To ask for your “game changers”

[AndTheReasonIsYou]

Things you’ve bought that have essentially changed your life for the better.

For me, it’s a swim dress. Basically a swimming costume with a little skirt that just covers the bikini line. Flattering, hides my stomach and most importantly it doesn’t matter if my bikini line is needing a little attention. It has completely taken the stress out of taking the kids swimming and now we go all the time

Other game changers for me include the perfect prep (🥰), L’Oréal eight-second wonder water, and Pinch of Nom.

My Roomba robot vacuum cleaner

@bluegreygreen yes mine mainly collects my hair ! You have to cut it off the wheels periodically but that's easy .

It’s a long shot, but has anyone tried a robot cleaner for a pool?

@Binkybix

It’s a long shot, but has anyone tried a robot cleaner for a pool?

We don't so much have a robot hoover for the pool but one which the hose attaches to the filter drain and the pump pulls the water through the hoover and off it goes

I should say we have an inground pool not a temporary one

There are some great tips on here.

Mine would be:
Buying an extra set of knives. DS has food allergies and I'd often find I could end up using 4 or 5 making the lunches, usually because I'd be distracted or tired and do stuff in the wrong order and need a new knife for something of DS's.

Batch baking muffins, biscuits and flapjacks for the freezer. Means there's usually at least 6 choices for DS's lunchbox instead of him having to eat the same cake every day for the week.

Buying one of those wire brushes on a long pole for weeding between paving blocks. Such a back-saver.

In that case I need one of those wire brushes. Weeds are so annoying.

Whilst we’re raving about robots, has anyone got a robot lawnmower to recommend?

@minipie

Can anyone answer about robot hoovers and pets?

We have a cat who hates, hates, hates the hoover. Will she run away from a Eufy?

Mine looked seriously freaked out, then just ignores it with a sour look on her face! She hates the hoover.

Ours leaves the room. Sometimes she stands in the doorway watching it when it’s in the kitchen. She’s scared of houseflies though.

@QuornSausagesAreTheDevilsPenis

Bedside coffee machine which has both a timer and the ability to brew straight into a travel mug for those mornings when I'm on early shift. Bliss.

What is the make please?

• Birkenstocks
• Team TOMM
• Whole30
• Ordering in books at the library
• Ditching shampoo and conditioner
• To do list app on my phone that syncs with desktop (can update at work and on the go)

Ordering in books at the library
Yes! Such a treat.

Please may I add something I did rather than something I bought. After years of using non-iron poly-cotton sheets I decided to get out the ancient, comfortable, white cotton ones and use them again, but not to bother ironing them. Revolutionary thinking.

Men's anti-perspirant/deodorant - cheaper and work better than women's and you get more for your money, depending on brand. Some of them smell nice.

@moregarlic

- Birkenstocks

• Team TOMM
• Whole30
• Ordering in books at the library
• Ditching shampoo and conditioner
• To do list app on my phone that syncs with desktop (can update at work and on the go)

Ditching shampoo and conditioner

Are you no shampoo at all, shampoo bars or bicarb (or some other similar substitute)?

@JustJustWhy nothing! Just water and a good scrub under the shower with one of those rubbery scalp brush things. I’m amazed it works, though it’s probably not for everyone (I have fine hair but lots of it).

I watched a really interesting video on the history of shampoo and conditioner marketing (and how it convinced us our hair needed to feel squeaky clean to be clean and how that actually leads to us overproducing natural oils and getting stuck in that cycle), but I cannot for the life of me find it now.

@IntermittentParps isn’t it just! I’m 34th in the queue for the new Sally Rooney. All part of the excitement.

Thanks OP, this thread has been a very fun (and expensive) read.

34th!
That's plenty of time to build up anticipation I must say, I'm not always that patient, but if I do buy a book I go to my local indie bookshop or Bookshop.org

[quote moregarlic]@JustJustWhy nothing! Just water and a good scrub under the shower with one of those rubbery scalp brush things. I’m amazed it works, though it’s probably not for everyone (I have fine hair but lots of it).

I watched a really interesting video on the history of shampoo and conditioner marketing (and how it convinced us our hair needed to feel squeaky clean to be clean and how that actually leads to us overproducing natural oils and getting stuck in that cycle), but I cannot for the life of me find it now.[/quote]
Thanks for the reply! I tried nothing but soap and water for about 3 months in lockdown with the scalp brush but it didn't work for me. I went to bicarb and finally landed on shampoo bars!

So on the back of this thread I, like many others, caved and bought a Eufy robovac.
Only a few days in but OMG OMG this is going to change everythign!
First of all, I can't believe how much it's picking up - I hoover every day (pets & kids), but it is getting EVERYTHING, including all the hair and dust from under cupboards and furniture. Fantastic. The place looks and feels so much cleaner.
But it's also having a knock-on effect becasue obviously the floors need to be tidy for it to work properly, which means we're picking things up and putting thigns away more. And I can see a new routine happening for me, as the robovac hoovers one floor of the house, I do the bathroom/kitchen on that floor at the same time. It's like we're a cleaning team lol.
Anyway, just wanted to say thank you to everyone who mentioned it and to @AndTheReasonIsYou for starting this thread.

I bought a Eufy too on the back of this thread. Thank you!! It’s waaaay better than I expected. Even DH said what a difference it makes and he originally scoffed at the idea.

And as @HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst pointed out, you do keep the floors clearer as a result so it’s a win win.

But the very best bit is that it’s not me doing it!

One less job for me. I bloody love it!!

We haven’t had the hoover out for a week. Eufy is doing all the work. They do need to be maintained though.

For all those on collagen powder supplements, don't add it to hot drinks, as it turns the available collagen into jelly and it's no longer available to your body. Anything above body heat will do this, apparently.

qz.com/quartzy/1716892/drinking-collagen-has-health-benefits-but-dont-put-it-in-coffee/

Having a treadmill at home(I get that this is a luxury and I am very spoiled and lucky to have it. However if you can afford it and have adequate room in your house, it's amazing).

Mooncup- once you get used to it it's so much more comfortable than tampons, pads, etc- at least for me, I get that we're all different.

Tesco makes a sucralose-based sweetener that comes in a tub with a yellow lid- exactly the same as Splenda but a third of the price.

Lanolips lip balms- more expensive than Vaseline or Blistex but lasts for hours, a little goes a long way and it really does the trick when my lips are in tatters.

I second the poster that mentioned the hand hotties things! I have Raynauds disease and they make going for walks in the winter possible.