Random services people use

[wand3rer]

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 😁

I had a friend who had a local ‘ handyman’ on speed dial to assemble all her furniture, a trampoline all those jobs her own Dh couldn’t do or even attempt himself and she didn’t want to do it either.
I have the oven cleaned once a year and green / food wheelie bin cleaned once a month.
Ds2 has sent out washing for a service wash , it wasn’t cheap and he only used it once!
Friends went to a swanky hotel abroad where someone came round to clean your sunglasses..
Dh has his motorbike properly cleaned once a year and that man takes it apart ( almost ) and it shines.
Takes nearly all day.

We have an extra bin collection done by a local firm ever since our council went to 3weekly general waste collection. Also have a 4 monthly contract with company to empty, clean and refill the swim spa as did it once myself and never again!! The cars get valeted once a month which is well worth the money as they stay looking brand new.

We have a grass cutter. He doesn't call himself a gardener because he just cuts the grass. He charges £10 a time. Generally he comes twice a month, but it's weather dependent. If we get rain/sun/rain/sun that causes the grass to grow quick he'll come sooner, if it's constantly sodden he leaves it longer. He lives locally so can keep an eye out.

It's lazy admittedly, but never having to think of cutting the grass is just ideal.

Dog washing A van round here goes to people's houses and bathes their dogs

It’s a bit niche but tossing it out here in case it comes in handy.

There’s a private service in the airports in Jamaica that fast track you through customs and immigration. They pick you up at the airplane door, help with your bags, help with paperwork, and then walk you through their own lines in customs and immigration to get checked in to the country. On the way out of the country it’s similar. You have to book in advance for their entry service so that it doesn’t become a situation where everyone has it.

Also in the US we have a gov’t program to become a known traveler (TSA Precheck and Global Entry) that speeds up your time in security checkpoints and customs/immigration. On top of that there is a paid service called Clear that works with the government programs to get through security checkpoints quicker. I have both. You really need it if you fly through Atlanta airport regularly.

Best service in the world and very reasonable.

Gutter vacuum once a year. Something I'd never considered in 20 years but now live in quite a tree dense area.

Also had roof scraped of moss when moved in but his should last a few years

I’ve seen roof cleaners in my area, but I’ve also heard it can make it all worse , but it does look fantastic when it’s all done!
I’ve heard about Christmas tree decorators and years ago ‘ singing telegrams ‘ was a thing too! Although you don’t hear of those anymore..

Bin cleaning for the green bin is essential for me. Otherwise there is horrible decaying wet green gunk left in there from lawn clippings, leaves, food waste, etc.

We subscribe to Gousto for weekly meal kit deliveries and have a lawn treatment service that apply moss killer, weed killer, lawn feed as needed. They can also treat specific pests and recently top dressed and re seeded our lawn.

I heard about one novel service from a friend in Germany who has a pet tortoise: this man would come round and pick up people’s pet tortoises as winter approached, wrap them in newspaper and store them in a fridge (presumably he has one specifically for this purpose), returning them in spring after hibernation.

A bit like a sourdough hotel I guess.

Also yes to roof moss scraping and treatment

Edited to add: DH has a professional AV calibrator for his home theatre system (10+ speakers in the room including in the ceiling and subwoofers, drop down projector screen, etc.)

Weird one, but one hotel abroad had a ‘ pillow menu’
Our bed pillows seemed fine, so didn’t use it or look into what other pillows they could have sent up instead.
Dh stayed in a business hotel ( for work ) where they would put up the hammock for you outside and left a nice chocolate on the pillow for you each evening.

I love having my repeat prescriptions delivered- they send me a reminder when it’s time to reorder, follow the link, order what’s needed and then the gp approves and within a day or two it’s in my letterbox. So much easier than having to remember to order and then collect!

Im intrigued by the carpet cleaning but I read somewhere that it damages the carpet because it strips them of some factory coating or some such so subsequent stains actually become more stubborn to remove?

Ds2 uses the prescription delivery service. He rates it.
I had a carpet cleaned once, honestly the man made such a fuss about it with his rules around not walking on it too quickly ( fair enough ) how the colour might fade , how long it would take to dry , it was a real faff tbh. He made me so stressed out, I think people had complained before and he had to cover every eventuality!

Stylist!

I don't know if it's very random, but she's a life saver.
I book her to declutter my wardrobes, and give me a list of basics I am missing, book online shops with her so I have a shortlist of clothes.

I have no time, energy or idea about clothes shopping, she's ace and shops in the shops I want (NewLook and Vinted if needed, it's not designer-based)

I would love a Christmas Tree decorator, but there's none in my area sadly. I am sure they can travel but the cost would be ridiculous for me 😂

The Lowry hotel in Manchester used to have a bath menu. No idea if it still does but you could order various bath foamy concotions and things to eat in the bath like chocolate dipped strawberries and champagne.

I’m sure that rich people and some swanky hospitality places use a Christmas decorator / tree one!
they would turn their noses up at my dusty b and q old tree from put the loft with Woolworth decorations from the 90s! lol 🎄

@MoominMai not a problem we have encountered. We’ve been using this service for over a decade now!

I think this is how I’m going to celebrate my first night of retirement - not for a while yet mind but just seems a really outrageously decadent self-care thing to do! 😁

Some brilliant ideas! 😊

The hibernation service for pet tortoises takes first place @Taniot

I'll look into:

• Mobile dog washing @FedupofArsenalgame
• Gutter vacuuming and roof scraping @SeaShellsSanctuary1
• Repeat prescription delivery @DillyDallyingAllDay

Remember the name of the hotels with the sunglasses cleaning service and the pillow menu? @the80sweregreat

I'll check out the Lowry hotel for the bath menu @TheBlackfingernail

Off point but are there places in the U.K. where the council don’t collect food waste and it still goes in the main bin?

Yes, we’re with South Staffs council and it’s not collected here. I don’t think that East Staffs council where my son lives collect it either.

When I developed mobility problems I had a home organiser for a while. She helped me de clutter, empty a lock up and completely reorganise my storage in all rooms and the garage. I now have a fortnightly cleaner to do the jobs I can't manage and I've been fine ever since.

They have tyre hotels in Germany, who store your summer or winter tyres, depending on which season you're in.