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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Please hit me with your hacks and small purchases that have changed your life !

192 replies

beenaroundtheblox · 03/07/2022 13:56

AIBU here 😂. I've been given some birthday money for my 40th and really want to spend it on some house bits that are helpful to my everyday life. I really want to get my life and house into order. Was thinking about a robot vacuum etc. Any other ideas?

OP posts:
BeggarsMeddle · 03/07/2022 16:16

Those 30p supermarket white gauzy bags for loose fruit and veg. Been very useful and not just for hanging up my onions!

FiveHargreeves · 03/07/2022 16:20

@DDivaStar can you talk me through the garlic plates?

SavoyCabbage · 03/07/2022 16:22

ILoveAllRainbowsx · 03/07/2022 16:11

I had a robot vacuum cleaner years ago but I stopped using it because the dust container was so small and I had to keep emptying it.

How often does everyone have to empty their cleaner?

Mine empties itself. I've got a lot of wooden floors though.

SkankingWombat · 03/07/2022 16:23

Robot hoover (for everyday maintenance)
Cordless stick hoover (for spills and the stairs)
Vileda 1-2 spray mop
Frozen chopped onions
Frozen crushed garlic lozenges (in the world food freezer section)
Frozen mashed potato
Frozen chopped herbs

For the PP that asked, I find I can leave the Robovac between 2-3 uses between emptying if needed, but I tend to do it every time as I find seeing the amount collected quite satisfying.

Luidaeg · 03/07/2022 16:29

goldfinchonthelawn · 03/07/2022 15:34

I hope you are joking @AllHailKingLouis

Show quote history

I'm going to agree with the you cannot be serious!

How big is your house? and if its that big and cold, sell it and get a smaller warm one - pissing in your front room and then chucking behind a sofa is disgusting, how do you wash your hands after for a start

Feelingsillyandgiddy · 03/07/2022 16:32

Yes to robot vacuum! I absolutely love the joy I get coming home to the lines on the carpet from
my Robovac

AllHailKingLouis · 03/07/2022 16:33

This reply has been deleted

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SnowWhitesSM · 03/07/2022 16:45

I love my salad spinner. Prevents soggy sandwiches although if I didn't have a dishwasher I wouldn't bother with it.

TheFormidableMrsC · 03/07/2022 16:47

Air fryer and an Oodie. Both have become indispensable in our house!

CurlyCabbage · 03/07/2022 16:48

TicTac80 · 03/07/2022 15:45

Depending on your budget:
-robovac (I got mine on offer from Amazon)
-electric floor mop thingy (I’ve got wooden floors, and this was another Amazon deal).
-Aeropress coffee maker - makes lovely coffee, and it’s a lot cheaper/more environmentally friendly than the pod style coffee machines. I bought one for using at work, as it’s cheaper than Costa and means/my workmates get decent coffee :)
-instant pot (I’ve got an IP duo, it’s 6yrs old and still works brilliantly).
-sisal/hemp bags to put soap bars in. The kids and I have one each, with our chosen soap bar for when we shower.
-Thermomix (saves me a lot of time with cooking and food prep). However, it’s bloody expensive (I got mine on an interest free credit thing and only after weighing up how much I think I’d use it. My friend has an older model, which is going strong after over a decade and she uses it daily).

I use all the above things pretty much everyday and they save me a lot of time and faff. V handy as I’m on my own with 2 DC and I work FT.

PS Travel Johns are fab! I keep some in the car in case the kids/me need WC and no toilets about. I also take them camping, in case kids/me need a wee at night and its bucketing down with rain outside!

@TicTac80 Which electric floor mop do you use?. Also have a lot of wooden floors. Using bona spray mop currently but Suggestions for an alternative would be great.

Summerwhereareyou · 03/07/2022 16:53

All hail king Louis,I will remember that suggestion when I'm living alone at 80 and an alcoholics

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 03/07/2022 16:59

@AllHailKingLouis

A box of travel johns so you can piss next to sofa and save yourself a trip to the bathroom.

