Please tell me your life hacks to cut tasks and get rid of unnecessary tasks

[dancinginthesky]

I'm trying to simplify my home (I'm disabled) and any tasks I can get rid of to manage better I would welcome learning about

Inspired by another thread- so far I can think of these hacks I already use:

• no tea, coffee canisters, just using the packet in a cupboard (no cleaning or refilling)

• no iron, I buy cheap clothing that gets chucked in the dryer and if folded or hung right away while warm doesn't need ironing - i keep an ice cube tray available for chucking an ice cube in with anything that gets wrinkly so it can go in the dryer for a few minutes and come out crease free

• no separate bedding - I sew my fitted sheets with a blanket and cover over (L shaped) so it's all attached and to make the bed is a pillowcase and one sheet to get on not the whole thing and all comes off together for throwing in the wash and dryer in one go

• water bottles for family members or one personal mug they must reuse ♻️ through the day to cut washing up down massively - we have mugs but just a few nice ones for guests when needed

• no zillion cleaning products- I have a spray bottle of part water part washing up liquid and clean everything with it. I still buy bleach for the loo and have antibac wipes if something needs it

• After we use a towel in the bathroom whatever you used, you use the same now dirty towel to wipe off the water- stops it ever needing more than a light rinse with soapy water to clean

Anyway... what are your time/energy saving hacks and what do I currently probably use that's totally unnecessary?

@Begonne

Oh I love that idea 💡- next home I have I will absolutely figure out wardrobes, drawers etc all remaining in the same room as the washer/dryer for everyone- literally wondering if I could figure it out now in the kitchen if I massively declutter a few cabinets and chuck some gadgets out but I don't think I would fit it. I guess kitchen then cooking smells wouldn't mix great with laundry for storage but a laundry/dressing room would make far more sense than how we do it now if homes were designed that way!

The sock over it is now going to be lifechanging for me with Henry! 😁

@redspottedmug How is food recycling messy, smelly and a chore? If your council provide you a bin for food waste then there's absolutely no difference between putting your food waste in that and in your landfill bin. It's just putting food into a bin. There's no difference in the amount of waste, it has to be thrown away regardless (so no more of a chore) and it doesn't need to get smelly if you put it out every few days.

One of the motivations for councils to give people food bins is to encourage less food waste (the idea being that if you see how much is being thrown out that you make changes in the way you buy/use food). That can only be a good thing, surely?

I'm disabled and take medication which makes me sleep a lot, it's just my husband and I at home so mess is limited.

My tips are:
Keep rolls of bin liners in the bottom of the bin to stop the hunt for fresh

Have a basket for upstairs and downstairs to save multiple trips.

Relax about having the house sparkling, I've had to really lower my standards. Dh works full time so have to prioritise what needs doing rather than what I'd like doing.

We can't use liners in our food recycling so the bin for food waste needs to be washed every time it's emptied.

Well use the towels more and that’s a huge job gone! I wash mine every 2 weeks. Yes, it’s slatternly but do I care: no. The planet loves me too. Ahhh.

@ComputerInitiateJump yes, currently I place the fitted sheet on a bed... trace round the edges so I have a guide and then pin on blanket (snuggly one so as warm as duvet and a top cover I've already sewn together in fabric I like and sew along the bottom and up one side)

But I'm googling printed duvets now and contemplating if I will sew them together with the sheet this way or not - it does mean they don't fall off and making the bed is just pulling it across to look neat without tucking in etc

Mine are simple things that I suppose equate to work ahead.

When emptying washing machine, refill powder drawer.

Load most dirty clothes straight in, until a load full.

Dishwasher same, unload, put tablet in, rinse any bits that need done .

Plastic pegs, leave on line, hang washing out at night rather than morning, often get a load dry by morning.

If I'm going to a room, take something, so a toilet roll if going to bathroom, something that needs put away.

Make up dogs next food when they eat meal.

Keep poo bags in all pockets and tied to lead.

Same with nappies, some in car, some in house, some in bag.

Hoover, empty it.

Mop, wash mop head.

So always leaving things ready to use.

