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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Random services people use

186 replies

wand3rer · 03/06/2025 15:39

Hi everyone! 😊

After seeing another thread where lots of people mentioned being signed up for a bin cleaning service (which I’d never even heard of before), I got curious.

What other services do people use? Aside from the usual ones like general cleaning, window cleaning, gardening, ironing, magazine subscriptions, or even cooking subscriptions, are there any useful services you swear by?

I have to admit, I don’t use any of those myself, but the bin cleaning idea is definitely making me think 😁

OP posts:
wand3rer · 03/06/2025 15:41

This was the thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5346824-do-you-clean-the-inside-of-your-wheelie-bins

OP posts:
BashfulClam · 03/06/2025 15:41

The bin cleaning is essential to me. Stops the bin stinking, costs Ā£2.50 per bin per month and I don’t have to spend any time doing it. I have a phobia of maggots so this kills them.

KitsyWitsy · 03/06/2025 15:43

I’ve never had the bins cleaned. Sounds like a waste of money to me. Everything is mostly in bin bags anyway?

MiddleAgedDread · 03/06/2025 15:44

automatic repeat prescription ordering
amazon subscription for cat food & cat litter

wand3rer · 03/06/2025 16:16

BashfulClam · 03/06/2025 15:41

The bin cleaning is essential to me. Stops the bin stinking, costs Ā£2.50 per bin per month and I don’t have to spend any time doing it. I have a phobia of maggots so this kills them.

Yes, it had never crossed my mind before, but it's a small price to pay for a smell-free driveway!

OP posts:
wand3rer · 03/06/2025 16:17

MiddleAgedDread · 03/06/2025 15:44

automatic repeat prescription ordering
amazon subscription for cat food & cat litter

Oh yes, that’s something I already do!

OP posts:
BIWI · 03/06/2025 16:18

Carpets cleaned every 6 months; ovens cleaned once a year. Both things I couldn’t/don’t want to do myself!

KrisAkabusi · 03/06/2025 16:20

What's automatic repeat prescription ordering? Isn't that what a repeat prescription is? Or am I missing something painfully obvious.

NotOnThsAsosChristmasCardList · 03/06/2025 16:21

Absolutely the bin cleaning service nappies dog poo bags and food well worth the money.
Also my mail order coffee beans fortnightly.

wand3rer · 03/06/2025 16:29

KrisAkabusi · 03/06/2025 16:20

What's automatic repeat prescription ordering? Isn't that what a repeat prescription is? Or am I missing something painfully obvious.

Yes, it's the same.

When signing up, you choose how often you want items delivered. A few days before each scheduled purchase, Amazon emails you with any price changes (and you can cancel anytime).

OP posts:
BashfulClam · 03/06/2025 16:45

wand3rer · 03/06/2025 16:16

Yes, it had never crossed my mind before, but it's a small price to pay for a smell-free driveway!

We tried to wash the bins ourselves but it was a vile job and they sit on a grass patch. Up came a massive worm due to all the water, I also gave a phobia of them (anything that wriggles…ew) so I screamed and bolted back to the house! I’d pay them Ā£10 a month if I had to.

BashfulClam · 03/06/2025 16:47

Oh yes I also get the oven cleaned every few years. It is spotless once they finish and I can sit eating biscuits whilst it gets made shiny. I tried it myself, yuck!

mumda · 03/06/2025 16:49

Cup of washing powder in the bottom of the bin. Put food waste in the food waste bin (you're doomed else perhaps, or you have to put all food stinky waste in the freezer and throw in for collection)

The twats who do it round here empty the bin out on to the road leaving debris and dirty water. Yucky.

MattCauthon · 03/06/2025 16:50

I'm not sure this is unusual but I have an ironing service - they collect, iron, and drop off.

I read a post from a woman on here many many years ago who said she had a monthly handyman. He came first thursay of every month (or whatever) and her and her DH would just make a note of things they needed doing as the month progressed, then send him the list a few days before and he would then turm up and do it all. Anything from fixing a fence to repainting a skirting board to hanging pictures. DH and I have agreed that when we win the lottery, we are getting such a service! Grin. I think it's bloody brilliant!

JDM625 · 03/06/2025 16:50

I don't have any random services, but have joined this thread incase there is something I'm missing out on šŸ˜‚

IceIceBabyBump · 03/06/2025 16:53

Monthly cake subscription - just one box a month, so enough for one weekend. But its so wonderful to have a different pudding once a month.

Bikergran · 03/06/2025 16:59

I have a large and rather soggy lawn. I used to spend an absolute fortune on stuff from the garden centre to try and kill the moss and improve the grass. It made very little difference. Now a lovely chap comes 3 times a year to treat it with proper professional stuff like they use on golf courses, it's much much better, costs less than I was spending at the garden centre, and I don't have to do it myself!

Elle771 · 03/06/2025 17:02

Yearly oven clean (best £50 I spend all year!) Just before christmas.

Wheelie bin cleaning every 8 weeks (am too stingy for monthly and not sure it needs it that often!)

Used to have the SimplyCook boxes for £9.99 a month which were a bargain and always delicious (*makes mental note to restart these!)

wand3rer · 03/06/2025 18:14

MattCauthon · 03/06/2025 16:50

I'm not sure this is unusual but I have an ironing service - they collect, iron, and drop off.

I read a post from a woman on here many many years ago who said she had a monthly handyman. He came first thursay of every month (or whatever) and her and her DH would just make a note of things they needed doing as the month progressed, then send him the list a few days before and he would then turm up and do it all. Anything from fixing a fence to repainting a skirting board to hanging pictures. DH and I have agreed that when we win the lottery, we are getting such a service! Grin. I think it's bloody brilliant!

What a brilliant idea! The challenge would be to find a reliable trademan šŸ˜…

OP posts:
wand3rer · 03/06/2025 18:15

IceIceBabyBump · 03/06/2025 16:53

Monthly cake subscription - just one box a month, so enough for one weekend. But its so wonderful to have a different pudding once a month.

Lovely šŸ˜‹

OP posts:
Mikart · 03/06/2025 18:23

I used to get my oven cleaned twice a year but now dh does it.

buffyandspikeandfaith · 03/06/2025 18:33

Hired a handyman when moving
He was doing stuff like assembling beds, tv stands, putting up light fittings etc
best thing I paid for

Bjorkdidit · 03/06/2025 18:37

We've never had our bins cleaned and they don't stink Confused

I'm interested in the Eat my books recipe book indexing service, so you can tell it which books you have and search for a recipe using specific ingredients, but I'm too tight to pay $40 a year for it.

FastFood · 03/06/2025 18:39

Milkman that delivers milk, cinammon rolls and eggs weekly.

Laundry pick-up and delivery service. I hate having drying washing in my small flat. I iron it myself though, quite like that.

Bjorkdidit · 03/06/2025 18:39

We used to have our ovens cleaned but then bought pyrolytic ovens which clean themselves except having to wipe a bit of ash off the bottom. A bargain compared with the cost of an oven cleaning service.