To wonder what appliances save the most time?

[minniemummy0]

I’m trying to get my house on track and am improving everyday (after a lifetime of not doing much if any housework).

I’ve been thinking two of the things that take the most bother are laundry and washing up. Those relentless things that never seem to be done.

I was thinking if I had a dryer laundry would take less time as I would not have clothes hanging around for ages? I only have so many radiators and seem to spend half my life rotating the clothes on the radiators so everything dries.

And secondly, I spend so much time doing washing up! Especially as I have a bottle fed baby. For those with a dishwasher, how much time does it actually save? Because you still have to load and unload and put away; does it actually make much of a difference.

Lastly, unrelated to these, I was thinking one of those automatic hoover robot things. Everything seems tidier when the floor is clean! Do they only work on carpet though? We have lino stuff in the kitchen.

I’ve already got a Crockpot and am hoping that this will help reduce time spent making meals.

Basically I want a clean home and home-cooked meals with the least effort! I’m doing other things (KonMari-ing and trying to work out a routine for tidying) but trying to work out every way that will help me!

So aibu to ask for your best labour saving devices???

I wouldn't be without my dishwasher. I only had room for dishwasher or tumble dryer and went for the dishwasher. A tumble dryer would be useful for towels and bedding, but I don't like tumble drying other clothes. My steam mop is also really useful as I have wood floors and a dog.

Along with a dishwasher and dryer, I’d suggest a cordless vacuum cleaner. I got a Dyson in the Black Friday sales and it’s so much easier to do a quick clean around than getting out my other hoover. I also rate my steam mop for cleaning the kitchen floor - no fussing around with a bucket and mop and waiting for the floor to dry.

Tumblr dryer
Dishwasher
Dyson cordless
DH that pitches in

Tumble dryer first - I use it every day and everything goes in it. Towels come out lovely and soft and if you get clothes out as soon as they are dry, you won’t need to iron so more time saving. Also wouldn’t be without the dishwasher - keeps the kitchen tidy as well.

Dishwasher - getting one changed my life. I still don't mind the unloading as it's better than the alternative.

Tumble dryer - stops all the clothes on radiators/clothes horse stuff. Plus it means I don't need to iron anything.

Slow cooker - I use mine a lot

Steam cleaner - takes just few mins to clean the kitchen floor

Dishwasher absolutely! Stack it throughout the day & it hides the dirty dishes, put it in overnight, unstack first thing in the morning.

Tumble dryer is handy but tend to use it mainly for bedding or to finish off stuff that hasn't quite air dried in winter.

Both our dishwasher and tumble dryer have broken over the last few weeks, I am missing the tumble dryer more!! Can’t stand clothes lying around although the heated airer is a godsend. The dishes are a pain during the day but the kids are now more involved in washing and drying and I have enjoyed the conversation time with them! (Although still prefer a working dishwasher!)

Dishwasher
Dyson cordless
Lake Land heated airer
Slow cooker

I’d agree with the others on dishwasher (if 3+ people) and tumble dryer. Can’t comment on robotic cleaner, but would be interested which brands people would recommend.

On the tumble dryer point - I do go by labels (most of the time) and don’t stick any delicates in there as it isn’t good for them (esp multiple times - causes bobbling etc.). We had the same issue with radiators though, and invested in a pulley maid (www.pulleymaid.com) which is on the ceiling of our utility room and really handy for drying non-tumble dryer stuff out of your eye line.

We have a clothes rail and clothes horse which we dry our clothes on. As I have already popped the clothes on hangers to dry it saves me time sorting out the clean washing.

Bonus is the creases drop out of shirts better making it easier to iron. If I’m super organised I iron whilst slightly damp.

Dishwasher, had one for 20 odd years and if it's broken down or when we moved and I had to wait for dh to 'create' a dishwasher space, I became unbearable because I hate washing up.

Tumble dryer, chuck most stuff in it and if you empty it quickly your ironing pile becomes negligible.

