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Mumsnet classics

Good GOD Mumsnet tips actually work!

546 replies

stinkingbishop · 07/04/2014 12:26

  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 Smile.
OP posts:
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BoiledPiss · 08/04/2014 15:01

I used a bottle brush to clean down my plug holes last week and the grey gooey shite i removed was strangely satisfying!

Also i hoover the crumbs out of my toaster

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elQuintoConyo · 08/04/2014 15:01

Crumble a stock cube into the stew and then add water - no dirty jug to wash.

Sellotape or one of those rolling clothes brushes which is sticky ahem H&M el cheapopicks up broken glass even from clothes.

WD40 cleans wax crayon marks.

Old rubber gloves can be cut up to make good rubber bands.

If you have glass shelves in your fridge, cover them in clingfilm, easier to whip off than clean.

Put a soluble aspirin in with your white wash.

Keep talc in the car when going to the beach, it gets sand iff sandy feet very easily and gently THIS WORKS, IT IS AMAZING!

To clean a showerhead: put vinegar in a plasric bag, tie bag around showerhead, leave overnight, rinse with water in the morning.

To clean containers stained with spagbol sauce, or the like: squeeze juice of a lemon into container and add a little baking soda. Rub mixture into stains. Leave overnight if necessary. Rinse with warm water.

Google 'cleaning with lemons', it's amazing!

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zzzzz · 08/04/2014 15:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

stinkingbishop · 08/04/2014 15:09

cinnabar I think the tip was about lining the tops of cupboards ie the bit between them and the ceiling that just collects grease-encrusted daddy longlegs and the like...

Another simple but YES! MN gleaned tip:

Double bag your bin. Obviously only then dispose of the inner one each time (am not suggesting doubling your contribution to the destruction of the planet). But it means if the rubbish bag splits, you've got a safety net.

OP posts:
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MySweetPrince · 08/04/2014 15:18

I have a question......have recently bought a new cooker and both the top oven/grill and the main fan ovens doors are glass so see-through but they have a gap top and bottom. I find that condensation/steam/foodie bits get trapped between the 2 sides of glass so although I clean the doors outside and inside they still look grimy as the debris is inside the 2 bits of glass IYSWIM. I can sort of clean them by wrapping damp kitchen roll around the handle of a wooden spoon and squishing it between the gap but is there a more effective method?

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MrsBearWasTired · 08/04/2014 15:23

Mysweetprince, stupid question, but does the inside glass panel not slide out? I have the same as you and the inside panes slide out of the door straight out Into the oven pride bag

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MySweetPrince · 08/04/2014 15:27

No, unfortunately the glass panels appear to be screw fixed onto the metal door surround.

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MrsBearWasTired · 08/04/2014 15:30

Ah.. Never mind then. That would drive me mad- I would probably attack it with a screwdriver and end up smashing the glass!

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MrsBearWasTired · 08/04/2014 15:32

Would a window squeegee thing fit in the gap?

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buzzy1 · 08/04/2014 15:36

Never go upstairs or downstairs or between rooms empty handed, means you're always picking things up that need putting back where they belong. And never put down put away(do struggle with that one though..)

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MySweetPrince · 08/04/2014 15:38

It's a small gap - maybe 2cms - I haven't tried a squegee , maybe I'll give it a go thanks.

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JeffTheGodOfBiscuits · 08/04/2014 15:49

The best tip I got from mn was to wrap playdough in a baby wipe before putting it back in the tub. It keeps it soft. I have had the same tubs of playdough for FIVE years. I think that must be some kind of record.

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CatherineHMumsnet · 08/04/2014 16:04

Having just used the dishwasher tablet to AMAZING effect on my oven door, I concur that this thread needs to be saved. So we'll be moving it into Good Housekeeping in a moment.

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goingmadinthecountry · 08/04/2014 16:06

Peanut butter to get chewing gum out of hair - an emergency ask after dd got off the school bus with sticky hair.

Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream for molluscum contagious un.

Not advice, but best ever easy chocolate chip cookie recipe. Prob 8 years on, dd2 has just made a batch to take to a party.

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tethersend · 08/04/2014 16:13

What recipe, goingmad?

Don't taunt us Grin

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Sizzlesthedog · 08/04/2014 16:13

Run the talc and sand thing past me again.

Last summer we went to the beach. DH got his hands covered in sand. I smugly stepped up with my talc. Chucked it over his hands saying this will get it off.

DH then had a talc/sand paste on his hands. He wasn't very amused.....

Where did I go wrong? Wrong talc? Wrong sand?

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cosysocks · 08/04/2014 16:34

If you have small bit of rust on steel rub with tin foil it removes rust. My kitchen bin always develops these marks and I've used on my bike handle bars!

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cosysocks · 08/04/2014 16:36

Oh and if you have bobbles on your clothes a gentle rub with fine grain sandpaper makes your coat etc look brand new.

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Charlieboo30 · 08/04/2014 16:55

There are three plumbers in the family and they swear by a maintenance wash on your washing machine once a month. They all say hottest wash you have plus biological washing powder - kills all the bugs apparently.

On the subject of washing, great nana insists its liquid detergent for colours and powder/tablets for whites. Why? Powder and tablets have bleach in even if it's non bio.

I always use oven pride on my oven and it's fantastic. No need to spend hours scrubbing but does cost £4ish.

Oh and to the person that said it doesn't matter which petrol pump you go to as it will reach, not in my experience. Once went to a petrol station that had signs advertising this was the case so attempted it. Nearly pulled the bloody pump with me, trying to get the hose to reach. Cue embarrassment and me having to drive all the way round again.

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LokiDokey · 08/04/2014 17:35

Another random use for Talc, it cleans white dogs perfectly between baths. We used to tip it over our westie and give him a good rub down. Saved a bath, softened and brightened his fur and left him smelling fresh.
We use canned dry shampoo on our scottie as well between baths.

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OnTheBottomWithAWomansWeekly · 08/04/2014 17:50

Following on from the double bag your bin - put a good few empty bin bags in the bottom of each bin.

Means when I yell at DD to bring down the rubbish from the upstairs bins I don't have to nag her to put new bags in as they are already there!

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goingmadinthecountry · 08/04/2014 18:27

Will post recipe after train run. Will do dw tab later.

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ilovepowerhoop · 08/04/2014 18:42

I agree not all hoses stretch so I go to the right side for my petrol cap. Liquid detergents dont contain bleach which is why they would be better for colours whereas you would want bleach for your whites to make them whiter

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TheCowThatLaughs · 08/04/2014 18:52

Oh maybe I've just been lucky with the petrol hoses then? I always pull forward a bit so my petrol filler cap is in line with the pump I'm using and never had a problem Confused

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ilovepowerhoop · 08/04/2014 19:00

my local tesco has signs to say the hoses were shortened and wouldn't stretch far enough so I play it safe with other ones too

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