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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what the most BRILLIANT advice/suggestion you've seen on here is?

872 replies

SpikySausage · 22/04/2025 15:48

Inspired by the other thread with a similar title!

Maybe not advice/suggestion as such, but I wouldn't have got my Mirena coil had I not been persuaded by the balance of views on here and enough positive feedback that it could work out well. It has been lifechanging, I wish I had done it 20 years ago, I could have avoided years of pain.

My new one is tretinoin. It's only been a few weeks but I already think I will be using this for the rest of my life. Why have I spent so much money on expensive and less efficacious creams?

Without wanting to control the direction of the thread, I wasn't thinking of LTB type advice. More immediately implementable things that someone could try today! (Although MN has definitely educated me in matters such as 'the script', narcissism, emotional abuse, and trans/gender critical matters!)

OP posts:
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14
theDudesmummy · 23/04/2025 13:37

Mine is a rather more serious one than some, but when my DS was diagnosed with autism looking for help on the SN boards on MN led me into the world of ABA. DS was on an ABA programme for 8 years and it transformed his life and ours. I will always be grateful for that. (and all the support from MN along the way).

Also: Thanks for the tip about anti-spider spray a few pages back!

Cheerfulcharlie · 23/04/2025 13:40

The advice to check your breasts (seen time and time again over the years) is the one I am most grateful for right now.

MothershipG · 23/04/2025 13:41

Flytrap01 · 22/04/2025 16:17

that chatgpt can give alot more refined answers rather than half of mumsnet suggestions

to edit : chatgpt was suggested by others and when i tried it i was hooked

Edited

OMG! Thank you for this I just got the answer to a burning question that vanished into the ether on here!

Telephone and Rubber Band - Penguin Cafe Orchestra

Timeforatincture · 23/04/2025 13:43

Cherrysoup · 22/04/2025 22:42

A poster recommended the Aircraft scrubber, it’s brilliant for bathroom/kitchen tiles, totally renovated my alloys, does my textured laminate, in fact, the only thing that works bar hand scrubbing! Laminate is an absolute trauma to clean with multiple dogs. It lasts for a 20x10 kitchen, ruddy hard work, but so worth it.

Is this a tool or a substance?

Interested because I have geometric tiles in my hall. The shiny sections clean up fine but the matt cream parts are a sod.

Thanks!

Zanzara · 23/04/2025 13:47

LadyTwattington · 23/04/2025 08:20

You could also try to be nicer and not assume ill intent in people.

Bafflement at not understanding a description written online and trying to work out if I am understanding correctly isn't nastiness.

Plus the person who first gave that tip on this thread clearly said "super king bed".

Edited
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Read your posts back. The tone is not mild.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 23/04/2025 13:50

Oh and re getting rid of surplus fat in cooking pans -

I can't remember if the tip came from Mumsnet or elsewhere but it's one I use. Warm up the pan until the fat is runny, then stir in handfuls of porridge oats. It will soak up the fat and you then use the oats to feed to the birds in the garden.

WinWhenTheyreSinging · 23/04/2025 13:50

GalacticTowelMaster · 23/04/2025 11:12

What are these pins?? I need these! Also something to keep bottom sheet in place. Despite buying extra deep sheets they still ping off

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Buy the Rise & Fall fitted sheets. They really are every bit as good as they say they are, don't move at all.

LadyTwattington · 23/04/2025 13:51

Zanzara · 23/04/2025 13:47

Read your posts back. The tone is not mild.

Show quote history

Respectfully, since I know my intention and you are guessing at it, perhaps it's you that is wrong?

I acknowledge that tone can be misinterpreted in writing.

Perzival · 23/04/2025 13:58

If you have a child with send or a diagnosis of anything then set up an email account for just dealing with things disability, sen or dx related. That way it's all stored in one place and you have a really great record or everything. I really wish I'd done this from the start.

boobybum · 23/04/2025 14:03

GalacticTowelMaster · 23/04/2025 11:12

What are these pins?? I need these! Also something to keep bottom sheet in place. Despite buying extra deep sheets they still ping off

Show quote history

Try bed sheet clips (like men’s braces). They have been a godsend for me.

murasaki · 23/04/2025 14:13

boobybum · 23/04/2025 14:03

Try bed sheet clips (like men’s braces). They have been a godsend for me.

Show quote history

Those look good, but my issues seem to be at the sides rather than the ends.

SlightlyJaded · 23/04/2025 14:15

HowAmITheCatsGranny · 22/04/2025 22:10

Rather than trying to pour hot fat away after cooking, using a piece of kitchen roll to absorb it out of the pan and just binning it (I do mean the odd spoonful, not a whole chip pan!)

For larger amounts of oil, I get a piece of foil, turn up the edges to make a little tray then pour the fat in and quickly scrunch to seal. Then it can go straight in the bin without covering everything in grease.

