Really useful things

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Not sure if I’ve picked the right topic. But…had someone in to change the lock on front door a week ago and they got put a twisty thing (formal name thumbturn lock apparently) on the inside so I don’t need my keys to lock/unlock the door when home. It is sooo good! I feel like I may be slightly too excited by this.

Anyway it makes wonder if there are other relatively simple things that people have in their homes that make a big difference?

looking for inspiration please…

Mine are all lighting related.
Smart lightbulbs. Linked to Alexa so I can ask her to turn them on and off and set up routines. Went out tonight, came home after dark and my hallway lights were already on. Can turn on the lights in my loft without having to grope for a switch in the pitch black and potentially touch spiders
Motion sensor night light in the hallway so if I need a wee in the night it lights my way to the bathroom when I exit my bedroom. Was a tenner from Amazon for 2. The second one is near the back door for when I need to let my dog out in the middle of the night.
Ceiling fan in my bedroom, can't sleep without it.
I put a led strip light in the corner cupboard in my kitchen, on a motion sensor so when I open the door it lights up the contents. I hate corner cupboards and being able to see the contents has made it a much better storage space.

One non lighting one.
Thermal cup, no more cold tea because I forget to drink it while working. Tea now stays hot for a good hour or more, several hours if I put the lid on.

Had to have a couple of new plug sockets out in recently and got the sockets with a couple of USB ports as well so handy to not have to find an adapter plug.

These broom holder things, have a couple on the side of the fridge and now the broom doesn’t randomly fall out of its little nook between the side of the fridge and the wall because it’s held in place.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MUTUACTOR-Magnetic-Drilling-Organizer-Management/dp/B0BVZMDLPQ?th=1

A mop with a squirty bottle on it and a Velcro head. I just fill the bottle with ready mix floor cleaner and it stays in there for multiple uses till it runs out, Squirt the floor, run the mop around, whip the head off and into the washing machine. I can clean the kitchen floor super quick while the kettle is boiling.

https://www.bmstores.co.uk/products/addis-everyday-spray-mop-383748

Two vacuum cleaners, one upstairs and one downstairs. Saves hauling one up and down stairs.

Small kitchen with external door. Gained extra kitchen space by getting new door fitted - which opened out instead of in.

Good lighting would definitely be a really good thing @ottersaremyspiritanimal

The corner cupboard LED one - is it battery operated?

@InfoSecInTheCity- the broom holder things sound amazing - one of my biggest frustrations is tripping over the bloody broom all the time!

@Contraryjane- I’m still holing out for something to do the stairs! Our dog doesn’t go upstairs but the hairs on the stairs drive me mad - although real satisfaction in hoovering them and seeing all the hairs that are lifted! Probably shouldn’t admit that as it is kinda yuck too!

@Olive567- very curious as to what you mean - is it changing the direction of the door? Apologies if I’m being really stupid!

reminds me though - got a squeaky internal door de-squeaked and it is brilliant although I still expect the squeak even months later!

Multi USB plugs from ikea. I can charge my phone, Garmin watch and headphones all at the same time.

Also a light sensitive bulb for the light over the front door.

Yes @MagpiePi- I have a similar one that is also a travel adaptor - it is brilliant!

We have motion lights on the stairs and in the bathroom- saves my eyes and my toes 🤣
Electric bottle opener- my husband calls it the hardest worker in the house 🤔
Long handled dustpan and brush.
Parcel post box externally.
Kitchen items: microwaveable saucepan, food chopper, pronged thing to hold onions/potatoes etc while cutting them, pizza cutter rocker, reuseable freezer bags, slow cooker, air fryer, all make my life easier.

Lock thumbturns.

Good news. They are easy to use. No more searching for keys when you are inside. Fast to get out of in case of emergency.

Bad news. If you have glass or a weak door component near the thumbturn someone can easily smash it and gain entry to the house.

No glass and a solid wooden door here so hopefully safe enough but get your point. I’d not be comfortable if I had glass in the door.

Never heard of an electric bottle
opened…off to google that now!

These lights seem to be very popular!

No, I added it when I put the kitchen in, but no reason you couldn't use a battery operated one.

Roundpin sockets, it means all the lamps in the living room are turned on with one switch on the wall.
We have the same in the bedroom but they also have a dimmer function, great for when the kids were babies and feeding them and still useful now when you only need a low light.