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 do the same, just to get any splodges off, we do a proper clean at intervals too. Besides, my face really isn't all that disgusting.

Buy a roomba for upstairs, as it can do under beds etc. Unattended cleaning.

Love my indesit washer.. Kids (4/7) get undressed in front of it, load it up, powder in, and hit "push and wash". I just get on with tea.

Cleaning the loo of limescale.. Stuff the weak stuff, Windows open, gloves on, brick acid. Hydrochloric. Works quick and well. But then I'm a science tech..

Re shopping. I use a grocery app (Our Groceries). We have it on both our phones and you can sync them so we can both add stuff to the list and whoever is going shopping has the up to date list.

Just add stuff to it as and when you run out.

Buy a roomba for upstairs, as it can do under beds etc. Unattended cleaning.

How does it know not to fall downstairs?

Seriously, I would LOVE one of these - especially with googly eyes.

Re: table salt for weeds. At the end of the winter buy those big bags of rock salt (b&m sell them and reduce them after the cold weather) - mix with water and then brush it over your driveway or slabs (we had a block paved drive in our old house). Do that a couple of weekends in a row and you will have a weed free drive. Beats scrubbing them away with those wire brushes, plus they actually die so you don't just get rid of the leaves you kill the roots too.
And (relatively) harmless for animals.
It would cost a few quid to do the same with Cillit bang

Beat The Adverts: when an advert break comes on, run around emptying dishwasher/bung laundry in/take bins out etc. DM did this with me from when I was small and tricked me into thinking it was fun

DH and I keep a spreadsheet of addresses in Dropbox so we can access it from our phones. Means when I buy a card for someone I can address and post it before coming home.

If you have a real fire, keep lint from the drier and stuff into empty loo rolls. Makes brilliant fire starters

Roomba has bump and fall sensors,.. If mine gets to a drop (like stairs), it'll reverse and avoid it. Putting one on a table is a good demo, it won't fall off.

I do the ten minute room clean. If you have an hour and 6 rooms, set the timer on your phone for ten mins. Do as much as you can in the one room in those ten mins. You'd be surprised how much you can get done when your racing against the clock.

Wilkos have a version of that overdoor basket thing that's only £9

Everythingis I do the iPad thing too. I have a favourite spot to perch it in every room for every job! Makes dull chores so much more enjoyable.

I friend's Roomba sends him a text message whe it's got to the top of the stairs.

Can anyone recommend a substitute for dishwasher tablets. I've just run out!

Groceries app - I love that, so sensible!

I need some tips that somehow make keeping under the bed clean when it's got loads of underbed storage. Dh usually cleans bedroom, (while I tend to focus on the rooms that other people will see) and always goes around the bed so the dust rolls are still there, grrrr!

Off to tackle the crap pile that sits on the living room table now. I listen to audiobooks which helps keep me going through tidying times

Space saving in closets:
I use the loop every other hanger, and the multi one for skirts or shorts.

I've just remembered one I got off MN before ...
If you sort washing into loads - which I do cos I have a main washing 'empty the baskets' day instead of sorting into piles on the floor then you are stepping over them etc whilst waiting to put the next one in or layering back in the basket etc - sort them straight into those pop up net laundry baskets. Much tidier than piles on the floor, easier to move if you sort laundry eg upstairs (but in fact now I sort next to the washing machine because it isn't piles on the floor any more) and if you come across something to add to a load you can just pop into the right basket. And it is easier to see if you have a full load etc. And they store away in next to no space really easily....

(and then I have my put away day...)
Actually this won't be for everyone (my DM hates it!!) but I have my condenser tumble drier in my bedroom. Moved it there when I was having a new kitchen and never moved it back...I love it that much. You can empty it onto a nice big sorting/folding area right next to it (my bed) and some things can go straight into drawers no carrying upstairs etc. And in winter it warms the room too. We have a house we are refurbishing which has a utility room - with space for my tumble and I'm not excited by that prospect ...
(I also have a rain cover for my outdoor rotary line so put washing out most days unless it is really wet and it takes the worst out then air in tumble - which means no ironing. I also have a rack and a dehumidifier -and I agree that works brilliantly too (but I still like airing in tumble for the creases -figure 10 mins in the drier uses no more energy than ironing would...and is a lot easier)

Great tips brilliant thread

This won't be for everyone, but if you are like me and like to have different ornaments/decor for each season (I know some people will think this is mad!) then get several very large, sturdy, lidded clear boxes. Organise the things by season. When you feel like a refresh you can grab a box instead of hunting in cupboard - and you can store the things you're taking down in the now-empty box.

