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AIBU?

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Original poster

Simple things that I should have done years ago to make life easier

584 replies

malificent7 · 04/06/2023 07:48

My lovely cat has been waking us up at 5/6am for 6 years.
Last night I had the genius idea of closing the lounge door so she couldn't come to our room.
Hence we slept longer. Why did I not think of this earlier? I love cat snuggles but love a lie in more.

Am I thick or does anyone have similar stories?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
16
NotanotherboxofFrogs · 09/06/2023 01:40

VitoCorleoneOfMNMafia · 09/06/2023 00:43

you can just unhook, wash with hooks in and hang up again

I tried that, lost half the hooks in the washing machine. Eyelet curtains or blinds now.

When you take down the curtains put each one of the pair into a separate pillowcase.

I bought a pair of plain white pillowcases for under £2 for this purpose and knot the top of the pillowcase and throw into the washing machine, Ive also used the pillowcases for washing delicates, dry clean only clothes etc

It means that any loose hooks are contained and then its just straighten it out and back on the pole .

Leafy3 · 09/06/2023 01:41

VitoCorleoneOfMNMafia · 09/06/2023 01:04

Result: clothes on the lawn as soon as the wind picked up.

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Hasn't happened yet!

bonfirebash · 09/06/2023 01:52

This one might be a bit niche but I love beauty/makeup stuff. Works for other stuff too

If I see something I think I want, I add it to a list in notes on my phone which are divided into sections like makeup/hair/household/clothes
I check reviews and read a bit about whatever it is, and if I change my mind I bin it off the list
Then I look for offers/Quidco/discount codes and make a note next to it
Like an Amazon wish list but not for Amazon Grin

Means when I say run out of mascara and think "what WAS that one I saw I wanted to try?" Then I check the list and it's there
Or if someone asks me what I want for my birthday or I want to treat myself I can pick off the "wish list" I've made

I also do it for stuff people mention so I know what I can get them for Christmas etc and have lists with their names on

bonfirebash · 09/06/2023 01:57

Oh and buy stuff before you need it if you have space

Example of shopping with my dad
Me "look, your coffee is on offer"
Dad "I don't need it, I have some"
Me Confused "but..it's cheaper than usual and you will at some point need it so why buy it when it's more expensive?"
Dad "oh. I never thought of it that way"
Me Hmm

ShowsLikeThese · 09/06/2023 02:00

MonumentalLentil · 08/06/2023 11:34

Emptying ours isn't a 3 minute job. If I don't catch it just as the stuff is mostly dry and still hot and open the door, the stupid thing (Siemens, new type) starts to create steam and makes everything soaking wet again. It has never actually dried a full load. This results in emptying it and either drying by hand or stacking it on the drainer to dry properly before it can be re-loaded.

Can also not put anything else in it once it has finised a wash becuae it is always full to bursting due to the racks being designed only for certain shapes of stuff, therefore takes a lot of fiddling about to get it all in.

I just leave it all on the side until the previous load is actually dry or I can be bothered to stack it on the drainer.

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I think you need a new dishwasher.

Ours, wait for it, opens itself when the cycle is done. Steam escapes and dishes dry quickly.

Don't often see it because it's usually put on at bed time, but every time it clicks open in my presence, I congratulate it how wonderful it is

ThursdayFreedom · 09/06/2023 02:06

highlydiverse · 04/06/2023 11:42

If clothes are clean enough to wear again they can hang up or go into drawers with other clean clothes.

For so long I had an irrational dilemma about this.

Related, but one day I realised I didn’t need to store dirty laundry in the bathroom or bedrooms. Everything that needs to be cleaned can go into the machine and wait in there until there is enough of it to wash.

@highlydiverse the reason you shouldn't put worn garments into wardrobes/drawers is that they attract moths.

wanttokickoffbutcant · 09/06/2023 02:09

Freetodowhatiwant · Yesterday 07:36
Anyone else totally just bought those washing hanger hooks…? Genius!

Yes! Meeeee!!!!

ThursdayFreedom · 09/06/2023 02:13

Redhenwattle701 · 08/06/2023 03:17

Yes and similarly line your kitchen bin with a thick layer of kitchen roll.

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@Redhenwattle701

No need to wate paper towel, just buy decent bin bags.

VitoCorleoneOfMNMafia · 09/06/2023 02:13

Leafy3 · 09/06/2023 01:41

Hasn't happened yet!

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I live on a corner plot and it's very breezy. I say "clothes on the lawn" from experience.

Seddon · 09/06/2023 03:01

Sunshineandflipflops · 08/06/2023 07:49

It amazes me that people let their cats roam free overnight!

I have had cats all my life and they are always shut out over night. When I say shut out, she is confined to the utility room, which has her bed and food in, and a cat flap to go outside. She is fed and let in the house in the morning.

If I didn't do this, she would be waking us up all night and there's always the possibility of coming downstairs to something dead or injured in the living room.

I do the same but I imagine not everyone has a utility room. My cat is an absolute menace, we already run on little sleep for various reasons and she would ruin whatever we do get. If we didn't have a utlity room she'd be overnighting in the bathroom or some other room that's too far away for us to hear her and with no soft furnishings she can ruin.

