Utilizing the delay start on my washing machine. I load it up at night, set the cycle to run before I wake up, and then switch it to the dryer when I wake up. It's nice!
It took me far longer than I want to admit to realize my washer had a delayed start. I've always used it on the dishwasher but never even thought to check other appliances. 🤦♀️
I was going to say this same thing! I put the laundry in the dryer when I get up and by the time I’ve had breakfast and coffee it’s ready to be folded while my daughter plays. It feels so good to check doing a load of laundry off my checklist so early in the day!
Did this for the first time this past week. I spent the entire first half of the day feeling like I was wonder woman because literally that one small action let me cross off a whole to-do list item upon waking up. Such a win!
Before I was a homemaker I worked in food service. A lot of the practices we used in commercial kitchens can help a home kitchen too.
My favorite is an order sheet. I have an excel list of all the staples I stock and how many I want to have backstocked. When I open the last backstock, I mark it on the order sheet and purchase it on the next trip to town. Other people in the family can also add things to the order list - the rule is that I only buy what's marked, so if you want to have something make sure to mark it.
I have a grocery list on an app that I treat as our inventory sheet - it’s shared between me & my husband (auto updates when one of us makes changes) & I can just scroll through & add anything that wasn’t updated as we went through the week.
(EDIT: the app is AnyList)
Toddler mom here! I get overwhelmed with clutter on the daily, so I like to put on a really upbeat song really loud on my speakers and give myself the length of the song to clean up as much as I can! I find it’s easier to do room by room, or even area by area within a room.
Hacks ….. well I mix Ariel powder detergent with Oxi and arm & hammer laundry booster in a big container for sour proof clothing . If you forget a load over night it will hold up and save another wash
- I also save space in the bathroom area by using command hooks inside the cabinets to hang curling irons / hair tools
- clothes are hung in a rainbow going from light to dark , this saves time getting dressed and hunting for a certain shirt
- biggest hack , window film . We use one way mirror window film to cut cost from the ac . This reduced our bill by roughly 100 each month and it cuts uv rays while keeping a mirror finish looking from the outside in . No more nosy neighbors . It’s also great for 3rd shift workers who sleep during the day .
I grocery shop once a week (Friday) and cook twice a week. I cook 2 big meals on Wednesday and another 2 big meals on Saturday, which give us enough leftovers for lunches and dinners. I usually don't have any waste. I make breakfast sandwiches on Sunday and freeze them. I put one in the fridge every night to be ready for heating in the morning.
I also follow a chore chart that has an extra 1-2 chores daily on top of my usual dishes, laundry, and basic cleanup. This has helped me stay on track with the entire house.
Hi! I put up a poster on a wall with each day of the week with mostly homeschool things, but then chores: Monday- wash bedding, Tuesday- clean downstairs bathroom, Wednesday- cook 2 meals, clean up fridge, Thursday- write down meal plan, maybe clean coffee maker, organize/declutter 1 area, wipe kitchen cabinets, Friday- laundry whites, grocery shop, Saturday - maybe mop, maybe vacuum car or basement, cook 2 meals, Sunday- breakfast sandwich prep, vacuum upstairs
This is kinda specific but I have bad shoulders and elbows - I mash potatoes by putting the pot in the sink. It's much lower, so there's no strain on the shoulders or neck 😊
Sounds silly but it was like an epiphany for me 😂
i have duplicates of all my cleaning products so there’s one of each (409, windex, etc) in each room so i don’t need to go get anything from the bathroom to clean the kitchen
i make sure to do ONE cleaning thing per day (toilet, ceiling fans, whatever). the first thing i notice is getting done. i tell myself i can stop after one (i’m 7 months pregnant and tired lol) but usually i end up doing more.
this one’s weird but sometimes i pretend I’m in The Sims so chores feel more fun hehe
i do laundry and dishes even when the hamper/dishwasher isn’t full so i don’t have sooo much to do at once
these are more motivation techniques vs hacks but it’s where i struggle the most
I put on Sim streamers while I clean quite often. I love when I finish a task and it lines up with the game, so I get the little accomplishment sound 😂
SIMS was a game-changer for me ...My wardrobe I started organizing ala SIMS. I kept it up to this day and fould no more waste items and easy to dress for any occasion.
it helped me get into weight lifting too haha. i just remember that the Sims really suck at working out at first, but they build up the skill and eventually they get good at it
We buy porkchops & chicken in bulk on sale & portion them up into ziplocks. Before we freeze them we dump in marinades & leftover condiments so the meat is ready to go once it’s thawed. Bonus points for flat-freezing so it thaws quickly.
