Translate

Wednesday 7 May 2014

Make it easy on yourself ...

Good morning my lovelies!


It's a bit of a blustery day here on my little island, nothing on the calendar, so a stay-at-home sort of day I think ... if I've got nothing planned I don't mind this kind of day, now and again of course ... all the time would be a bit tedious. I've been moving furniture round and sprucing it up, as you know what they say "a change is as good as a rest" and I feel like I've decorated or done something really drastic as it all looks fresh and .... different.


The cupboard above was a lovely find from Freegle,  (I already had the top cabinet) ... a new coat of paint, a swish of wax and some careful shabbying, and voila! ... a complete new look for ... well, nothing!


I've been pondering about simplifying chores (to free up time to do more pleasurable activities, like pottering about with phrases and needles and reels of Sylko) and I'd like to share my top tips with you for making life just that bit easier.  My husband thinks I have chronic OCD, and that may not be far from the truth, but hey, if it makes me more organised with very little effort, that can only be a good thing, can't it? I have mentioned some of these tips before, so if you've already seen them, I apologise!


Top Tips
  • ALWAYS have a 1 litre spray bottle, filled with plain tap water and 2 tsps of bicarbonate of soda handy.  This mixture is invaluable for cleaning your oven  as mentioned here, but also works on any burnt on spills (old or new) on the hob.  Just spray on and leave a few seconds. Wipe off and it will completely disappear.


  • ALWAYS have a 1 litre spray bottle, filled 2/3 with tap water, the remainder with white vinegar, and a tiny drop of washing up liquid.  This concoction is marvellous for cleaning bathrooms, but gives brilliant results on windows and mirrors too ... spray on, wipe off and then polish with scrunched up newspaper ... dazzling results!


  • When filling the dishwasher, try to put like with like as you go, ie, plates of same size, mugs, bowls, etc ... then all you need to do is pick them out in one fell swoop and put in cupboard, without having to sort through them.  The same goes for cutlery ... if you put just forks in one compartment of the cutlery basket, they can just all be put straight into drawer.  The same goes for knives, spoons, etc.  More hygienic too ... especially if the children are helping!


  • While you're doing the 'big' shop, try to put similar items together into the shopping trolley. Place tins together (preferably at the bottom), bread, fridge stuff, frozen items, etc.  Load them onto the belt in this way and then when  you pack them at the other end they will be in this order.  Bag them up separately, ie, tins in one bag (careful, it's heavy!), fridge stuff in another, toiletries in another, etc. When you get home the chore of putting away is a lot easier and this is were you can delegate ... bag of toiletries in the bathroom, veg in the rack, freezer stuff straight into the freezer, without having to sort through every item and making unnecessary journeys. It might sound complicated, but trust me, it will soon become second nature.


  • After you've washed your bedding, keep one pillowcase aside and fold the duvet cover, remaining pillowcases and sheets and place inside the saved pillowcase.  This way you always have a complete matching set to hand ... no more turning the airing cupboard upside down looking for a matching pillowcase! They stack into neat piles too ...


  • Staying with the 'laundry' theme, when you go on holiday, take some bin bags or large carrier bags with you and sort laundry each day.  This saves the mammoth task of turning 6 suitcases onto the kitchen floor and sifting through 2 weeks of smelly washing.  I did this once, and vowed never again! All you need to do, when you get back, is take each bag out at a time and it's not such a big deal.


  • If you're having a 'big' celebration meal, such as Christmas Dinner, or even just a family get-together Sunday roast, about an hour before it's due to be served, place the plates and serving dishes in the dishwasher and put on a quick wash.  Don't open the door until ready to serve and everything will be piping hot and saves space in your oven.  Put your gravy in a teapot, much less dribblesome, and keeps warmer longer too! (And looks very pretty, especially if dressed in a vintage cosy).


  • If you break a glass or china object, after you've picked up the big pieces, take a piece of fresh bread and wipe over the surface ... the bread will pick up the little splinters that you may otherwise miss.


