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Original poster

Simple useful things that took you too long to work out...

379 replies

MyCatIsAGit · 27/05/2015 06:55

Like taking the oven shelf out of the top oven to use in the bottom (bigger) oven so you can fit 3 trays in rather than just 2.

10 years we've had that oven, juggling baking trays at Christmas and for kid's beige food and chips tea, in fact most days. Especially as top oven doesn't work v well.

Revelation this Sunday..

OP posts:
00100001 · 27/05/2015 19:48

Tobsee if your breath smells, lick your wrist and wait a few secind.s. then smell your wrist :)

hooker29 · 27/05/2015 20:19

following on from OP.......we've used an upturned roasting tin in the bottom of our oven before as an extra shelf

DiscoMoo · 27/05/2015 20:20

Another jar opening trick - hit the bottom of the jar (with your hand or onto a tea towel on the work surface) and it will open easily.

Wipe skirting boards with socked feet before taking socks off and putting in the wash.

andysgurl76 · 27/05/2015 21:01

Omg egog the hair removal cream down the plug hole idea is seriously going to change my life! I have very thick hair and molt like a dog so this is epic. Thank youGrin

WandaFuca · 27/05/2015 21:21

I’ve got a cylinder vacuum cleaner which I’ve had for years. I didn’t know until recently, when my new cleaner pointed it out, that there’s a slot on the side of the cylinder bit and a tab on the rigid part of the hosepipe. Stand the cylinder bit upright, put the tab into the slot, and the whole thing can be carried one-handed, and it stows away neatly without the hosepipe flopping all over the place. Apparently, most cylinder vacuum cleaners are like that.

Paperblank · 27/05/2015 21:39

To the poster who mentioned taking a four gang extension lead on holiday...you are a genius Grin

imacrazydaisy · 27/05/2015 21:48

ooo, also my friend kindly pointed out to me the other day that if your fed up with your cat bringing home gifts of birds/mice etc, to get a collar with a bell!
It had never even occurred to me that that was what the bell was for :p

Meow75 · 27/05/2015 22:03

Further to the car seat one - the position behind the passenger is considered the "seat of honour" as it is the seat least likely to suffer as a result of a collision. It's furthest from an oncoming vehicle.
Was instructed with regards to this when I was a GamesMaker driving Olympic Committee representatives during London2012.
We were supposed to engineer passengers (if there was more than one) so that the most "important" one was in that seat. Unfortunately, if the other passenger was their wife (none of the delegates were female), they always insisted that she sit there. I wasn't going to argue.

paranoidmother · 27/05/2015 23:53

Love the hair removal cream idea and 4 gang extension lead.

I have a laundry basket for each person in the family plus an ironing one. Everything gets sorted into each basket after drying. The baskets stack and aren't big. Easier to put away.

cuntycowfacemonkey · 28/05/2015 00:01

I knew that paranoidmother still feel guilty now sliding ds1's seat over to put ds2's seat in the seat of honour Sad

Snapper53 · 28/05/2015 08:43

SistersofPercy - that's brilliant, I'll be doing that from today!

HazleNutt · 28/05/2015 08:47

Give each family member a laundry bag, where they can put their dirty socks. Throw all laundry bags into the washer, then dryer, then back into respective rooms. No more searching for pairs and trying to figure out whom socks belong to.

tigger32 · 28/05/2015 09:12

Hazelnut, that is brilliant! Thank you. Now where can I buy laundry bags?

tigger32 · 28/05/2015 09:13

Sorry HazlenutBlush

DearTeddyRobinson · 28/05/2015 09:31

Ok nothing as epic as some of these but here goes:
You can buy laundry pens. This means if you have different size beds but all white bedding, you can write 'K' for king size, 'D' for double etc on your sheets so you aren't driven mad by getting out the wrong size every time! 40 when I figured that out!
When you are pegging socks on the line, put pairs together and use one peg (hanging them together by the tops). You can just fold them together when you're taking the wash in, voila 2 jobs done.
This is a bit TMI so apologies - I can't use tampax since having DS so I'm stuck with night time sanitary towels overnight. They inevitably leak on the heavier days. So I figured out if I use one pad in my normal knickers, then put a pair of post CS massive granny pants on top, it keeps everything in place and stops leaks!
Finally put your laundry powder in one of those cheapo plastic jugs with a lid ( you can get them in those little shops which sell kitchenware and always seem to have dustpan and brush sets outside on the pavement).
It's much easier to pour into the dispenser drawer without spilling.

CatchIt · 28/05/2015 09:44

If you are freezing soup or stock (or any other liquid for that matter) put it in a freezer bag, get the air out and put it in the freezer flat. This way you can defrost it quickly or break bits off.

If you want to thicken a gravy, mix some butter and flour until it's smooth and whisk in, let it boil for a bit and it will thicken up nicely!

FunnyHowThingsWorkOut · 28/05/2015 09:51

Teddy try a nappy spread out like a pad. Much better coverage. Very absorbent. Grin

Stealthpolarbear · 28/05/2015 10:01

ve never found hair removal cream down the plug hole works for me
shower drain blocked at the moment so I'll give it another go but scrubbing with a toothbrush and then bleach and boiling water is the only thing that usually works
also bio washing powder helps dissolve gunk in drains but you do need to flush it else it solidifies.

Original poster
MyCatIsAGit · 28/05/2015 10:03

Teddy have a look at diary doll pants...

OP posts:
DearTeddyRobinson · 28/05/2015 10:05

Aw thanks guys! Feckin periods Angry

sashh · 28/05/2015 10:17

Don't bother peeling potatoes before boiling and mashing. Just cut clean potatoes into chunks and cook as normal. Yes you can see the skin, but it is in small pieces and you can't taste it.

If you do it with red potatoes and 'mash' using a food processor or stick blender you get little red specks that look all posh and artisan (no idea what artisan is, but everything seems to be it these days).

OP

After years of taking the grill out to use the grill/top oven as an oven I realised I could store it in the main oven rather than have it hanging around the kitchen.

Something I've done for years that doesn't help me but should help another is that when I put things on the conveyer in the supermarket I put the heavy things like tins and packs of potatoes on the side nearest the checkout person.

It means they only have to lean over to pick up things like bread or crisps.

I hope I'm doing my bit to stop them developing bad backs.

WicksEnd · 28/05/2015 10:41

I am googling laundry bags and pens. Grin Genius tip about the socks, they are the absolute bane of my life, now everyone can pair their own instead of leaving me with a sock mountain!

MehsMum · 28/05/2015 11:56

I was going to recommend diary dolls for heavy periods - got some for DD, absolutely amazing. They look cute too.

Some ace ideas on here - 4-gang plug is one.

Caustic soda is the drain clearer par excellence. DH's job, that.

MaxPepsi · 28/05/2015 12:15

With regards the four gang plug.....you can get usb extension cables, only need the one plug and you can then have, phone, ipod, tablet and camera (for eg) all charging at once from one socket.

Anyone use GHD's? Take them abroad? No need to take a separate converter plug as they have one built in.

Hairy moulting dog? Wipe them down with a damp (disinfected) cloth before brushing, it removes loads of their hair and stops it going all over.

tteach · 28/05/2015 12:52

Keep your cling film in the fridge-it stops it getting all tangled and is much easier to handle.