We have a huge recycling wheelie bin for plastics, glass, tins etc. It's collected every 2 weeks. We had been lugging it out and back every fortnight but it's only about a quarter full. As the items inside, have been washed out, there's nothing to get smelly so now I only put it out when it's full, roughly once every 2 months. Saves a job!

"I would think long and hard about food recycling though. That is a chore, smelly, messy etc."

I keep the food bin bag in the fridge.

I'm abroad and I'm not given a bin, only a bag. I can get a bin if I go somewhere very inconvenient to pick it up.
I keep my bag in the fridge otherwise it would indeed be very smelly.

"That can only be a good thing, surely?"

No, I don't buy this 'never waste food' attitude. We already have an overeating problem. Stop eating when you're full and if food needs to be binned, so be it (of course try to keep for later if possible).

New towels daily. I love it like being in a hotel

Coverless duvets. Its really good for eczema/allergies too as the duvet gets washed so often. I'm a convert since getting them for my kids, even with no drier they're all dry within the day, so no need to double up.

Also washing. Get colour catcher sheets to see if you actually need to separate. The only separate thing here is my baby carrier which is cold wash only!

Bump

Reduce the amount of washing, shake and re wear outer clothes more often. Febreze spray is your friend.

https://www.finebedding.co.uk/products/night-owl-coverless-duvet-dusk-pink?variant=39880455422014&g_network=x&g_productchannel=online&g_adid=&g_acctid=295-808-1825&g_locinterest=&g_keyword=&g_campaign=account&g_adtype=pla&g_keywordid=&g_ifcreative=&g_locphysical=9046836&g_adgroupid=&g_productid=shopify_GB_7079368753214_39880455422014&g_source=%7Bsourceid%7D&g_merchantid=650304050&g_placement=&g_partition=&g_campaignid=18665829735&g_ifproduct=product&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkLm896zw_wIVk-rtCh2Q_w4FEAQYASABEgLoRfD_BwE

Method daily shower spray. The passion fruit one smells nice and doesn't catch in your throat. Spray on tiles or glass shower door after your shower
I think using that I last cleaned my shower door about 4 months ago, it's amazing!

Not cleaning but I use the supermarket to cook for me - so chicken off the hot counter, frozen mash, ready prepped veg etc

I think the idea is that you buy less, not that you buy the same amount and force yourself to eat it!

Use a shower blade to clean down the shower. No smears and no washing.

Put all washing in the machine together
I use Persil colour & a colour catcher sheet
No need to sort into different colours

No ironing

Don't have a drawer full of odds and sods that you spend hours riffling through for batteries, pens or whatever. Keep everything in its own box, or separate drawer. Was at a friend's house the other day. Was amazed by her drawer of crap - cat collar, old corks, postcards, batteries etc that she had to hunt through to find stufff. She was equally amazed that I don't have a drawer in my kitchen reserved for crap important bits and pieces. Equally, I don't have piles of papers on kitchen counters, the dining table or by my bed.

Some councils are checking bins and refusing to empty those with a mixture of items- three refusals and you get fined.
Surely it isn’t difficult to separate recycling from general waste?

I buy ready chopped onions, peppers, carrots, in fact most vegetables. It’s saved an enormous amount of waste from over-buying fresh stuff that then goes off.

Agree no,or minimal ironing.
One bottle of cleaning spray does everywhere. You dont need seperate ones for kitchen and bathroom, thats just marketing. When its empty refill using pods from Smol or other companies. Saves a fortune.
Banana peels,eggshells and coffee grounds all go into the garden instead of buying plant food or fertiliser.
Buy a slow cooker. Just chuck everything in and job done.
Make packed lunches up the night before.
Skip breakfast...havent had it in years and gives me more time in bed!
Reuse towels as often as you can and stop washing things after one wear! ( apart from undies and very soiled clothing)

Line all bins twice. The first bin bag slides out of the second one easier. Also check bins daily. Soo much easier to take out a 3/4 full bag than to wrestle with overstuffed one.

Washing - I started wearing outer garments like jeans & jumpers 3 times instead of twice. I now do nearly a third less washing drying and folding.

Have less clutter. It's quicker to dust & clean.