Hacks that make you happy - the easy life

Another amazing gadget for me was a window vac. I am not normally a gadget person, but I picked a cheapo one up in Aldi. I had, in the past, tried every method known to man on my windows and mirrors (and of course, I've got mirrored wardrobe doors). It is effective, requires minimum effort and is very, very fast. I just use warm water and a few drops of washing up liquid in it. I was so impressed that I bought a Karcher one for my sister as a present.

Sorry don't know how I got the cucumber one in!

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As someone who struggled unsuccessfully to make good pastry for nearly half a century this recipe changed everything. It takes about 2 minutes in a food processor and is light, crumbly and so good I fold any extra in as I can't bear to cut it away.

kittylester

Didn't like to ask. Wondered if it was similar to a sugar daddy but more useful.

I’d rather have the sugar daddy!

I'll try that, Norah, thank you.

kittylester

Does it still need some rubbing in, Norah?

No. I'm happy with the shredded butter and flour.

I use a fork to mix cream and lemon into flour mix, pat, form, bake.

Easy, fast, I bake several times a week.

SuziHi you are so right about the OXO bathroom brush. I have just received one for my birthday from clever DiL. It's brilliant.

SpanielCuddler I also use and love Pink Stuff. In my young days it was called Chemico.

Does it still need some rubbing in, Norah?

I'm not adept at rubbing butter in flour. I shredder grate frozen butter into the flour (already mixed with baking powder, bicarb, sugar, salt).

With all respect to OP I hate this Americanism “hack” with a passion.
Whatever happened to “tips” ?
Hack to me means very different things- hacking at a tough piece of meat, you can get a hardworking newspaper hack, or a hacking cough or hacking out on a horse.
I am too old to have to adjust to superfluous definitions!

I love my addis spray mop which came with two microfibre heads (bought in Aldi). Just use and chuck in the washer. In fact you have just prompted me to buy a pack of 3 spare microfibre heads from amazon. So much better than a traditional mop and bucket.

I can't afford gadgets.

I squirt vinegar in my shower, immediately I get out. Leave it until I'm dressed then sprinkle baking powder and attacak the fizzy with the long handled yard brush. No bending and a clean shower with just a rinse.

There is also some with a cat or dog face, bit odd to be scrubbing things with an animals face.

Thanks Casdon

Aveline

What is the ratio of white vinegar to washing up liquid and salt? I'm keen to get going. However, I'm already disappointed that we don't seem to have any timescale on the shower tiles or glass! Dratted soft water spoiling my fun.

I almost fill it with vinegar, add a tiny squirt of washing up liquid, and a teaspoon of salt if I’m tile scrubbing, if just a quick once over I just use the vinegar and washing up liquid. Hope it works for you too!

If the oven is going to be on at all, I always put a few jacket potatoes and/or a tray of flapjacks or similar in too, so there’s something filling every shelf. If it’s switched off before the potatoes are cooked through I leave them in while it cools, they’ll finish cooking in the microwave when I come to eat them.

I LOVE the idea for freezing the bacon individually rolled up. I just told MrR and he said "Oh". Believe me that is good for him....it means that he will try it (he is our bacon operative in this house) but he will then claim the idea as his own

That's OK Teabagwoman- now I am off to put my bedding neatly in pillow cases! Thanks.

I can’t be bothered fussing about trying to fold a fitted sheet neatly so I bundle it up and put it in a pillowcase with the top sheet, duvet and the rest of the pillowcases. The ‘packs’ then sit quite neatly in the airing cupboard and I’ve got all I need to change the bed in one place. Now off to order my Oxo tile scrubber. Sorry the soft water is spoiling your fun Aveline

We don’t have a “dish daddy” ours is a “dishmatic” we’ve had it about 4 yrs, just the same, fill the handle with fairy liquid which feeds the pad. Good for cleaning pans, most plates etc go in the dishwasher, I’m sure it could be used in the bathroom but would be slow going compared with the latest bathroom cleaners

Got my OXO goodgrips tile scrubber arriving today can’t believe how excited I am😆 the bathroom tiles won’t know what’s hit them.Love this thread of hacks for those who are tired/ have bad backs/plain old can’t be arsed.😍

What is the ratio of white vinegar to washing up liquid and salt? I'm keen to get going. However, I'm already disappointed that we don't seem to have any timescale on the shower tiles or glass! Dratted soft water spoiling my fun.

😁

kittylester

Didn't like to ask. Wondered if it was similar to a sugar daddy but more useful.

😂😂