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

[malificent7]

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?

@viques or you could just buy a jar of very lazy garlic. Never again will I faff with fresh garlic. You can buy very lazy ginger too.

I like the frozen ingredients from Waitrose such as garlic, chillis and ginger

I still use fresh garlic but it's there as a back up

Which Walker? My son. By a country mile. He takes all the paraphernalia and walks them sometimes for hours. I take the bare minimum and tire them out quickly with ball throwing. DP is in the middle, with a 5 mile hike or 12 mile bike ride but no balls.

Which water receptacle?
They love the metal bowl, but often run away with it like its a game, I use the bucket, clamp it between my feet so it doesnt tip and they cant run off with it (downside wet shoes) the stupid collapsible bowl is small but sometimes collapses once they put a paw on it. One dog likes to drop the ball in whichever is used and drink around the ball, impossible in the collapsible.

Ourladycheesusedatum
🤣

@pellegrina

I have to say though, nothing on here is a patch on the 2 vintage Mumsnetters from years back - one of whom saved time in the mornings by putting her kids to bed in their uniform the night before, and the other who invented the worlds first hands free telephone by clamping it to her ear by putting a pair of tights over her head..

Thank you so much for that .
putting her kids to bed in their uniform the night before, makes me laugh so much

Hope this works, first time uploading images!

AlloftheTime · Yesterday 15:46
NorthernSoul55 · 08/06/2023 13:45

Or instead of hooks buy a big pack of cable ties. Make it into a circle by posting the slim end through the fastener., put it over your washing line and thread the hanger through the 2 loops.
When dry, if you leave it over the coat hanger hook, you can hang another garment from the cable tie doubling wardrobe space. Hope I've described it properly!
Also used here to support plants, repair dog leads, fasten broken fencing..
Show quote history
This sounds good but I need a photo

please

@NorthernSoul55 can't picture the 2 loops.Photo ???
pretty please ??

worked perfectly ,thank you !

@RosesAndHellebores I buy that from M&S - much better, my hands don't reek for days!!

@rileynexttime IDK if this will help or be more confusing;

Every last bit of washing in our house goes onto colour coded hangers the minute it comes out of the washing machine- red hangers for DC, blue mine, black the husbands. They get hung on a clothes horse in the garden and then go back into respective wardrobes when dry. For smalls, I use the Ikea octopus- every member has their own. I drop this off with dried items to their rooms and they put their own things away.

Do you iron any of it?

Not the majority. The only items that still need ironing are workshirts or the pleats in school trousers. My ironing is a smidgen of what it once was.

I tend to iron my own stuff and did some where necessary for the dc when they were here

I should add, clothes only get ironed on a 'needs only' basis in this house so when someone wants to wear them.

Each to their own but I quite like to have things like that. I would put them in an album or nice box or frame them.

I found some of my Grandmother's dollies she had crocheted and framed the best one. The frame was a very simple silver square and I used a silver silk as the background (which I stitched the dollie to) so it ended up looking a really nice mix of old and modern. Other relatives really liked it so ended up doing a batch which made great presents for everyone.

Stuff is an issue though. I've told my parents what I do and don't want, essentially one thing from each of my parents, grand parents and my great grandparents on my Mum's maternal line. So maybe 8 items in total.

Haha. Thank you! One memorable piece of art work was just a piece of paper coloured green. I had written on the back “It’s a FIELD mummy!” Just an example of the stuff that was preserved! 😂

The Ikea octopus is more robust than any other sock dryer. I have two and I love them.

I find it therapeutic and since I've done it I keep bringing in dried clothes that are perfectly smooth and folded, sYing to my husband 'this wasn't ironed! Neither was this!' It feels like cheating the system. Its especially satisfying with baby clothes. Perfectly flat little cardigans ❤

If you have deep cupboards (front to back) things can easily be lost from sight. I avoid this by lining up (front to back) multiple cans of the same item, eg tomatoes, baked beans,

Something I discovered by accident. If I give my dog a puzzle as a toy (he has to open a drawer or lift a loop to get a treat) he's bored with it in a few minutes. But if I place it next to his food bowl he's more interested. He will also take treats from it that he doesn't fancy when handed them directly,

I think some of you need to adjust your cognitive schema. Why do you think matching crockery is a requirement? Just have mis matched crockery? Or don't invite people round (my strategy) same with bedding.

Love this thread and all the suggestions to make life easier, thanks everyone😀
Definitely going to try the hooks on the washing line for hangers

Because we are all different and some people are affected more by how things look aesthetically than others?

I ordered some and used first time today.

I love them @Mabelface

I agree with this. Life isn't all about efficiency, although of course it is pleasing to be able to save time on routine chores. I wouldn't inflict communal socks on my household, but fine if nobody cares...eg DH wouldn't notice at all but I like my favourite socks!

Crockery is an interesting one as I do have cherished nice china which I use every day. Over the years we have lost a lot of cups which would cost a fortune to replace new. I have found the odd used ones on eBay etc, but not enough. My breakthrough came when I noticed the maker of my beloved cups had at least four other patterns in the identical shape, so I have been buying any I see cheap. They all have similar colours and look very nice being mis matched!