Quick and sometimes obvious time savers..

kboss2010

My time-saving tips:

- load cutlery in the dishwasher the way you store it - forks in one section, knives in another, kitchen utensils in another etc - that way you just grab the bundle, dry & dump into the tray & no need to sort!

- keep a travel toiletries bag packed in the cupboard for when you travel - toothbrush, solid soap/shampoo bars, travel-sized toothpaste, mini perfume atomiser, razor, mini deodorant, hairbrush - that way you’ll never forget your toothbrush!

Eenymeeny

Thanks for the dishwasher tip. I've never done that as I thought that they would stick together and not wash properly. Will be doing it in future though, it's one of my least favourite jobs, as well as drying plastic containers. How lazy am I?!
PS and keeping some spare toiletries like that means that you never run out completely eh?

PollyWollyDoodle

The dishwasher tip is genius - I can't believe it has never occurred to me! I have just tried it this morning - had to rearrange the cutlery I had previously stuck in at random - and it does speed up emptying. I don't usually need to dry mine if I catch it when the cycle has just finished and it's still warm.

kboss2010

Eenymeeny wrote: »

Thanks for the dishwasher tip. I've never done that as I thought that they would stick together and not wash properly. Will be doing it in future though, it's one of my least favourite jobs, as well as drying plastic containers. How lazy am I?!
PS and keeping some spare toiletries like that means that you never run out completely eh?

PollyWollyDoodle wrote: »

The dishwasher tip is genius - I can't believe it has never occurred to me! I have just tried it this morning - had to rearrange the cutlery I had previously stuck in at random - and it does speed up emptying. I don't usually need to dry mine if I catch it when the cycle has just finished and it's still warm.

I know, right?! So simple yet saves HEAPS of time/effort!

I’m also the same re plastic things, I replaced a lot of my Tupperware with Pyrex lunchboxes which dries completely in the dishwasher

Primrose

We have an automatic Panasonic breadmaker which has proved an absolute blessing and my OH had become an expert in its use, both for bread and cake making.

He's found that weighing and making up a bulk mixture of the dry loaf ingredients like flour combinations , sugar and salt and really reduces time and strangely mixing them in advance seems to ensure a better consistency loaf. If you have to weigh up the ingredients for one loaf, you might as well do a double lot! Just store them in a suitable air tight container .

kboss2010

- Organise things in baskets in cupboards by category. E.g. cleaning stuff basket in bathroom, card basket for collecting greetings cards, stationery basket for all pencil cases, pens, paper clips etc.

Snowy_Owl

Just typed in loads and lost the lot!! So quickly - alot of this has developed or been adapted since my 6-month baby boy was born!!!

* I also sort cutlery in dishwasher - but I also stack plates, cups, bowls, glasses in different areas!

* The baby milk dsipensers are amazing!!! Has 3 sections for measured portions of baby milk. I have two and re-fill at night for the next day's bottles. He has 4 feeds - I make the breakfast one the night before and store in the fridge. Is heated up whilst I visit the loo and make my cuppy. We then sit in comfort....

* I measure out and mix my porridge and milk the night before - store it in tuppereare in the fridge - poured into the pot in the morning. Taste and texture much beter this way than done in the microwave.

* my CLothes and baby'e clothes laid out the night before

* bags for life folde into triangles as space saver two - (we have loads) Fancy bag full of them kept in car ready to take into shop. Once shopping unpacked, bags refolded and kept in a fancy bag in kitchen. Fancy bags swopped over whn kithcen one full or car one empty.

Do have more but can't think of them at the moment!!! These are the most obvious...

*Oh!!! My washer dryer - this has been a life-save soince baby boy born - one load a day where & when possible. I only iron my clothes and this is done once a week (I tried not ironing for a while after baby born but that only lasted a few weeks!!!!)

Eenymeeny

Thank you, it's amazing how you develop these ideas when you are 'time poor' isn't it?
I use plastic baskets in the same size for lots of items like cleaning items and spare toiletries too. They are the same depth as most of my cupboards and can be moved around as necessary. One basket in my kitchen contains herbs and spices. Not being tall I find it easy to lift it down to choose the ones I need instead of scrabbling around on the shelves.

kboss2010

Eenymeeny wrote: »

One basket in my kitchen contains herbs and spices. Not being tall I find it easy to lift it down to choose the ones I need instead of scrabbling around on the shelves.

Haha I have a whole shelf of those!! Saves SO much time instead of scrabbling around in drawers or pulling out my entire cupboard!

PollyWollyDoodle

A plastic basket with a handle - from the pound shop or similar- has been a game changer for me.

I store all the ‘Tupperware’ (actually mostly takeaway!) plastic box lids in it, upright, and stack the boxes on the shelf next to it. When I need one I select the size I want, lift the basket down and find the lid. No longer do I open the cupboard to be deluged with boxes and lids falling all over me, and I put identical lids together so I don’t have to try every single one before finding one that fits.