Let's start a thread of just random advise / hacks

[washingmachineslivelongerwithcalgon]

No specific topic, just great advise you'd give.

Keep it simple.
(Apologies, I didn't know which other category to put this under that would gain traction)

I'll go first:

• don't sweat the petty stuff, & don't pet the sweaty stuff.
• if you can't open a food jar, pierce the top to get the air out and it opens right up!
• drizzle a tablespoon of marmite into the cooking fat before you roast your potatoes (and drizzle some over the spuds)
• if you don't have egg cups, use shot glasses
• hair spray gets most things out of carpets. (Learnt this when staying at a boyfriends house as a teen and dropped lipstick. Blind panic and hairspray saved me!) used it ever since, in emergency situations.

Does insane mean good in this instance

Great thread idea!

If you are having problems popping a cork of champagne or sparkling wine, run the top of the bottle under hot water for a couple of minutes. The glass expands and the cork slides out!

😆😆😆 I guess it’s one of those things you might not think of if you don’t own a dog.

Mine is if you like cooking with wine, store it in tupperware in the freezer and just scoop it out as and when you need it next (it doesn’t freeze solid so easy to scoop).

May I add the use of the word 'hack' in this context marks you down as a DM afficionado!

Always have a set of spare clothes for your child with you for unexpected incidents... done this ever since my ds was once sick in the car we had to stop to buy a whole outfit change!

When your LO outgrows their nappies, the obvious is give the rest of the pack to someone who needs it but keep a when you need to drain the washing machine manually due to blockages - saves washing another towel!

Baby/ kid socks with the bottom cut off make cute barbie dresses.

Best place for kids soft toys are a toy hammock or an empty bean bag cover!

Tin of oxtail soup in your homemade Shepard's pie is perfection.

When your kids want a fort, tuck a double duvet cover behind the radiator (when it's off) and peg the other end to two chairs.

Play dough tools in the sand pit is another level of curiosity and fun.

Occupy a child who won't choke with marbles, kid tweezers and pop it fidgets... use the tweezers to place the marbles in the holes of the pop it's

Another teacher hack - use antibacterial gel on stubborn whiteboard marks.

To help clean the inside of an oven, slightly wet a dishwasher tablet and rub it gently on the glass. It works!

To remove bloody from any light clothing (I'm not a serial killer), pop water on and lots of salt, rub and rinse.

To remove chewing gum from ANYTHING, pot the item in the freezer and after a few hours, it should peel off!

You're welcome 🤣

*blood

Ignore the typos, I'm eating cake!

Are you neglecting your cake to type on MN?

Unless you really have to, don't be a dick. This is applicable to many situations.

@washingmachineslivelongerwithcalgon it's a lovely thread, and I spent HOURS on my phone, reading books, watching TV etc whilst breastfeeding. I think it's an efficient way to spend your time. You can't just stare at the baby's head and they tend to be pretty focused on what they are doing in my experience.

I would add as a useful life hack - don't take comments from randoms on the internet to heart and don't let them ruin your day. Don't assume everyone on Mumsnet is on the same page as you. Some will be having a terrible day, some will be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, some will be trolls, some will be arseholes.

One day (sadly) you will be having to talk to your little breast-fed baby about all this OP 🌻.

Ignore them
They're arseholes

@Ladybird69 you’re welcome!

Are you always rude.

If it's a glass jar with a metal lid boil a bit of water, stand the jar upside down in the hot water for a few seconds, very easy to open then.

My mental health would have been a lot better with DS1 if I'd had a mobile phone when he was born. The endless hours feeding (severe reflux so fed way more than normal) and trying to get him to sleep/back to sleep (cf. Reflux)...

Anyway, my tips:
Store bed linen in the bedroom its to be used in (godsend in the middle of the night)

For young DC layer the bed mattress protector, sheet, mattress protector, sheet. Another godsend in the night in case of sick or pee

Declutter, declutter, declutter

Feel the emotion, but don't become the emotion. Feel it, acknowledge it, tell it to fuck off.

Do not put marmite on anything except toast

Ignore this! 😲

Yes don't believe it until you have tried this heaven in a bowl

No no no

If you go out to eat, and your meal takes 10 mins longer than expected/ isn't cooked to your liking or your drink isn't quite cold enough, use your words there and then to get it sorted out, or keep your peace.
Don't waste everyone's time by being a keyboard warrior after the event. The world does not need to know.

Why?

If it's dog wee related then I don't care but wondering if I'm missing out on something.

Instead of bashing jam jars on anything where they may smash get one of these - this is from Lakeland but my local kitchen shops sells them for £6. Best thing ever for opening screw tops. I buy them for friends as extra pressies and everyone thanks me for them - https://www.lakeland.co.uk/7706/jarkey-screw-top-jar-opener .... I use my hand blender to make hot chocolate, that is frothy.

I've found the easiest way to clean kids drinks bottles is to soak them for a while in sterilising solution for baby bottles. I wash them as normal each day but give them a soak once a week or so as i don't have a dishwasher.