To ask for your easy life hacks?

[Polkapjs]

I need easy ways to make life easier and help me get my life in order in all areas

Tonight have have used a garlic press with an UNPEELED love of garlic as recommended by Jamie Oliver. Genius.
Give me yours that don’t involve needing stuff I don’t have but help make stuff a bit easier or cheaper?

Each laundry basket has a washing net (the type you use for washing delicates £2 in Wilko) on it and all dirty socks go it. It then goes straight into the washing machine and from there into the tumble dryer- the socks don't ever get separated and are a breeze to put away!

This is genius

I love these threads - used to love 'Take a Break' tips page, back in the day - but it always amazes me how some of the tips ALWAYS make me think "well, doesn't everyone already do that?".
I suspect other things - that I think are genius - other people will be thinking everyone does though

Easiest and tastiest tomato sauce:
1 can of tomatoes + quartered onion + 40 min in on lowish heat = ready sauce, can be frozen
I usually mash it with potato masher to get right consistency

I’m sure lots of people do this already, but just in case. I slice or quarter lemons and limes; put them in the freezer on a plate so they don’t touch. Once frozen put them in a freezer bags. Instant ice cubes/slices for drinks.

After using a casserole dish or higher sided baking tray, I put it back in the switched off oven and pour water in to it. The residual heat from the oven prevents baked on food sticking and makes washing up quicker and easier.

My aunt writes ALL her birthday cards in January, and keeps them in an organiser, with a post it tab saying the sending date.

I've only managed to buy a stock of cards to send.

Depending on your age, don't limit it to birthdays - engagements, wedding, new baby and with sympathy all useful to have to hand.

Have a drawer full of generic birthday cards, gender neutral wrapping paper and inexpensive kids toys/books- I usually wait for the Argos 3 for 2 sale and stock up. This means I never have to panic when I remember one of DD's friends is having a party and I haven't got time to go shopping.

I second the school uniform box for each child.

Floor wipes make the kitchen floor last longer.

Oh - another one I learnt on Mumsnet. Put EVERYTHING in the dishwasher - bin lid, highchair tray, anything like that. Anything that could do with a good scrub and will withstand hot temperatures.

Also my personal one - if you do Christmas cards, only do them two years out of three. I've done this for years now and no one has noticed (hoping no one on my cards list is on Mumsnet - this is not the most unidentifiable username, I'm suddenly aware... They got lost in the post, Auntie Vi - promise!).

When you've washed bedding, put a set of bedding inside the relevant pillow case - you end up with a stack of stuffed pillowcases in the cupboard and it's dead easy to get a set of bedding out without having to rummage around for the right size sheet etc.

@minapaws

One I picked up on here is - if it takes less than 5 minutes just do it! I get a lot more done and I feel like I'm doing less because less time is spent thinking about having to do it.

Tidy in ten - we set the timer for 10 minutes and get as much done as possible in that time. It works well with DC, whole family or even just on my own. I get more done in that time because I'm motivated to see how much I can do, and because I know I haven't got hours of this as the timer will soon go off and I can put my feet up. It doesn't work as well if you don't set a timer because the time seems to go slower and you keep checking the clock

Keep generic cards and presents for all occasions in case I forget something, last Monday of the month I write down all occasions for the month ahead and go to the card shop to get all of the cards (usually get gifts online or through the year when I see things - make sure this is sorted then too though) and then when I get home I write them all and put them in order with a list on top of what date they are for (and what date they need posting if not giving in person)

If you like cooking then get a stainless steel soap, only costs a few £ from Amazon/eBay, mine was £2.49 and came with a little holder. You basically wash your hands with it like you would a bar of soap (using only that and water) and it removes the smell from garlic or onion etc from your hands. I was sceptical but it really does work Like This One - £2.04 including holder

keep a few pump dispensers in the kitchen / bathroom , drain the last bit of washing up liquid / shower gel / bubble bath etc in to them so that you do not have to keep trying to balance the bottles upside down .

I also freeze chillies but I do not cut mine up first as cutting them up frozen reduces the chance of getting chilli oil on your hands ( and god forbid anywhere else ) and i find it a bit harder to judge how much to use if they are ready chopped .

if you can buy garlic in bulk , ( Indian / Chinese cash and carrys are great for this ) peel it all carefully don't damage the cloves . and put them in a big jar and cover with oil . It is time consuming and a bit fiddly but the end results mean you have garlic infused oil plus ready peeled cloves .

T he same goes for things like tandoori , curry and chilli powder.
buy in bulk fill glass jars about 1/3 with the powder and top up with oil , and you have ready infused oil.

I will post some pictures tonight .

Along the birthday card/wrapping paper theme - The Card Factory near me always has 5 cards for £1, with a lot of variety and an ever changing selection. I always stock up when I go in!

Angie frozen chilli's are also good grated when frozen

Dishwasher baskets for cutlery- I have two.
One in the dishwasher , the other one being filled for the next cycle..
Saves random cutlery in the sink .

Antimatter - is your tomato sauce done in the oven? Or on the hob? My pressie hack is to make a big fold in the wrapping paper of a gift. You can then slide in the birthday card into its own little pocket within the giftwrap. Also pizza hack - cut them with kitchen scissors.

Nail varnish blobbed inside all new tights - a different colour for each person

I can't remember who posted it so can't tag you. But what's a mumsnet hair cut?

Frozen chopped veg make things a lot easier. Haven't quite gone to chopped onions yet but chopped carrots and other veg to stick in things like spag bol make meal prep a lot quicker.

@ellMeItsNotTrue If you like cooking then get a stainless steel soap, only costs a few £ from Amazon/eBay, mine was £2.49 and came with a little holder. You basically wash your hands with it like you would a bar of soap (using only that and water) and it removes the smell from garlic or onion etc from your hands. I was sceptical but it really does work Like This One - £2.04 including holder

You can just rub your hands on the sink (assuming you have a metal one) for exactly the same effect and it's free

Or a metal teaspoon, iirc, Shotsfired, if you happen to have a ceramic sink.

What a great thread- absolutely amazing tips! I buy ready made mash. It’s only a bit pricier than making it from scratch, but it’s so bloody easy - no peeling, slicing etc. Then I throw some chicken on the BBQ, bag of salad, and dinner’s sorted. When I’m chopping an onion I’ll use half for what I’m cooking and half gets put in the freezer, such a time saver for another day. I have an electric wax burner, melting some scented wax automatically makes the house smell clean and fresh for hours. I tint my own eyebrows and lashes and always have a few tinted lipglosses and a bronzer in my handbag and can quickly swipe them on when I get in the car. Everything that can be done online from shopping, bill paying, to ordering library books gets done online. I have a small baby and a teen with really bad ADHD plus I work from home so I do whatever I have to do to get things done!

A mumsnet haircut is on YouTube. It is, o. M. G. It is some thing like tipping your hair forwars and twisting it and cutting. Desperate times.....i love mn. I do not love that.

These are inspired. Love the chopped frozen veg and infused oil ideas.

@IHeartMarmite Toast - Ah - that's inspired! Thank you.

Mashed potato. Bake potatoes in oven then cut in half and out them through a ricer. No need to peel chop or boil.