Cordless Dyson, life changing. No fannying around with plugs and the stairs are a breeze to zip over.

Electric soup kettle thingy, chuck everything in and walk away. 20 mins later you have hot, blended soup.

Definitely a dishwasher. We have two and there are only three of us.

Tumble drier is less of a priority, though we have a washer/dryer. Only use the dryer very occasionally. I'm in Ireland and people are obsessed with drying on the line here (even though it rains the whole time).

I'd love a roomba.

I want the electric soup thingy.

Still not convinced regarding a cordless but I have power points every few yards throughout the house.

Dishwasher.

Thank you for all the responses!

Shows how un-domesticated I am, I didn’t know about cordless vacuums!! Definitely a good option I’m going for to be looking at. The steam mop is a good idea too as I have a dog and soon-to-be-crawling child (partly what has got me thinking about all this).

I didn’t know about heated airers or pulley maids, both are something I’m going to be thinking about as I’m not sure where we would put a dryer in this house (rented).

You’ve all got me REALLY wanting a dishwasher now!!!!

Dishwasher. Cordless vacuum

Yes all three are must haves. Re dryer, I use mine every day but it absolutely will shrink certain items so there is still a drying rack but much less on it. The dishwasher also keeps the kitchen looking tidy.

My cordless Dyson is amazing and I’d never be without one.

Two things:

I find having a de-humidifier helps dry clothes quickly, especially if I keep on top the washing pile and there isn't so much on the airer. Putting the de-humidifier next to the airer then seems to dry the clothes within 6ish hours. Uses less energy than a tumble dryer too and I can reuse the water for houseplants or the garden. I hang out the clothes in the summer.

I bought a rechargeable vax blade. It's light and small enough to do a quick whiz around the house whenever the floor is a bit messy. Doing that 2-3 times a week seems to have cut down on the messing about with the hoover and means I do it more often too. The vax is much easier to use than my hetty hoover, which is a faff to get up and down the stairs.

By rechargeable I mean cordless, but couldn't think of the word!

I couldn't live without my tumble dryer and my dishwasher. Life is too short! Also since I had the kids I'm turning into a right germophobe and the thought of everything around us being boiled to oblivion is very appealing to me. Kids bring so many yucky germs from school 😕
I have recently got a steam cleaner and I use it on everything non electrical all the time. It cuts scrubbing time in half, specially inside of glass oven door, which used to be a stubborn, greasy, hateful nemesis of mine 😁

Dishwasher and tumbler are non non-negotiables for me. I wouldn’t live anywhere that didn’t have room for both. A cordless vacuum with a charging hook on the wall will be my next bigger purchase.

I hate housework with a passion, and do as little as I can. Anything that makes the jobs quicker is great.

Tumble dryer first for me. Don’t iron anything now!
Dishwasher second
Tried a robot hoover but sent it back (was a mid price range Roomba) didn’t clean edges or corners and missed bits. Took ages to do a room and has to move chairs out of the room so it could get everywhere. Worse thing I ever bought - quicker to hoover myself! I am thinking of buying a cordless hoover instead

Tumble dryer trumps dishwasher in our house. I wouldn't be without it - especially over the winter. Who wants damp clothes hanging around the house?

However our dishwasher is a white elephant - never gets used. I'd sooner wash and dry as I go rather than bung a load of dirty stuff in it and wait for it to fill up.

When we bought our house (having rented before) space for a dishwasher was a priority, and one we haven't regretted. We used to entertain a lot (before DD) which meant hours of washing up.

Don't have a tumble drier, but do have a spare room were we hang washing in the winter. I appreciate a drier costs less than an extra room!

We don't vacuum very often, firstly we're lazy, but also it has to be tidy to vacuum (did I mention we're lazy!). A robot won't tidy for you. Sadly.

Ooh thought of another one, well two actually.
The first is the steam mop thing that has a detectable handheld bit with attachments that blitz the loo and bathroom tiles around the bath.
Second is the Kärcher window cleaner,electric thing, makes really light work of cleaning windows.