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?

Viakal (or Lidls cheap version) shines metal sinks really quickly.
Loo cleaner is also really useful for sinks, baths, showers or anywhere you get limescale (I got that tip from the cleaner on the ward I worked on).
Put washing powder straight in the drum to save the dispenser draw getting gunky.
Wash hard floors in really hot water, they dry quicker.
Don't clean windows when the sun's shining, the heat dries the window cleaner too quickly and causes smears.

Keep a squeegee in the shower and do the door every time.

Vertical folding only works on knickers. Bigger things just flop about.
Do less of everything - seriously. You can wear clothes and use towels more than once. Loads of stuff doesn't need to be ironed. Nobody will die if you don't bleach the loo every day.

Make sure there is a place for everything in the house and regularly make sure it's put back. We have a cleaner but the night before she comes we all have a group manic 30 mins where everything goes back where it should, not just in the cupboard but in the right tub or basket.

Buy some neutral wrapping paper (e.g, some plain silver wrapping paper rather than any saying 'happy birthday' or whatever). You can now use this for all occasions (adult birthdays, kids birthday parties, weddings, christenings, etc) rather than having to buy and then store loads of different wrapping papers.

For a while after having dd, I worked in a nursing home laundry. I copied some of the ideas to keep laundry efficient. If you have room get some shelves in the utility or kitchen. Just small ones, big enough to have small plastic boxes on. Have a box for each family member and fold up all folable clothes and put them in each box as soon as they come out of the drier.When full take up to put away and refill with dirty clothes. Bring back down and put the wash on. If you get the corect size boxes which together make a full load, this makes life very easy. I also have a cheap rail for hanging wet delicates, blouses, shirts and the like. I put them on the hangers wet, them when dry just take them up put them away.

Another duvet cover in pillowcase vote

Toothpaste and(clean) toothbrush clean fridge seals and eliminate smells

Hairspray gets Biro marks off leather sofas.

I use vim scouring powder and coil wire cleaners on oven shelves once a month
It takes less than 15mins if done regularly

Empty and sort school bags Fri night-nothing worse leaky drink and soggy belongings in the Monday morning rush

Salt cleans stained cups (and much safer than bleach esp have kids)rinse with COLD water thoroughly

Tea stained mugs - either use steradent tablets overnight, or a scourer will get it off with only a little effort.
LO fell asleep in my room, so I took the opportunity just to see what I could get done in her room for ten minutes - basically it's the whole room cleaned and tidied (bar hoovering) then I shoved her back into her own bed so that's a job ahead for tomorrow :)

Another tip is be ruthless with washing. Do those jeans really need washing after just one or two washes for instance?

Some fab tips here. Keep em coming

still I use denture cleaning tablets to remove stains in mugs. Leave over night to fizz. Half a tab in each mug does the trick

Don't have a kitchen bin
(You know it ends up too full and you have to haul it out and it's stinky and heavy)
Instead use a carrier bag per day and hang it off the back door. Throw it in your outside bin very night.
Or buy a roll of smaller bin bags to use rather than carrier bags.
I have a lot of carrier bags.

Make regular purges/culls of the kitchen pantry, donate surplus packets and tins to foodbank, most supermarkets have collection points.

Store fresh leafy greens eg kale/chard by immersing stems in water, as with a floral bouquet. They will keep crisp and fresh for ages. Even cut/shredded greens will last longer when sprinkled with a little water.

Can vouch for the use of diluted bleach to soak and remove tea/coffee stains from cups and mugs.

Before juicing, run a sinkful of warm soapy water so as to plunge the dirty juicer parts in immediately after use, clean up will be easier and seem less tedious.

Denture tablets also do a great job of cleaning rings. It loosens all the dirt and grease that gets under the settings and then a quick brush with a soft baby toothbrush and they look like new.

I also drank diluted bleach as a child once, thought it was water

My favourite lazy tip is to buy a washing up sponge thingy for your shower . Fill it with 2/3rds fairy liquid and 1/3rd white vinegar and leave in your shower - very easy and convenient to clean the shower when you get a minute. Attached pic of what I mean. Game changer!!

Put a few drops of mint, lavender or rose oil in the hoover bag to make the house smell fresh and lovely as you vacuum.

I vertically fold everything. You just have to fold smaller

I didn't include pic!

If you live in a hard water area, Viakal is your friend. It's blummin brilliant at removing lime scale.

Clean oven shelves in the dishwasher. It doesn't get them 100% sparkly but it's a good start.

To get armpitty smell out of clothes that are going to be washed at 40 degrees: turn garment inside out, soak armpits with cold water (I use a spray bottle), rub with Dettol antibacterial bar soap.

Wash as usual.

If you have a shower cubicle type thing with lots of glass and it gets fogged up with hard water stains, remove them using Bar Keeper's Friend. There are no fumes, as there are with liquid chemical products, and you can stand in the shower while you are cleaning without removing the skin from the soles of your feet and the lining of your lungs.

A teaspoon of Bicarbonate of soda and hot water in stained mugs and teapots removes stains safely.
A colour catcher in washer less washing has to be colour sorted.
Get a robotic vacuum.
Don't use any pots, pans etc that are not dishwasher safe.

Cheap bottle sterilising fluid gets rid of coffee and tea stains too.

Newspaper idea is awesome. Every year I stand on work top to wipe greasy kitchen toos. I hate it and it's dangerously. THANKS!

I do the inside out duvet cover thing - always have done.

And the upside down wipe packet thing, though some fucker keeps turning them upright again.

I also try to drum the don't put it down, put it away thing into other members of the household, but DH is really struggling with it! On a similar note, my mum told me that she'd read about the idea of only handling something once, so now, she looks at something, then puts it on the table so dad has to deal with it, instead :o

I give the sink and bog a once over while my bath is running, bog brush and everything.

Bicarb and a tiny bit of elbow grease works as well as bleach on stained mugs and is relatively harmless - and strong tasting

Don't underestimate the value of long days out with kids. You'll not get much cleaning done, but they won't get much house trashing done, either.

Brilliant glo girl. Is That undiluted fairy liquid?