When you hand something down stick an extra dot onto the label. I have two boys close in age and sorting similar vests and pyjamas and stuff was a pain until i started this.

Also- stick your mobile number on coat labels, special cuddly toys, that way some.kind soul might let you know if theyve found them. Also handy to tell little kids your number is inside thir coat in case they get lost.

Ok so they werent cleaning related-sorry!

Awesome tips, thanks

phoeb3 and wobblywonder - lidl limescale remover is called "W5 Limescale Remover" and comes in a mainly blue bottle with a red lid. It's a squeezy bottle not a squirty one, and if you google it it come up.

Those asking about white vinegar

You can get 20lt from amazon for £13

4 x 5lt containers

Golden Swan White Vinegar 5 Litre (Pack of 4) www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00TZT6GQE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_L.sHybMS59RVA?tag=mumsnetforum-21

Cheap floor wipes in the bathroom and kitchen.

Empty the bin before it is full.

Do twenty minutes hard work cleaning every day so you never have to have a day of cleaning.