Useful things??

[hanadr]

I've been straightening up and had a thought.
Peter[T1 husband] has been very ill with a bladder infection, plus I've had the grandchildren and I've got very tired [I'm not as young as I used to be]. At last Peter is improving and the children are gone, so I can start to put things to rights.
I just thought of a couple of simple cheap things I've got that make life a bit easier and wondered what other people have.
I have self adhesive hooks stuck inside kitchen cupboards, where I can hang things like the rubber gloves and spare keys etc. they are secure and out of sight! [the rubber gloves of course!]
I also have all my own keys on a carabeener. I can separate off my car keys easily and hang the whole lot on my belt loops if I go out without a handbag. Ladies trousers, even jeans have pathetic pockets.
The hoses for my vacuum cleaner hang on a bungee cord on a hook in the cloakroom and don't ge tangled in my small understairs cupboard. In that cupboard I have one of those little wire trolleys, on which are the vacuum cleaner attachments and spare bags and the dusters.
In my utlity room, I have hooks on the wall for the clothes peg bag and a net bag for clean floor cloths.
In the bathroom, I have a more expensive thing, a carousel, into which I can fit cosmetics and face cream etc.
I'm all for making life easier and can't affor a housekeeper, so any ideas will be gratefully accepted.
Especially ideas for my shambolic study! It's been invaded by toys and Peter's junk!
Hana

 

[izzzi]

Hi Hana,

You are well in a tidy control mode.

Do not touch Peters Junk until he is fully recovered, :thumbup:

bring back the grandchildren to help you collect some old toys and some of your many Shoes and jumpers etc, that you never wear, then arrange a garage or boot sale.

I am going to press my luck and suggest that you have a few out of date products in your pantry and even in the fridge.( you could con your grandchildren to check the dates while they can clean up and make more room.


If I suggest this to my wife, she would throw me out. :thumbdown:

Good Luck

Roy.

 

[hanadr]

Hi
izzy
I did clear out a food cupboard the other day. Regretably I don't have a pantry. My house is pre-ww2 and was built with one, but being south facing wasn't very useful, so we incorporated it into the kitchen about 30 years ago. I have a spare fridge and freezer in the utility and those need turning out too.
As for clothes and shoes, that was last month and the charity shop benefited.
The toys; the ones outgrown by their Mummy now suit the elder grand child and the ones outgrown by her now suit Joshua. He and I had fun with the stacking cups on Friday. I build towers. Joshua[budding footballer] kicks them down.
Unfortunately the big toys, Dolly crib. toy house etc seem to have the longest useful life. I don't have any of the 1-use toys
I discovered 2 whole cases of DVD movies in my study, of which I had no knowledge. I now have junk belonging to my brother, who has a large house and a whole farm with barns in North Wales!!! Peter squirrelled them home.
If I get rid of his stuff he'll never notice
Hana

 

[Defren]

I may be able to help with your study/office, my office was a complete disaster area, it's much better now. I bought loads of cheap box files and sat over the course of a few days putting all the correct papers into their box. I then bought a set of plastic drawers (Wilkinson's I think) that sorted out all the larger 'sundry' items. Then I noticed in Asda small sets of plastic drawers, and I got some of those. They keep pens, stapler, hole punch etc all the smaller things. I bought an in out tray from Staples and that keeps all my pending and done work safe and tidy.

I also bought a similar set of drawers, but in rattan for the bathroom. Three girls in the house means a load of 'woman's things that you really don't want on display, and also loads of make-up and other bits. It also holds spare loo roll, again which means it's all out of sight.

In the kitchen I found I was really struggling for space with all the 'normal' food stuffs, then my food stuff, so I bought an absolute load of brightly coloured lidded jars, and also some beautiful old fashioned spice jars. I had some chrome and glass shelving put up and they all sit on there. My kitchen is all in black so the chrome and the brightly coloured lids add a lovely compliment, and I have room to move again.

In the wardrobes I added some gorgeous dark rattan boxes, each box is used for all the smaller things that end up as clutter with no real home. For my daughters I got huge plastic boxes, that although they are too big to have toys, keep CD's and other things in, that would otherwise end up on the floor all over. On my bedside drawers I have a small fancy little basket, it has all my night creams and hair clips/bobbles in, again easy to hand yet all tidy and looks nice.

All apart from the in out tray and the rattan boxes in the wardrobes I got really quite cheap. Nothing was over £10 and the small drawers for pens etc, was about £2-£3 I think. I am a firm believer in boxes, they are so useful and keep things tidy and hidden.

I also have a hook on the inside of my detergent cupboard door, it holds new dishcloths and sponges, easy access with wet hands should I need something quickly.

 

[Hobs]

One of the most useful tidy-home gadgets I've invested in is the iron tidy holster... :angel: Its gone up a tad since I bought it but being made with an insulated metal core base, the iron can be but away reasonable hot and the cord wrapped around the clip-in part of the holster...
Having it means the iron can get put away at the same time as the ironing board, leaving all working surfaces clear for the next job in hand.. :thumbup: £8.80 now and that is delivered to your door.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Minky-VH8090010 ... 946&sr=1-1