It also helps me not buy endless things, because I know it all has to got in the (massive) box!

Don't bother trying to Kondo your underwear drawer if you have big tits.

Spent ages this morning, carefully folding all my knickers and doing up bras, only to find that my 38F boulder holders are so tall I can't close the drawer when the bras are upright.

I don't kondo my underwear! I do have drawer dividers so just chuck things in a section...live is too short to fold pants! But then I always wear the same pants etc so just grab what is on the top...if I wanted to choose specific ones I probably would though...

Another washing one - pegging washing out...I have a peg bag I made - just an old bit of material folded round with the edges sewn up (cos I couldn't find what I wanted) but I guess you could adapt a bought one -
It has long ties on it - so I can tie it round my waist like a pouch (it also has a loop/hook so I can hang it on the line/ up for storage) - so you always have pegs to hand and it is plenty big enough and I have lots so I can select 'special' pegs if nec (softer clip types for fluffy jumpers, dolly pegs for towels)...
When the washing comes out the machine I sort it at the kitchen table - straighten bigger things out in a pile and put underwear/small bits to one side. Then I drape the bigger wet things over one shoulder and peg them out. No bending down required - you just have to make sure they are not tangled together so you don't drop them ...and like that it is so quick to hang out that you don't get a damp shoulder...
The smaller things I only bother hanging out if it is a good drying day - on those multiple peg hangers whilst sitting at the table -then just carry it out. Otherwise I collect the small things from each load in one basket and tumble dry them together (with other things if nec) when all the loads of washing have finished - so you have all the underwear together dry -makes it easier to sort and put away...one trip to everyone's underwear drawer...

One I learned from MN.
If you cut the "tops and tails" off fresh, unpeeled carrots and put them in a tupperware box they last for weeks in the vegetable drawer without ever going rubbery.
Thank you, whoever you are!

I am only one person and yet I find it hard to keep on top of my mountain of washing! Because I work full time and more I only really have Sunday to wash, dry and iron everything. Thank God I have a tumble dryer. I wear trousers, cardigans etc several times before washing. I don't know how other people do it. I have:
Whites, coloured, dark, delicates, bedding, towels. That's 6 loads a week for just little old me!

sgtmajor I have a similar trip for broccoli - stand it in a mug of water in the fridge. It keeps for ages.

Vindaloo there's not much work involved in the washing and drying part to be honest - but if I was you I'd hate to spend my one day off getting though all my laundry! I'd be inclined to put a wash on per evening (or whatever time of day works for your routine to make it a daily habit). Either hang things carefully to dry or take out of the dryer and shake out promptly to minimise any ironing required. Fold the clean dry stuff in front of the TV in the evening, then you could get through any essential ironing in half an hour per week. I spend less than an hour a week on the essential ironing for a family of four. Use the timer on the washing machine to help make sure it's ready for you to empty at the right time.

I prefer doing most of my washing on one day - otherwise there is always some at some stage around the house and it feels never ending...
And a Sunday because DC has a late morning activity which means we can't go anywhere too exciting until 2pm ish anyway -when I worked FT I used to do the cleaning on a Sunday too at the same time - which took about 3hrs. We would do something fun on a Sat and then maybe go out to dinner/cinema Sunday pm...
Having a washing day isn't a hassle (with a machine) cos it is just a matter of stick a load in, an hour later hang it out /tumble it...and repeat. Actually physically doing something with it takes maybe an hour for 6 loads... (Although I do think 6 loads is a hell of a lot for one person...)
You can do it whilst you clean - or read a book...or anything really as long as you are around the house and can spend 5-10 mins sorting it out every hour...
If I want to get out Sun afternoon I sort it the night before and maybe do one load (finished and out before I go out/to bed) but I also fill the machine, put powder in etc - get it already to go then when I get up in the morning I just need to press start whilst I am waiting for the kettle to boil...by 2pm I can have 5 loads done and dried/drying.

I change the sheets on a Friday night as was there and then.
On Saturday I sort and wash. Most stuff is ready to be ironed on Sunday.