Mumontherunn · 09/06/2023 03:15

Life is too short for ironing. It’s all about careful hanging and folding.

Also, I was getting so fed up of never having enough room on the clothes airer… so I bought a second one. Now I have two. Simple.

JandalsAlways · 09/06/2023 03:56

Leafy3 · 09/06/2023 00:56

Instead of wasting money on annoying washing line hooks, just clip a peg to the line and hook the hanger between the (upright) prongs.

Or put the peg on the hanger and it can't come off

daisychain01 · 09/06/2023 04:33

DaftyLass · 08/06/2023 01:59

Line your crisper drawer in the fridge with paper towel. It helps balance the humidity, it catches any fallen celery leaves, or such, and it makes cleaning it a breeze if something goes squishy

Those white reusable net bags you get in supermarkets nowadays are brilliant for storing broccoli in the fridge - put them straight from your shopping bag into the fridge. They catch all the broccoli crumbs and stop the bits from falling down the back of the fridge and causing a right mess.

daisychain01 · 09/06/2023 04:39

I always tear up a supply of about 10 bin bags that sit in the bottom of the kitchen bin, under the currently used bin bag. Saves faffing about searching for the roll in the storage basket where all our reusable bags are and having to tear them off individually every time

MooFroo · 09/06/2023 04:48

viques · 08/06/2023 12:09

My tape cutter. You turn the daisy wheel and the thing that looks like the paddle on a water wheel delivers the tape cut into small strips. It does other things too, which are probably game changing but I have never worked out what they are.

Motex Prime Water Wheel Sellotape Dispenser - Purple
https://amzn.eu/d/3dPKVXl

just spent ages going thru these to find your pic- bit genius this dispenser!

ThatFraggle · 09/06/2023 04:51

The people saying steal an office sellotape dispenser, wtf

Orangello · 09/06/2023 06:17

I always tear up a supply of about 10 bin bags that sit in the bottom of the kitchen bin

Just leave the entire roll in the bottom of the bin and only tear when you pull the full bag out.

Scalottia · 09/06/2023 06:59

ShowsLikeThese · 09/06/2023 02:00

I think you need a new dishwasher.

Ours, wait for it, opens itself when the cycle is done. Steam escapes and dishes dry quickly.

Don't often see it because it's usually put on at bed time, but every time it clicks open in my presence, I congratulate it how wonderful it is

Show quote history

Ours does too. It's a gamechanger. I always thank it when it clicks open too, haha! Well done, little dishwasher.

Sigmama · 09/06/2023 07:05

Thursday freedom, yes I heard that putting worn clothes back attracts moths

MerelyPlaying · 09/06/2023 07:17

Obvious but took me ages to work out - I go away overnight for several nights at least once a month with work, as well as visits to friends, family and so on. My washbag was always the last thing to pack as I'd have to wait till I'd brushed my teeth before I could pack it, yet it's quite a bulky item.

Lightbulb moment - I bought a second tube of toothpaste, spare toothbrush (I use electric at home but don't usually take it away), spare deodorant etc. As soon as I get back from a trip I refill travel-size shower gel, shampoo and other stuff and the bag is always ready to pack.

I keep make-up (I use very little) daily tablets, paracetamol, glasses cleaner and a mini hairbrush in another bag on my dressing table and use stuff daily directly out of this. When it's time to pack I just zip it up and put it in the case.

Loving some of the tips about fridge/freezer usage. Did you know you can buy chalkboard in sticky-back plastic format? I have a piece inside a kitchen cupboard for writing a meal plan and shopping list on but you can stick it on the fridge, wall, door or wherever. I use small pieces to label things like cake or biscuit tins where the contents change.

I'm off to buy a tape dispenser!

Seddon · 09/06/2023 07:21

Just leave the entire roll in the bottom of the bin and only tear when you pull the full bag out.

@Orangello you absolute genius Star

CornedBeef451 · 09/06/2023 08:17

@SaltyCrisps your mouse catcher is a genius idea!

We've moved recently but at the old house there must have been a mouse nest in the garden as the cats brought in a parade of mice who ended up all over the place.

If it happens at the new house I'll try your trick!

rileynexttime · 09/06/2023 08:44

I agree @SaltyCrisps as invented a genius solution to the stray cat brought in mouse problem .Especially clever is having several around the house for quick access.
I reckon could be patented and sold .

but it's saved me a ton of time and much stress and heartache! When I've finished with a kitchen roll (or similar) I cover one end with paper and tape it down securely. Then when the cat brings in some terrified wee mouse I can point the open end of the tube towards the mouse from a distance (it's normally hiding behind something on the stairs) and it will almost always run in. I can then carry the mouse out to the garden and put down the tube in the bushes, collecting it the following day. I have a collection of them now, stored in strategic places around the house :)

ecuse · 09/06/2023 08:45

MayBeee · 08/06/2023 07:40

Save nothing for best.
Don't keep something because it might be handy one-day.
Don't be sentimental about gifts.
If it's broken , Chuck it.
Wear your best clothes.
Use that perfume.

USE.THAT.PERFUME.

Mind blown! I so needed to hear that!

sueelleker · 09/06/2023 08:46

MerelyPlaying You could get a battery operated toothbrush to take away?