  • If you drop a raw egg, rather than try to pick it up and risk spreading the mess, just give it a blast with a hairdryer ... this will cook the egg making it easy to pick up and dispose of ... or give to the dog so not wasted ...
I didn't think I'd be able to do ten, but I've racked my brains, and here's top tip number 10 ...


  • If fussy visitors are coming at very short notice, say an hour, there isn't time to spring clean, so just get a carrier bag, put everything in it that's cluttering the place, plump up the cushions, tidy papers and magazines, and pick a big bunch of flowers from the garden and light candles.  They'll be so taken with the welcoming ambience that they won't notice the dustballs under the sofa ...

After all that hard work, put your feet up, pick up your favourite magazine ... and relax with a treat.  Enjoy! You deserve it ...


Hope you all have a Wonderful Wednesday ...

Love Claire xxx

38 comments:

  1. ha ha, I love that word 'dribblesome'. If I follow your ideas & some of them I already do I shall have more time for knitting & crochet. Love the dishwasher one about warming plates & dishes. Have a good week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Joanne! I love words like that too ... it come from an Enid Blyton story "The Dribblesome Teapot" ... hopefully not, though if you're using it for gravy!

      Love Claire xx

      Delete
  2. He~ He..I smiled all the way through this Mrs Thiftwood.....
    I like the sheets in the pillow case tip most of all...Ooh and the oven one just cannot be beat!!
    You and I both know I always, always dust my room with a smile :) and this works a treat too...
    Wishing you a lovely rest of week, and your new side board is gorgeous!!! LOVE it..
    Hugs Maria x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Maria! We really need to get together soon, been too long! Come to me if you're still being bothered by builders ... will be nice to catch up xxx

      Delete
  3. Definitely going to try some of your tips - need more me time............. May I give you my tip - this one is really for wintertime. I make extra large casseroles to last two days, saves being in the kitchen all the time!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's a great tip! I always try to make a big meal so that it can be adapted to make several more meals from it ... spag bol, turns into a chilli, and roast dinner into a soup or casserole ... I love having things ready made in the freezer, feels like a holiday! xxx

      Delete
  4. Hi Claire
    Wow those tips are brilliant. Love the bedding one, never would have thought of that, genius. Only Sunday I was ferreting around for the pillow lips to match my duvet cover!
    The Dishwasher tip is brilliant too (mind you my dishwasher wears trousers and is called Chris!)
    Love the cupboard, looks gorgeous. Debbiex

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Debbie! Thanks for dropping in, always lovely to see you!

      Love Claire xx

      Delete
  5. Gravy in a tea pot - that's a fab idea! Love it, and definitely going to do that from now on :-) Thanks for the other 9 helpful tips too - now if you'd like to come and put those into practise in my house, I'd happily make you a mug of steaming yummy hot chocolate when you're done ;-) Please?
    I dream about being as organized as you . . .
    Have a happy day,
    hugs xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Gilly, I'd love to come round! Haha I sound like Superwoman, believe me, I'm not ... I just like a handy little tip to make life a bit easier ...

      Get the kettle on sweetie xxx

      Delete
  6. Such great ideas!! I already do some of these, but, if I remember (ha!) I will borrow some of the others too. I always stack my shopping trolley and pack as you do and can never understand it when I see the conveyor packed with other peoples things that are all over the place, meat with tins and veggies with bread and so on! Not for me that is for sure, but each to their own I guess. Hope that you have fun being organised and get to have more relaxing time as a result! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Amy ... I always panic if there are charity bag packers at the checkout, as I know they won't do it how I want! I just put a pound in their bucket anyway, and say I'll have to do it myself because some of it belongs to me neighbour ... Only a little white lie! Xxx

      Delete
  7. Thank you for the brilliant tips Claire. I shall have to get a few spray bottles. I particularly like the pillow case tip. I find as I am getting older my OCD is getting worse. Perhaps it is too many years with untidy teenagers and a messy husband. He in particular drives me mad when it comes to shopping at the supermarket as he is a random packer. We'll finally be moving up to Cumbria at the end of this month - yay! Philippa xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Philippa! I think you're probably right ... After years of clearing other people's mess up, it's nice to have it just so xxxx

