What's your best household tip that you don't think is widely known??

[PisforPeter]

I need to up the standards on the domestic front

Hair straighteners make an ideal grill for a single fish finger.

;)

Drop of essential oil in the Hoover makes the house smell nice.

Make the normally mundane task of switching the central heating on a little more exciting by singing 'The heating's on' to the tune of 80s hit The Heat is On by Glen Frey as you are doing it.

very good Shia..I read viz too!

I keep wipes in the bathroom. When I have my morning shower I wipe sink and toilet and stick bleach down. After I get dressed I put any laundry away that I've done the day before, make beds etc before coming downstairs. Makes life a lot easier to do as you go along than go back upstairs later.

Hair straighteners make an ideal grill for a single fish finger.

Brussel sprouts coated in cheap cooking chocolate make ideal fake Ferrero Roches for annoying trick or treaters.

Don't bother with laundry baskets for dirty washing and then faffing about sorting out for washing machine. Instead put dirty clothes, underwear, etc straight into washing machine i.e. remove tee-shirt and knickers, bung them in machine. When it's full - wash. When you remove wet washing put a tablet in the drum so you can start re-filling with dirty clothes and it's ready to turn on when full.

If you are so inclined, you may have one laundry basket for whites.

Microfibre cloths make my teeth shiver!

I am a slattern, but here's my tip anyway.

Store a complete set of bedding in one of the coordinating pillowcases.

Probably not what you're looking for but when I drain pasta/veg, I put a cooling tray over the washing up bowl then stand colander on cooling tray. Means I don't burn my fingers and is so much easier than juggling both at once.

Use scissors for everything.

Cutting up meat. Pizza. Vegetables. Pruning the apple tree.

Massive cheap scissors are the way forward.

Those flash sponges (other makes are available) are great for cleaning Venetian blind slats.

The sponge can be almost dry so no drips and the abrasiveness takes all of the dusty muck off without too much fuss. I managed to do a whole 6 foot blind with one hand while chatting on the phone.

Rubbery brum is best for brushing off pets hair from your carpet or soft furnishing.

If your toilet is blocked try using pladtic bottle to unblock it. Put top on. Cut off the bottom and use it as a plunger.

Use baby shampoo instead of make up an eye make up remover.

Keep your nail polishes in your fridge and they will last longer.

PrincessofChina genius!

Some great tips on here. Just tried wiping greasy extractor hood with oil and it worked a treat! I now need to get some baby oil to try on my brushed steel fridge.

A denture tablet in loo for a few hours gets rid of any limescale.

When your mascara is clumpy/ nearly finished, add a drop of baby oil to thin/ last a bit longer.

Loo Brush.

It's much nicer than sticking your hand down the bog.

A friend swears by using her straighteners to iron shirt collars to perfection.

Use hot vinegar to get chewing gum off clothes (a bit specialist, that one).

trinity, I am going to be a FANTASTIC MIL...

Get all your shirts and blouses professionally laundered and ironed at the drycleaner's. £1.50 per shirt. You will look the business at work, and save yourself an evening's worth of grief every week.

I've recently discovered that magic eraser sponges are brilliant at getting scuff marks off painted walls - I've gone over the entire house! Got a cheap load from china on eBay.
Bicarb of soda paste is brilliant at cleaning soap-scuzzy shower cubicles. And ovens. In fact bicarb of soda paste is brilliant at most things!

An empty 2l drinks bottle with the bottom cut off and the lid screwed on makes an ideal plunger and will unblock a toilet in seconds.

I'm going to clean my washing machine with the bicarbonate and white vinegar, but how much do I need to use? Also does it go in the drum or the drawer?

talcnturnips I agree wholeheartedly re the shortsightedness!

I am minus 6.5 in both eyes- dirt is entirely undetectable.

It's also good for surveying body in the mirror after shower. Flawless!!