Lazy housekeeping tips

[trinity0097]

So what are your housekeeping tips if you are fundamentally lazy?!

I have bought a stash of cheap paper bags with handles. I use these as recycling bags upstairs so I don't have to have a receptacle to take back up when it is emptied - being paper the whole bag can just go in the recycling.

[Cynderella]

I think the eco-solution is to use old cloths/clothes instead of buying cloths, and I do this for some things, but I have bought bamboo cloths for most cleaning, dishcloths etc.

[Quarantimespringclean]

Oh dear. I was feeling so good about my eco credentials. Back to the drawing board!

[Cynderella]

@Quarantimespringclean: I thought the same about baby wipes until I realised how old this thread is.

Sadly, microfibre cloths have the same disadvantage as baby wipes. Both contain micro plastics (think I have that right - if not it's similar for baby wipes) that end up in landfill (wipes) or in the water system (cloths). Washing the cloths is worse than rinsing them and older cloths shed more. I was gutted when I found this out.

[Quarantimespringclean]

I’ve been shocked by the number of people recommending using wipes for so many jobs. I’ve always assumed that the MN demographic was in the young side (which to me means under 40) so would avoid wipes for environmental reasons.

I’m 60 (which is why under 40 seems young) and I use reusable microfibre cloths for most things. They are inexpensive - about £16 for a pack of 30 in Costco or similar prices on Amazon and in poundstores etc and last for years. I have a basket of about 50 folded away in a kitchen cupboard so they are as easy to access as a wipe. These used with a squirt of Koh will clean virtually anything. I get through 2/3 most days and once a week or so I put them through a 40 degree wash along with microfibre mop pads and assorted tea towels. A splash of Zoflora in the fabric conditioner slot keeps them hygienic and fresh smelling. For anything very greasy like wiping out a roasting tin or frying pan I use paper kitchen roll that can go in the food waste bin. This inexpensive regime gives me a clean fresh smelling house and zero land fill.

[kirkandpetal]

If you have any type of laminate/wooden/tiles floors then get a rubber broom. The kind you see in hairdressers. I got mine from Amazon. It's is miles better than a bristle broom and picks up everything. Then I use my cordless dyson to hoover it up.

It's especially good if you have dog/cat hair to deal with.

This is my one, although it's gone up in price quite a bit! The small brush is also good to brushing up hair (dog/cat/daughters long locks) prior to hoovering. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N0EA3LI/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_Mq-gFb39SBST0

[EspressoX10]

Americans have a "wrinkle release" spray (I think it's called Downie).

I make my own and it honestly makes clothes look (and feel) like they were ironed.

Just fill a spray bottle with filtered or cooled boiled water, add two fingers of your fave fabric conditioner (I use pink alple-blossom and almond ecover. Use scentless if you prefer).

Get the offending wrinkled item out of the tumble dryer, spray it lightly, shape it with your hands and fold. Voilà!

[Sunnysidegold]

I am training my children at the minute. There's a few jobs they've done for a while but since it's the holidays I'm getting them to do annoying little jobs I never can make time for. Damp dusting is a good one - windowsills, skirting boards, the little gaps between the spindles on the stairs. Feeding pets, unloading dishwasher (annoyingly the youngest is too short to reach the glasses and mug cupboard though), taking out the bins (they really hate this though). One is quite good at wiping bathroom sinks, the other makes a decent enough attempt at hoovering.

[Happydaysandhappysmiles]

Bookmarking

[MeMySonandl]

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es, thank you for the reference, got the stamp today and it is fab!

[MrsWooster]

We have a roomba and it is fabulous. Can be got cheap used or refurbished off ebay; ours is years old and it hoovers the floor - can't really see what more a fancy new one would do!

[AnneGables]

I've just baby wiped my stairs, thanks for the tip. Much quicker and quieter than lugging the hoover out.

[MeMySonandl]

I have been using big IKEA bags as crap boxes... Yes, it helps to get things out of the way if people are visiting. But... Having a bedroom I don't us every much, the room is so full with crap bags I can hardly walk in there anymore. Last time that happened it took me 2-3 months to clear them so if you are going to have crap boxes it may be a good idea to be religious about organising the stuff within a couple of days...

[plutoisnotaplanet]

20 mins a night - every night without fail. I have a routine written down which I follow religiously to keep on top of the grot

Keep dettol wipes by the loo and I can reach my sink and back of the loo while I'm on the throne

Clean shower while I'm in it . Finish shower, turn off water, spray around with dettol, jump out and dry self with towel, brush teeth then wash off dettol in shower with shower head. Done.

I learned this one on mumsnet: put the roll of binbags in the bottom of the bin and open out the bag while still attached to the roll. When you need to change the bin bag, whip the full one up, tear it off and fold the next one on the roll over the sides of the bin. Done!

Hire someone to come and clean your wheelie bins once a month. It costs us £10 a month and is SO WORTH EVERY PENNY.

Bins in every single room. Also, cleaning products for that particular room in each room stashed in the cupboard.

Febreeze (or make your own with water and essential oil) and hang up clothes in between wears if they are still clean, but turn the hanger around when you put them back in the wardrobe so you know which clothes are on their second wear. After second wear, put in the wash.

[Middleoftheroad]

I'm yearning gor some Viz top tips right now....

Dyson fluffy - brilliant

Dishwasher/tumble dryer

I'm ed up of walking to top level of garden to hang washing, so now put it on an airer right outside the back door/conservatory. That way it can be brought in quickly.

Plastic bowls for cat food and messy kids puddings

De-clutter no un-necessary ornaments and clearing out cupboards really works. Space to shove stuff if you need to in a hurry.we are in the process of selling and having free drawers available forced us to sort through crap though DH is a hoarder of old tecnology and videos still.

An old tip. If you only have time to clean 1 room make it bathroom. It's the one visitors notice most. Also spray polish onto ceiling light then leave on to bluff that you've been busy cleaning.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

I can't find a link to my stamp but if you put "stamp identity theft" into Amazon, various similar ones pop up. I refill it with stamp pad ink.

[woodhill]

Oh the crap boxes, we seem to have them but I am trying hard to relocate items rather than shoving them in the crap box.

[PlotterOfPlots]

Yeah sorry Zippidy, it was not the best of tips!! Nick aha, ours are always up in the night.

Loads of great ideas here, and ElQuinto you are my new housekeeping guru :)

[Bluetang]

I love my cordless Gtech;so easy just to run it over the floors making them instantly look clean!

[Zippidydoodah]

Potter- I see! Thanks for the explanation, and that makes perfect sense!

[MeMySonandl]

A stamp to obliterate personal data??? Please tell me more! I normally cut my details off from posted forms but then J have to find a way to dispose of the cuttings.

[NickNacks]

Hi whoknows

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

Thanks for the explanations Plotter and Nick.

[NickNacks]

Re the bed wetting/bed changing.

He's an early morning wetter (and on meds so very rare now) and didn't wake. We'd change him and the bed in the morning and it would be fresh again at bedtime. He's 10 and can strip and remake his own bed now.

[PlotterOfPlots]

Ah sorry re pj matching, kids are bedwetters here so one child's pjs, sheets, waterproof terry undersheets, duvet cover at least need to be done together, sometimes multiple times a week. It is much easier to deal with if it can all go in together. Adult stuff is light coloureds because that's generally what gets left. I forget other people don't live in my world!

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

I ignore sock pairing totally. Washing is sorted according to owner then it's up to them whether to pair or put away as singles. I clear out mine and the DCs sock drawers once a year or so each to get rid of odd ones.