Household habits you've 'inherited'

[MrsBosh]

Have enjoyed reading the housekeeping tips thread over in Chat this week.

I wondered if you 'inherited' any housekeeping habits from your parents/grandparents growing up? Good and not so good ones. Lighthearted please .

I'll start. My mum always used clothes pegs to close packets and things if she'd run out of those clippy things. I automatically did the same at uni/when DH and I moved in but he thinks it's really strange and is always taking off my pegs off and putting clips back on! I think they work better than clips.

Mum also sorts her dirty laundry from the basket on the landing floor into several piles (woollens, lights, darks etc.) which she leaves on the floor for the morning whilst she's doing it causing a big trip hazard. As a teen I'd just toss worn stuff onto the correct pile on the landing floor. I've found myself doing the same thing in my own house. My DH hates walking into our bedroom into a pile full of dirty shirts on the carpet. So do I. Need to find a new system!

Anyone else?

Every door in the house must be shut on leaving the house or at bed time as it stops fires (even though the doors are not fire doors!). Checking all external house doors are locked several times before leaving.

I put the house to bed at night just like my mum. Apparently neither of us can sleep until the kitchen floor is swept, lounge vacced, every counter wiped and all dishes away. I love waking to a clean and tidy home. (Once every one is up that all goes to hell..)

My mum would always sit down on a Sunday having cooked an amazing roast and then cleaned it up, without fail she would sigh 'oh it's lovely to sit down when it's all done.' I have found myself saying the exact same words (and singing loudly along to show tunes whilst preparing said roast!!)

Also 'it's not the cooking I mind but thinking of what to eat' - I used to roll my eyes but now I TOTALLY AGREE!!!

Bleaching dish cloths ! Always put dish cloth into soak every night, my sister does the same

Ikea do really good zip lock bags in different sizes! Good prices too compared to others.

Like a PP's MIL I wash the zip lock bags and re-use unless they're really bad or I'm really stressed!

Mrs Bosh, are you my daughter?

Costco best for ziplock bags, not sure my mum knew what a ziplock bag was but I use them for everything! My DM used to put dads shirt on the floor and put all the washing on it to carry it down, I often do the same but as her standards were low I can't think of anything else

Storing rubber bands around the faucet in the kitchen.

Cooking porridge on 50% power for twice as long.
Wrapping Christmas lights round empty plastic bottles before storing them away.
Putting a magnet in your shirt pocket when doing diy so screws etc stick to it rather than having to hold them between your teeth.
Both from my dad.

I do the washing thing as well ! My mam did it too.

Didn't think I had any but I do, I throw a load of laundry downstairs instead of carrying it.

Using polish on the furniture once a week, I just love the smell of the freshly polished wood.

Get my Dh to take the dirty washing downstairs (my dm used to do this) plonk it on the landing for him to get the hint

When washing up, I never put sharp knives in, I wash by hand individually so I don't stab my hand.

Hang washing maticulously flat, so I won't need to iron. Dhs family just dump stuff on a line/airer. I don't get it.

Hang a nice top on a hanger and place above the radiator to dry.

Roll my socks into a ball, I just don't get the whole bunny 🐰 ear thing

Putting stuff to be taken upstairs at the side of the bottom steps and never going up empty handed if there's something there. My mum always did this. DH hates it and says it's a trip hazard. He's probably right, but no one with any common sense walks up or down stairs in the dark and surely you look where you're about to put your feet?

I'd love to say that I have inherited numerous household habits that make me a domestic goddess, but the truth is that the only thing my DM taught me was how to hire a cleaner. Mind you, I clean before the cleaner arrives so maybe I picked up habits from Karen (our lovely cleaner)

Love this thread! I realise that I am turning into my mum more and more each day . .

Always "air the house". Beds aired for half hour each morning, windows open even in winter. Bathroom window open all day.

Putting things on the stairs ready for when someone goes up.

Never going to bed unless house spotless.

Ooh, I don't think so BBCK but I'm pleased you're so much like my lovely DM!