The OP wanted suggestions on things to make everyday life easier, that was my suggestion. Obviously they come into their own in winter when it’s too cold to head to the bathroom, especially if you live in a big cold house like mine. And as I’ve said above, you can use the same bag a few times before it falls apart (and you know when it’s had enough as you start to see urine seeping through). At that point, just Chuck it behind the sofa with the others and dispose of them all when you next leave the room. They don’t smell either if that’s what you’re bothered about.

Hmm, interesting. 🤔 Is there a shit equivalent? Sometimes, when I'm in the middle of Stranger Things or something as compelling, I CBA to get up and go to the bathroom for a shit. Would be handy to be able to squat and shit into a bag and pop it by the side of my armchair, and chuck it away later.

AllHailKingLouis · 03/07/2022 16:59

Summerwhereareyou · 03/07/2022 16:53

All hail king Louis,I will remember that suggestion when I'm living alone at 80 and an alcoholics

Glad to be of service 😁

howdoesatoastermaketoast · 03/07/2022 16:59

RudsyFarmer · 03/07/2022 14:39

What does that even mean?!!!

Show quote history

I was afraid to google - sounds quite american

anybloodyname · 03/07/2022 17:01

@WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps .. how about a cat litter tray ? 🤭🤢

AllHailKingLouis · 03/07/2022 17:01

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autumnboys · 03/07/2022 17:02

Supersimkin2 · 03/07/2022 15:27

Ginger kitten.

Can confirm, very life enhancing, as long as you’re not allergic. Ours is a ginger cat now.

Please hit me with your hacks and small purchases that have changed your life !
coodawoodashooda · 03/07/2022 17:10

Dahliasrule · 03/07/2022 16:10

Coodawoodashooda, I have a robot vac and it is great for breakfast room, kitchen and hall with tiled floors. (Though do have to put chairs on breakfast table otherwise it can’t get under it.) Unfortunately, cannot use it in living/dining room as it will start humping the stressless style recliner we have and just gets stuck!

Thank you

TicTac80 · 03/07/2022 17:16

@CurlyCabbage , it’s a Bissell Spinwave (model # 2052E). It cleans well, and doesn’t leave the floors soaking. I’ve also put cheapy green scouring pad on the pads it has for the tile floor in hallway/kitchen/bathroom, and that really cleaned the tiles well. Good for wood floors and tiled floors here.

For whoever asked about robovacs and size of house, my house is bloody small. Still worth having (I have 2 DC and 3 cats*).

@autumnboys and @Supersimkin2 , I def agree…my cats def enhance my life! XH seems to think I’ve turned into a crazy cat lady. I have…they’re awesome!

Pleiades2020 · 03/07/2022 17:24

Velvetiser.

FangsForTheMemory · 03/07/2022 17:29

Depends how often I run it but maybe twice a week altogether.

FangsForTheMemory · 03/07/2022 17:32

The three non-standard gadgets that have most enhanced my life are my robot vacuum, dishwasher and steam generator iron.

Now all I need is an oven-cleaning house elf.

JennyForeigner · 03/07/2022 18:03

For the people with robot vacuums -

Do they cope with lumpy bumpy terracotta tiles? Ours are old and very uneven. Also lots of level changes/steps. Sorry to be obtuse but do they have some kind of internal gidget or would they fall and break?

coodawoodashooda · 03/07/2022 18:12

JennyForeigner · 03/07/2022 18:03

For the people with robot vacuums -

Do they cope with lumpy bumpy terracotta tiles? Ours are old and very uneven. Also lots of level changes/steps. Sorry to be obtuse but do they have some kind of internal gidget or would they fall and break?

I just looked them up on amazon. The sales videos imply they do
.

saveforthat · 03/07/2022 18:12

Finally sorted my nail varnish storage.

Please hit me with your hacks and small purchases that have changed your life !