Whattodowiththesewindows · 23/04/2025 14:18

@GalacticTowelMaster an over the door rail or hanger

TeaAndStrumpets · 23/04/2025 14:29

Jellycatspyjamas · 23/04/2025 13:10

@TeaAndStrumpets i have a Dorma duvet cover. It has a zip fastening that goes across the whole bottom of the cover - much easier to change and no annoying poppers.

Ooh thank you, that will stop some swearing. Also, all thumbs DH takes ages to do up duvet buttons and poppers and would love this!

Spareducedpriceoffer · 23/04/2025 14:35

Setting clear boundaries & sticking to them

I either that I had known this earlier in my life

Worriedsickmostofthetime · 23/04/2025 14:51

Perzival · 23/04/2025 13:58

If you have a child with send or a diagnosis of anything then set up an email account for just dealing with things disability, sen or dx related. That way it's all stored in one place and you have a really great record or everything. I really wish I'd done this from the start.

I’ve used this hack on two other occasions. Once with my BIL who has become completely dependent on us for his care (financial and health). I can’t really explain it without a whole topic on its own but he is pretty much brain damaged from brain cancer with no wife or able children to assist. To get doctors to engage with us is nearly impossible without some sort of court order so we just set up a separate email address for all his health related bills and emails that we have access to. He would be dead by now if doctors had stuck by their client confidentiality privilege rules.

My parents have done the same so all their medical and financial related correspondence goes to one email that we all have login access to in case of incapacity.

Nutmuncher · 23/04/2025 14:53

Reading about Mounjaro on here last summer and seeing a friend suddenly losing weight meant I told DP about it and he’s now 5st lighter. A weight loss miracle and an absolute game changer. Anyone in any doubt- do it! You will not regret it one bit.

There have been plenty of threads over the years to validate not smoking, not drinking alcohol, getting good sleep, taking good multivitamins, having a solid skincare routine. Lots of useful advice during covid.

MN is a great resource if you’re open to other people’s advice.

11thofNever · 23/04/2025 14:58

I was using the eco wash and the machine kept smelling of mold, I tried everything, vinegar, bleach, crystals, nothing worked. I was goggling the issue and lo and behold an old MN thread and a poster with the same issue, the solution, do a few 60 or 90 degee washes. Problem solved!

Sunbeam01 · 23/04/2025 14:59

Donttalkaboutit · 23/04/2025 11:38

Probably sounds really weird but I grew up not realising that your mother shouldn't be rude to you. That it's actually rude to comment on your child's weight or mock how they speak. I (try to!) speak respectfully to my kids and never make unkind comments to them or about other people in front of them. Like I literally had no idea.

That's not weird.

Good for you!

Elfbeth · 23/04/2025 14:59

I just tried the colour analysis using ChatGPT. Very interesting and not what I expected. Thanks to whoever suggested it

Ihavenoclu · 23/04/2025 15:01

Hatty65 · 22/04/2025 16:00

The one that sticks out for me is someone helpfully pointing out that if you have a king size or super king bed then the duvet goes ACROSS the bed horizontally, rather than vertically (if that makes sense).

I am ashamed to admit I've spent roughly 30 years with a superking bed, assuming that the stitching on the duvet ran from head to foot and grumbling that my duvet never fitted properly inside the cover.

Turning the duvet 90 degrees inside it's cover was life changing!

wait wait wait. What?

Hoppinggreen · 23/04/2025 15:01

It was on MN that I read about needing a letter to take unrelated kids or even related ones with a different name abroad so when we took The Dc's friends I asked both sets of parents for a letter. They did it but I think they thought I was a bit OTT and DH said it never would have occurred to him
As we arrived at passport control in Portugal I was asked if I had a letter, I did and the guard said he was very glad I did because if I hadn't it would have been a problem.
DH said he would never doubt me again!

murasaki · 23/04/2025 15:02

Elfbeth · 23/04/2025 14:59

I just tried the colour analysis using ChatGPT. Very interesting and not what I expected. Thanks to whoever suggested it

Tempted to give it a go. Did you just answer questions re skin tone or upload a photo, and if so, with make up or not? I'm not sure how I'd describe my skin objectively.

Newmumburnout · 23/04/2025 15:08

Luv2luv9 · 23/04/2025 11:02

A good quality quilted cotton bedspread is far easier to deal with than a duvet with a cover. Ours is big enough to hang well over the sides of an emperar bed (we like our space) washable, plus cool enough in the summer & if we need extra in the winter it's easy to add a matching throw. I'd never go back to duvets.

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Can you elaborate? This sounds interesting. Do you just use a fitted sheet and a bedspread with no duvet ?

Elfbeth · 23/04/2025 15:09

murasaki · 23/04/2025 15:02

Tempted to give it a go. Did you just answer questions re skin tone or upload a photo, and if so, with make up or not? I'm not sure how I'd describe my skin objectively.

Show quote history

I uploaded a photo where I was wearing make up. I was surprised by the answer so tried a second photo just taken in natural light with no make up and got the same outcome.

Interestingly, I do have a dress in one of the colours recommended and have received lots of compliments on it so maybe it is right…