Shall we solve each other’s simple problems?

[Merryoldgoat]

So. I have a whole load of shit I’m dealing with that cannot be easily solved.

However I also have a variety of very straight forward issues that I could do with people helping with - so how about we all solve each other’s simple stuff??

Things I need help with and would appreciate answers from people who know:

1. How many towels do I need for a family of four?
2. What is the best way to keep Tupperware properly organised?
3. What shoes do I need to be smart in all weather?

TIA?

I was told many years ago that swimming and cycling are good for reducing sagging skin after weight loss. Not sure why but it seemed to work for me, not a miracle but it helped

It's Solvol Autosol. It's good stuff, and requires less elbow-grease than Duraglit or stuff like that. You can get it in Halfords, The Range, etc.

I used to suffer with icy cold feet. This year I have bought some wool, cotton and merino socks from vinted (new with tags, from a reseller I think) and wear a pair of these and then a pair of fluffy socks from seasalt and my feet are toasty warm. Never known what it's like to have warm feet in winter before.

@NeedForSpeedyGonzales

I have heard that intermittent fasting is helpful for reducing loose skin - something about autophagy? Not sure if it’s hokum though.

Please can you tell me how to stop my cauliflower cheese from splitting once in the oven? I make a lovely thick cheese sauce, let the cauliflower cool then pour cheese sauce over but every time I end up with cheesy water and lumps of cheese??

Weird synchronicity - my adult son told me just today that the trick to prevent this is to add a single processed cheese slice to the cheese sauce (in addition to tasty real cheese, obviously!) It contains sodium phosphate that prevents the cheese from splitting. No idea if he is right but he studied chemistry and loves cauliflower cheese, so he's probably tried and tested it.

I'd try covering it in Bacofoil for the last ten minutes.

I prime them first, then do final coats in situ.

1. Is it normal to have to clean my dishwasher filter twice a week? For some reason this task really winds me up.

1. A tiny patch of dry skin at top of forehead, which has been there for ages. Less than a centimetre, really just a single flake. I've tried anti fungal cream, a cream containing urea, face oil, glycolic acid, nothing has made any difference. It's not itchy or sore at all, and the rest of my face isn't particularly dry. What to try next?

Low-tech, but Vaseline?

Can I just say this is the most wholesome thread ever! I am mildly obsessed with it - just a bunch of people helping each other out on the littler things in life. I love it! Thank you!

Fantastic! I will try this next time and report back!

We have 2 towels each and a couple of spares. Also beach towels and I keep worn towels in garage cupboard. Spare towels are useful for floods a spills.

Tupperware stack containers and place lids under the stacks. Could use old toast racks or similar for smaller lids.

I wear ankle boots most of the winter and sandals with a comfortable heel in summer. Really depends on your taste/lifestyle.

Buy new cushions. Buy a set of cushions and get different cases made up. Bright colour's like sunny yellow can look fantastic with Grey and some days you may like a slightly darker Grey for a neutral look. Bottle and royal blue can also look great. Grey is such a cool colour as other than brown it generally goes with anything. Have some fun.

So many different types of ovens now I can't keep up. Are you using the correct pots for the stove, as I have heard that makes a difference.

Could try Sards Wondersoap but unfortunately it sounds like they are ruined.

I really like these. Might get them next time I'm in Edinburgh !

My husband gets deodorant stains. The only thing I've found which works quite well is Oxiclean / Vanish powder - make a paste with a little water and apply to the stain. Or the Vanish bar soap performs similarly. BUT this method stripped dye out of a few shirts (others were fine with the same treatment) so I'm now banned from using it.

Things I've tried which didn't work include vinegar, bicarb, dishwasher tabs, Dr Beckmanns deodorant stain remover.

1. How it works in our house. One colour towels per person plus a few neutral extra hand towels (guests and as needed). Get one bath sheet, one bath towel and one hand towel per person. This encourages re-use when they are hardly dirty given you clean yourself THEN use the towel, and cuts the washing backlog. Gift the long haired girls those hair wrap towels from Dock & Bay, they're really good. They only need one or two if they swim lots. Pick one pattern/colour per person so no arguments . uk.dockandbay.com/collections/hair-wraps
2. Stick the smaller ones inside the bigger ones, and have a drawer of them. Or just leave them on the side when washed up and someone will use for sandwiches so you don't need to put away. I actually have a hidden cupboard stash of surplus tupperware which only comes out this time of year to get eg turkey slices stashed in the freezer. Otherwise too much is in circulation.
3. Jodhpur style boots always look smart and go with anything. Get one black one tan pair.

Hydrocortisone cream, a small amount, and only for a few days.

Does it correlate to rubbing by a hat you wear or anything like that?

for your skin, IF you have been a massive sun worshipper, I'd get it checked out @LittleArithmetics

WRT shoes for all weathers - I swear by biker-style boots. Little bit more interest than Chelsea boots and also a bit more hardwearing if the weather or conditions are a bit crap. But then I'm often tramping through mud in and clambering up rocky slopes so this might not be quite what you had in mind.

How do you make your sauce?