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

TalcAndTurnips I say that too it's from The Young Ones!
Funnily enough my best friend's auntie's boyfriend is called Bob it cracks us up every time :)

I used toilet bleach to kill weeds in the paving slabs quite recently.
The little nozzle made it really easy

lego does that need to be be done as soon as DS has been sick? I am getting a collection of Orange sick stains on the light coloured carpet that so far even vanish hasn't removed.

Cartoon preferably, yes. However AFAIK, it helps (a bit) even a little while after. It's mostly for the smell though, I'm not sure if it will assist with any actual stains.

OP - I think this thread should be moved to Good Housekeeping. Some of these tips are excellent!

If your curtains arn't swishing nicely, opening or closing - spray the fixtures with furniture polish (Mr Sheen type stuff).

This works on poles as well as rails.

leave the roll of bin liners in the bin so you dont lose them (i always lose mine)

i tend to throw the bleach around before bedtime and holidays it saves scrubbing!

If you burn food so it sticks to the pan, pour in some coke and bring to the boil. It will lift the food so you can wash away without spoiling pans through vigorous scrubbing.

Cheap vodka on chrome/steel/taps and mirrors. Fantastic shine.

Ohh I have one :)

Dust with tumble dryer cloths, the anti static stops dust from sticking to the surfaces. Not that I ever remember to buy them.

Put anything that belongs upstairs on the bottom stair,anything that belongs downstairs on the top stair.Then everytime anyone goes up or down,they bring their belongings with them.

Keep a tube of denture tablets (steradent?) for soaking badly burnt pots,completely lifts it.

Clean bathroom mirrors with washing up liquid,they don't get dirty so quickly the next time.

Buff windows/glass with a sheet of scrunched up newspaper,completely removes smears.

Use a slice of white bread to 'mop' up pieces of broken glass.

If you can't be arsed to clean much,make cleaning your kitchen sink your absolute minimum.A shiny clean sink makes the whole kitchen look cleaner (whereas a dirty one makes the place look filthy)

Smear some fabric conditioner,or place a tumble drier sheet,behind a radiator.It makes the place smell like clean laundry.

Bicarb in the bum made me Maybe I've had too much

Hilda I've been used to the stair thing since childhood. I initiated it in my household years ago.

Yet I still watch open mouthed as DS and DH climb over their associated piles of crap on the stairs to go to the toilet. I've even piled it up right across two steps and they still climb over it....

Then regularly complain coming back down that they nearly fell on the stuff I'd left.

fackinell

And so the ignorant mental 'jokes' continue.

When putting fabric conditioner in the washing machine drawer add the same amount of cold water. Stops the drawer getting so mouldy so quickly.

Wipe glass shelves/cabinets with a cloth dipped in a small amount of fabric conditioner. It makes things less static so dust doesn't stick to them.

If your doors are squeaking or sticking spray the hinges with Mr Sheen or any other (cheap) silicone based polish spray, works like WD40, in fact you can use polish spray for any wd40 jobs, smells much nicer.

Whoever posted the one about the fruit flies breeding in the pipes of hone sink has my utmost gratitude. I've been plagued by these in my utility all summer and they've gone as of yesterday, thank you!

Why did I never think of the multiple bin liner one?
If your drawers stick - ooh, matron- rub the runners with a candle and they will slide easily.
Hair remover cream for hairy plugoles is an MN tip I picked up before and is genius.
Drop of essential oil in hoover or on radiators makes the place smell nice.

What great ideas you all have! I may turn into a domestic goddess yet!
My tip is with serving dishes and pans that you don't use much mine are on top of kitchen cupboards, cover with cling film so when you come to use them you can just take the film off and voila they are clean and ready to use!

Use sugar soap for kitchen cleaning - it cuts through grease like a dream and is cheap, especially if you buy the powder then make it up in a spray bottle. Wear gloves when you use it. No horrible chemical smells.

Whoever gave the tip about the baby oil on stainless steel appliance, thank you! Our kitchen has never looked so good!

Don't know if it's been said before but unscrew the plug of the sinks now and again and clean off the grub, it's minging even despite regularly pouring bleach and random cleaning solutions. The first time I did it I swear the grime was alive, it was wobbling at me

Anyone got any tips to remove sweat stains from armpits of white teeshirts?

Soak them in napisan before washing. Or if you don't have napisan I have found that sports washes applied directly to the armpit, rubbed in before the wash is helpful. I stick the rest of the sports wash liquid in the fabric softener compartment but I don't know if that is necessary.

Napisan is probably cheaper when bought in bulk but I can't find it here, the sports wash is found with other laundry products and works well enough.

Pet stain and odour remover helps get rid of similar human stains too ie from leaky toddlers etc. It can also work on yellow/smelly armpit stains on clothing.

Soak blood stained clothing in cold salt water