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.

It works if the teacher uses a permanent marker on the whiteboard, too. 😀
One of my students told me this when I was panicking, and I’ve used it a couple of times since.

It also works if you discover long-dried-on permanent marker marks on a whiteboard, but it takes a lot more patience.

If you’ve run out of nail polish remover, paint a new layer of polish on and quickly wipe it all off before it dries. It will remove all the layers.

Roll out pastry between 2 pieces of clingfilm to stop any sticking.

If you are a mother in law/nanny never offer advice without being asked for it.

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

Baby vests come down the body in the event of a poonami!! Or if you have one like mine who prefers it coming down to going over his head.

Alcohol-based hand gel is also excellent for removing really difficult board marker.

Toothpaste for getting the smell of poop off your hands. It can linger even after a lot of scrubbing.

I thought I was the only person doing this! I also use half the recommended amount of washing powder with no apparent difference in cleanliness.A bonus is I never get a smelly washing machine as there is no build up of detergent in the workings.

Stick one of these lads in your desk drawer/handbag/makeup bag https://amzn.eu/d/62F897Y

If you can’t be bothered getting a pot out/ are at work poach eggs in the microwave by cracking them into a jug of boiling water and gently piercing the yolk a couple of times with a clean pin. Check every thirty seconds or so. Can also do them in soup, if you like that sort of thing.

@washingmachineslivelongerwithcalgon
I was told once not to accept the judgement of people I wouldn’t turn to for advice. Best wishes in your treatment.

@saveforthat Yes, the entire house will smell delicious

Carpet cleaner is actually better at getting stains out to clothes than stain remover

My passport, and those of my children, have a wee sticker with our names on sticking to the back. The passport office did it.

To remove chewing gum from ANYTHING, pot the item in the freezer and after a few hours, it should peel off!
Bloody hell wineandshine how big is your freezer? <images of teacher putting desk in freezer to remove a terms worth of gum>

Always check your kid have removed swimming kit from the bag straight away, unless you want a weeks worth of mould on the damp towel.

Never feed trolls, they'll only want more.

This is fabulous, thank you 😊

Don't be too vigorous with a plunger though, massive suctions can damage plastic piping, I know from costly experience! I once thought I'd sucked up a rat from the shower, it was a massive clump of hair,

Hilarious, what!

Seriously, do not justify yourself. Doing so gives credence to that nonsense, especiallyin your head. You have nothing to defend or justify to anyone. Treat these people with the disdain they deserve and laugh at their nonsense.

For that horrible band aid-like outline left when you remove HRT patches: get a bottle of coconut oil. Rub a little bit in and after a few minutes it wipes straight off.
Spent ages scrubbing them off leaving a red mark till I read that tip.

With babies/ toddlers take a backpack bag with you when going upstairs/downstairs for whatever you need so your hands are always free

have your clothes for the next day ready, one less decision to be made

lists are your friend

if you drink water and eat an apple first thing in the morning it tricks your body into thinking it’s a healthy day

If you love bubble bars from Lush etc, cut a small plastic bottle in half if you have one, poke many holes in the bottom, another two near the top, thread some string through and hang it over your tap. You can use a little bit of bubble to go a long way!

OP please, please try to ignore the mean little posters who frequent MN. They just enjoy bringing a bit of smirky nastiness to perfectly good threads. They're just sad sods who like to spoil things.

I'm loving your thread, and I hope you're okay.

My tips - no banging jars, just slide the tip of a round-ended knife under the edge of the lid and twist it very slightly. You just need to release the vacuum, and the lid will come off easily.

Also, chuck the parmesan rind into your ragu, for umami flavour and excellent cook's perk, when it's all melty

Be kind to sons-in-law & daughters - in-law, if your DC are happy that should be enough.

Never judge their parenting skills if your DGC are happy & thriving

Do not say I would never do things that way or my way is far better.

Always remember your son or daughter is in love with their partner, they will come first & rightly so.

Lastly if your son-in-law or
daughter - in- law deliberately upsets you tell them how you feel instead of harbouring resentment.
Also encourage them to speak to you too if you've upset them so it can be resolved at the time.

Never be too proud to apologise

Keep a spare towel and packet of tissues in your car

@NeverDropYourMooncup your point about having your own separate savings is the best advice for any girls growing up. I've told DDs to always have a Buggering Off fund. Even if you can only save enough for a few nights in a budget hotel at least you can escape with just the clothes on your back if everything turns to shit. And never tell anyone you have it.

Not nearly as good as pp tips but when you buy a new electrical item or appliance write the date of purchase and the shop you bought it in on the instruction leaflet in case it stops working prematurely.

To wash sink/draining board, squeeze lemon on it, then pour some salt in. Rub in then rinse with hot water. Smells gorgeous and sparkles!!

Reuse gift bags and buy cheap cards/gift wrap as you see it. Stock up on school stationary as you can and have it in a box for when it’s needed