Small and simple tips to make life easier No2

[IAmKerplunk]

Hope nobody minds me starting a new thread? I am finding it very helpful!

@Seasidewalkeryou hang your maiden over the stairs, we have low ceilings and this works so well.

Your wish is my command 😁

Outside of ikea shoe cabinet

Card storage

Top drawer for wrapping bits and pieces plus party odds and ends

Sorry on top of cupboard is a mess but I am in middle of rearranging the shelving unit in that room

@Neverstopwondering wow!

Thank you so much. Doing an extension and renovation (hoping to be in by end of year) and THIS is going into the garage, for sure!!

Thank you for the pictures, now all I want to know is what do you keep in the little draw at the top
And what is it for if using it as a shoE cabinet, spare laces maybe, or shoE cleaning kit?
edited to spell SHOE not SHOW

Oh you are a star!! You were doing my command before I'd even typed it.

Here’s my bureau. I said it was well stocked, not tidy…
Please note the birthday candles drawer and the ink cartridge stash!

😂😂

My cat has kidney disease and the thought she'd die long before now. Like a lot of cats she never drank much. She now gets 2-3 sachets a day watered down and she'll drink the gravy, thus greatly upping her liquid intake. I swear this is a huge part to do with her being so active still.

I too have a well stocked bureau, which contains a wrapping paper drawer, and a mini candle/ birthday badge drawer. It’s ancient so I very much doubt the original maker considered the small drawers would be perfect in containing such random stuff!

We have a drying cupboard - it has a heated airer and a dehumidifier in. It dries clothes quickly, without the cost of a tumble dryer.

We've also got three laundry baskets - each with it's own shelf. When clothes are dry they go into the relevant basked - clothes which need ironed; clothes which don't need ironed (like sportswear, boxers etc.); and socks. Makes life easier for me - I can take stuff which doesn't need iron upstairs whenever it's full and the basket full of 'to be ironed' stuff gradually fills up until I drag the ironing board out on Sunday.

The sock on the notice board has really made me laugh out loud.

Istore wrapping paper in these - one for birthdays and one for Christmas. With a child it helps to have loads on hand for birthday parties!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vinsani%C2%AE-Christmas-Decoration-Fabric-Storage/dp/B07N4F1KF7/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vIXvQuGIAjQvoOkXa4OC0COdZyziEd1hUtOhy72Uo_Aj8-vQJHtmhmV0Mgvlv6NT5I-GjPML_KUpJzJe9UxHzIhB-k3etH5LVUqdyiEngTfxWDiSQkH5wTOXqSRX7mU9fOjDsjdTmnNyLGWcHDZH2jlwaacOlVyC-Oaeyx1-ffVolMkawPAGYv4uiAbDBVWKfbG1nbsq5yDbx6MqQFj6oQ.Wuzpab_GSrzcYjFtJMUORWhFYjRbl9e89fr7avJ0n20&dib_tag=se&keywords=wrapping+paper+storage+bag&qid=1791208816&sr=8-1-spons&aref=aOt693JtuY&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

Oooh, good idea! Going to use this! Thanks! 😁

Ah, the special bottom-hinged shoe carriers disguised as drawers.

I once saw a very nice cabinet of this type in a local furniture makers warehouse, but couldn't afford it. I have never seen such a nice one again.

I have three ikea laundry bags on the landing. I have trained the kids to separate darks, whites and brights. When one is full that's a load and gets washed. It has been transformative because it means the children can figure out what to wash and when.... its only sheer idleness that's stopping them.

I have also duplicated all bathroom cleaning products so each bathroom or toilet has cream cleaner, toilet cleaner, anti bac spray and a cloth. Means its easy to quickly wipe down a sink or loo, so i stay on top of things day to day.

Also two hoovers, one upstairs. One down.

Another one I have only started to do in the last year: keep your clothes horse, iron and ironing board upstairs if you have the room. It feels much easier to put everything away if it’s on the same floor. (I still tumble dry downstairs when I need to as I don’t have the room for a dryer upstairs - if I did, I would.)

When I had my house remodeled I put a warning machine and dryer upstairs so clothes/ bedding etc never needs to go down and back up the stairs. And never iron anything.

Buy a tumble dryer if you use one that has a drum load bigger than your washing machine. It really speeds up drying time because you are never putting too much in at once.

Thank you OP and all who have contributed. Having gone back to work full time last year and having just completed a huge extension and renovation on our house, I have learned so much (and bought so much!!). I added all my favourite items to my notes so that I keep them to reread over and over.

Now to return the favour, my top tips:

1. The Christmas Excel spreadsheet (stolen from my super organized sister). Every year you write in ‘what worked’ for Christmas. Save the file. Open and print the sheet in early October. Over the years you get more hints and tips and Christmas becomes less stressful. I have adapted the idea and if I spot something that would be the perfect gift throughout the year, it gets added to the Christmas spreadsheet so that I see it in October!!!
2. a lever arch file per child (and DH and I) with all their key paper items. As mine have grown older it has gone from just vaccination records to copies of official exam results, educational psychologist reports etc. I also have lever arch files for DH and I for household admin. and one for key paper documents which has all our birth certs. our marriage cert. etc. Finally, I have a document folder with all the guarantees and operating manuals for our household electrical items. I sort the files once a year. They are easy to store on a bookshelf. And everything is always in reach when I need it. I realize I could put most of these items on to my computer, but I’m not organized enough yet and you often need a paper document.
3. I bought an ironing protection sheet which I store with the ironing board. I used to use an old pillowcase but this is amazing - so easy to just iron silky work tops or wool trousers that used to go a bit shiny. You will find them beside the ironing board in any shop that sells ironing boards - although after reading about the hand held steamers and hanging shirts immediately out of the washing machine onto a hanger, I might not need to use the iron as often.
4. I keep an organizer insert in my Longchamp work bag with all of my key work items - bus card; office lanyard card; lipstick; door key on a chain; spare glasses; work phone. I make sure this insert is removed if I use the bag in non-work time and packed back in on Sunday (I need to invest in a second one for weekends).
5. I pack a Rains raincoat in my work bag - it is kept there always so that I never end up in work without a rain coat. It folds up as small as a pac a MAC but is more presentable if I’m heading in to a meeting.
6. When I went back to work full-time last year, I built a work wardrobe. All of the items are navy; blue, khaki or grey. Everything goes with everything else - khaki replaces grey in Summer, so there is variety. I decided on the colours that worked for me and now I stick religiously to them. I add a pop of colour with orange or lavender Sambas. The rest of my shoes are black.

Sorry I missed your reply

Bungalow unfortunately!

Realising my husband needs things visible as he can’t “find” anything in cupboards and drawers so need help on making that work

I feel your pain. DH couldn't find the instruction manual for the central heating thermostat yesterday. Threw a strop. Said he'd searched all the instruction manual files. So I wasn't to bother.

I quietly said it's online. Deathly silence. He'd forgotten 😂