Good GOD Mumsnet tips actually work!

[stinkingbishop]

1. Have smeared the twins' cradle cap liberally with rapeseed oil, left, combed through, left Dentinox on in the bath for ten mins, rinsed through, and it all came off in big satisfying clumps. I got a bizarre amount of pleasure from this.
   

1. I bit the bullet and got Plumbs round to reupholster my awkwardly shaped sofa and it's gorgeous! And the covers are just about less tricky to take on and off than a sleeping bag is to put back in its bag IYKWIM and they're machine washable. I, embarrassingly, may have punched the air. I need to get out more.
   

1. Storing complete bedding sets inside one of the pillow cases has led to uncrumpled sheets and duvets that MATCH.
   

1. Tomatoes out of the fridge are sweet and juicy.
   

I is DELIGHTED with the MN service. Please continue revolutionising my life .

[RabbitSaysWoof]

For an instant blacked out window spray water on window and stick tin foil to it, also keeps bedroom very cool in summer.

If taking a break from painting walls tightly wrap rollers and brushes in cling film no need to wash out if going back to same colour paint stays moist for days.

[Slackgardener]

Just used dishwasher tabs to remove stains from my silestone worktop, easy and quick and then just shoved them in the dishwasher, no more sprays needed!

[AGnu]

Does the dishwasher tablet work inside the oven too, or is it just for the door? I'm scared of removing any protective coating... Tbh though, most of the 'protective coating' is burnt food at this point!

[Slackgardener]

I have used it on the inside of the Oven and it was fine but I couldn't say we have the same lining.

[ColdFeetWarmHeart]

RabbitSaysWoof I shall be trying out your tin foil black out when we go on holiday for a month - don't particularly want DD to be up by 4am!!

[Poughle]

This isn't a mumsnet tip, it's something I made up but it works so well that I'll share

If you want a door to not make a clicky sound when you shut it, take a T-shirt or fleece and wrap it around the two door handles so that the door can still shut but the fabric muffles the sound and prevents it from clicking shut.

Or if you have a hook on the back of the door, hang a fleecy bathrobe and pull one of the sleeves over to achieve the same effect.

I have explained this in the most inarticulate way possible. I hope you can visualise it??

[captainmummy]

Who are these people who need to clean inside the radiators? And inside the washing machine drawer? And on top of cupboards? No-one can see it!

Re log-burners glass- I use WD40; spray on and wipe off. WD40 also brilliant for removing grease/make-up from my dressing table.

The washing machine maintenance - I occassionally run the machine on HOT with the white towels in, but no powder/detergent. Don't see the point of running it without something in! And it does the same job, and the towels come out clean (having used the residue of powder, I assume)

Cleaning venetian blinds - buy cheap cottton gloves, soak in water-washing-up solution and run blind-slats between fingers.

Re Plumbs - when I moved in (not much money) I bought a nice-shaped sofa from a furniture-charity for £100. Then got Plumbs to recover. Bargain.

[unlucky83]

captain if you have radiators with bendy bits of metal inside (can't remember the name - fins?) they get clogged up with big dust bunnies at the bottom (you will be surprised - horrified first time I saw one off the wall) ...which stops the hot air circulating as it should and makes them less efficient - but using the hairdryer to blow the dust out the bottom is the easiest way of keeping them clear...

[lazydog]

slackgardener - Re the cherry tomato slicing technique. Yes, I think you're missing the fact that the two plates idea is for slicing about 20-30 of them in one go, not individually

Place cherry tomatoes on a plate that has a lip height that's about half the depth of the tomatoes. Place a second (identical) plate on top, upside down. Slide a long sharp knife between the two plates and the cherry tomatoes are all perfectly halved. It is a time saver, for sure.

[lazydog]

Oops - sorry IthoughtATMwasacashpoint... Didn't see you'd already explained :)

[MrsGarvey]

Let's talk lettuce!

Jamie Oliver recommends washing and drying your lettuce and then lining the salad drawer with a damp tea towel to keep the lettuce fresh, I'm sure this works but I can help feel it's a waste of space.

I recommend washing and drying the lettuce in an ikea salad spinner, pour the water out, spin, pour the water out and then put the spinner in the fridge - the lettuce stays fresh for ages and because it's already clean, salads are easier and quicker to put together.

[marushka82]

I'm loving this thread!
Any tips for making previously white hand towels white again? Oh, and they have some yellow stains on them (god knows why )

[unlucky83]

I think mentioned up thread - but sunlight is good at getting rid of lots of stains ...things like tomato sauce and orange juice...just hang them out damp and try and keep them damp until the stain has gone (remarkably quickly sometimes - by the time they are dry)
Two of DD2s polo shirts were really badly stained - un-useable and I left them out on the line for a couple of weeks (kept wetting them again when I remembered) and all the stains came out ...
But the white thing never managed ...guess you could try that net curtain whitener ...I get dull whites a lot cos I use ecover powder which doesn't contain optical brighteners but then I'd rather have that than put unnecessary chemicals down the drain...appreciate not everyone feels like me though!

[Cailleach]

Got brassy hair from dyeing it blonde repeatedly? Now look like you've been tango-ed? I know I often do - thanks, red hair genes!

You could use a very expensive purple shampoo; or you could make your own using purple or blue and red food colouring.

Mix with a clear or white shampoo until it's a light lilac colour, then apply to hair and leave for five minutes, then rinse. Mix it to a darker purple if you need to, but ease yourself into this slowly.

Do the same for your conditioner for even better results.

Use twice a week for best results as a maintenance wash. Using it too often might turn your hair a wee bit blue; be warned!

Oh and you can also use purple food colouring and white vinegar to make a hair toner; mix until a light purple, then apply to your hair after shampooing, then rinse. Your hair will not smell of vinegar after it is dry.

[TheSkiingGardener]

I'm sorry to have to report back that the patio cleaning tip didn't work at all. DS was disappointed!

Have to get the pressure washer out after all!

[Delilahfandango]

Very late to the party! But love this thread. Don't know if it's been mentioned but we've found that a good squirt of dishwasher liquid in a bucket of water is excellent for soaking white school shirts in, to remove bolognaise or curry stains

[mydogistalking]

Some recent DIY victories for me!

Use zip lock freezer bags to store used paint brushes (works with emulsions long term and glosses for several days).

Remove wallpaper/unsightly 1980s borders from walls using combined vinegar and water - sprayed on and left for a couple of minutes - it practically slides off afterwards.

Use sticky tape cut to the distance between hooks on a picture, then stick the tape to the wall to use as a guide for drilling the holes.

Bicarbonate of soda combined with lemon juice (made into a paste, applied and left for 20-30 minutes) removes those weird stains that you think have become part of the fabric of your ceramic cooker hob.

[Ellaberta]

Hello

[Ellaberta]

Hello , I love your life hacks!

[beggin4mercy]

Will I be banned for resurrecting a Zombie thread? I don't know the rules sorry.

But someone mentioned about cleaning a brick patio with washing powder, but I couldn't find the post. Can anyone help?

Apologies if I should not have posted here, HQ can delete.