      Delete
    2. I love your tips, Claire, especially your home-made cleaning products. xx

      Delete
    3. Hi loo! Lovely to see you, I'll try to think of some more xxx

      Delete
  8. What a fabulous post! I'll end up printing out your list and sticking it on the fridge...and I smiled at your tip about plastic bags and suitcases - I do the very same thing and thought I was the only one! Ah, a kindred spirit, but it makes the hassle of unpacking so much easier, doesn't it? Chrissie x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Chrissie, glad you like my tips! Family holidays were a nightmare (well the homecoming was) with 4 kids and 2 adults and all the washing ... Sometimes it's obvious, but there are loads of tips out there that I don't know about, so please share! Lovely to 'see' you!

      Claire xxx

      Delete
  9. Great tips! I have wrote them all down and plan to use them! My favorites because i never heard of them before was the bread to pick up glass and the hair dryer for the egg. AMAZING! Thanks for sharing! :0)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Some great tips there Claire and I have enjoyed seeing your photos of your lovely home.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Anne, and it's always lovely when you drop in, you're always welcome! xxx

      Delete
  11. I love your tips Claire, I just need a dishwasher...oh no its Ok I have Fin!!!
    Your Cupboard is fab you must be thrilled
    Happy Week
    Thea x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Thea! There was already a dishwasher here when we moved in, I'd never had one before, but now wouldn't be without one ... As well as washing the dishes they're useful for lots of other things ... Lego to name one!

      Love claire xxx

      Delete
  12. These tips are great Claire, especially the bread to clear up little pieces of glass, always a problem with my house - I am incredibly clumsy. Thanks for sharing these. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're very welcome Cehl! I just hole you remember at the crucial time! Xx

      Delete
  13. I loved the tip on using a teapot for gravy. I'm going to have to find myself a little teapot just for this. Thanks for your wonderful ideas.
    Ali xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Ali, I've used a teapot fr gravy a few times now and it definitely keeps much warmer, and I find it easier to pour too ... Hope you find the perfect one!

      Lve Claire xx

      Delete
  14. Great tips, love the idea for warming plates and the spray bottles but the broken glass remedy is brilliant.
    Gillx

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hello Gill, have a look at the oven cleaning link ... I can promise you it all change your life!

    Love Claire xxx

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Claire,love the idea of gravy in a teapot and keeping it warm with a teacosy!! I will certainly try that and keeping duvet etc in a pillowcase what a neat idea.I have a few days off work so am moving things,painting and upcycling,I created a sewing table out of and old wardrobe! I'm thrilled to little bits with it!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Pam, ooh can't wait to see all your makeovers! Glad you've dropped in xxx

    ReplyDelete
  18. Gravy tea!!! that's genius. xx

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wise words Claire. I will be using some of these tips. x

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wonderful tips, I will be using lots of these clever ideas, Claire! Thank you for sharing them! (Wish I had read the bit about the bread when a glass broke here last week!)
    Have a great weekend!
    Helen xox

    ReplyDelete
  21. Copying and pasting some of these tips Claire they are so good. I swear by white vinager and bacarbonate of soda....works wonders and by far cheaper than the no end of different brands of one for each chore stuff in the shops!

    keep well

    Amanda x

    ReplyDelete
  22. What great ideas, I love the folding bedding into a pillow case - perfect for me in this madhouse! Thank you Claire x

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hey great tips - just got back from my holiday and I followed your tip for the different bags (I always use old pillowcases!!!) for our clothes when we got home it was
    One less job and made wash loads a lot easier and no peg needed for my nose!! Also great idea to warm plates for a lot of people - why had I not thought of that? And I'm glad I'm not the only person that feels mean when I decline an offer to pack my bag at the supermarket!!!! I always give to someone rattling a tin - regardless of who or what they are collecting for so I just give them a donation - sorry to be late with my comment - really struggling with this stupid iPad that keeps changing my words!!!! Xx

    ReplyDelete

I love to hear what you think of my ramblings and value all your comments ... I will try and get back to you, but am sorry if I don't always manage this ... sometimes real life just gets in the way! Claire xxx