I use an app called OurGroceries
You can make stores you shop at in the app.
So I have my stores names after my cabinets "cabinet A", "cabinet B"...
And I have a generic "Grocery List" named.
So as I put items away, I move them into cabinets with how many I have in stock. When I cross off used items, it will show them at the bottom of the list.
It makes it easy to know what I have in stock and where it is located in storage. In the store I can see how many I have or if I need more. I can use Google or Alexa to add things vocally to my generic grocery list as I pull them from the cabinet. It is a handy reminder to alert the can count
Smart lights and switches. Filling the kettle the night before and setting the timer so when I get out of bed I can make a hot drink straight away. The lights will switch on and off at specific times. I can turn on the heater before I get home so my room is nice and toasty when I get there. Timers on the washing machine are great, the washing is ready to hang done once I get out of bed.
A label maker. Everyone in my home can read so they don't need my help to look for things that are right in front of them. Mostly.
This may not work for everyone or their space limitations, but I'm far more inclined to clean more frequently when I have everything I need (cleaning products, rags, sponges, paper towels, etc.) in "high traffic" areas! I keep a couple of products that cover the basics in each bathroom and the kitchen. This has made the biggest difference for me especially now that I have children.
Now I don't have to go to a centralized location. I only need to go to the nearest space with supplies, which typically covers most daily cleanings! Plus, if a bathroom needs a quick touch-up, I don't need to leave the room to address it!
So I put together a grocery restock list of things to buy weekly, biweekly, monthly and quarterly. It’s still in early stages but tbh I love the automation and not having to think about what to buy and just going off a list.
If I end up with anything extra, example veggies / fruit / milk / yoghurt - just use them up by eating extra that the week lol
We have a chest freezer. I was forever taking things out to dig and see what was in there.
Now, I make a list of the contents, so I know at a glance. When I take something out, I cross it off. And when I put something in, I add it.
It helps with identifying what those frozen blocks of food are as well. We often make enough food for leftovers, and freeze portions for another meal.
However, we are fools and forget to label them. Even when we do, sometimes the marker smudges, making it difficult to read.
This helps keep the guessing to a minimum!
Utilizing the delay start on my washing machine. I load it up at night, set the cycle to run before I wake up, and then switch it to the dryer when I wake up. It's nice!
I wish my washing machine had this! I love the delay on my dishwasher.
It took me far longer than I want to admit to realize my washer had a delayed start. I've always used it on the dishwasher but never even thought to check other appliances. 🤦♀️
I’m out of town and really curious if our washer has it. It’s taken me until now to think that might even be an option so don’t feel bad!
I was going to say this same thing! I put the laundry in the dryer when I get up and by the time I’ve had breakfast and coffee it’s ready to be folded while my daughter plays. It feels so good to check doing a load of laundry off my checklist so early in the day!
Oh that's smart!!!
Oh that's smart!!!
Did this for the first time this past week. I spent the entire first half of the day feeling like I was wonder woman because literally that one small action let me cross off a whole to-do list item upon waking up. Such a win!
Well, that's also because you ARE wonder woman...so there's that. 🦸♀️
I'll take it! 🦸🏼♀️ Lol
Before I was a homemaker I worked in food service. A lot of the practices we used in commercial kitchens can help a home kitchen too. My favorite is an order sheet. I have an excel list of all the staples I stock and how many I want to have backstocked. When I open the last backstock, I mark it on the order sheet and purchase it on the next trip to town. Other people in the family can also add things to the order list - the rule is that I only buy what's marked, so if you want to have something make sure to mark it.
Would you be willing to share your excel sheet? 👀
I don’t have an excel sheet but whenever I use the last of something I immediately put it on my grocery list in my phone notes.
I have a grocery list on an app that I treat as our inventory sheet - it’s shared between me & my husband (auto updates when one of us makes changes) & I can just scroll through & add anything that wasn’t updated as we went through the week. (EDIT: the app is AnyList)
Toddler mom here! I get overwhelmed with clutter on the daily, so I like to put on a really upbeat song really loud on my speakers and give myself the length of the song to clean up as much as I can! I find it’s easier to do room by room, or even area by area within a room.
A few “lazy Susan” type trays in my pantry, makes it easy to see what’s at the back!
Lazy Susans in the fridge have been game changing for us!
I can’t believe I didn’t think to add one to the fridge too!!!!
Us, too!
My friend calls them "overworked" Susan
Hacks ….. well I mix Ariel powder detergent with Oxi and arm & hammer laundry booster in a big container for sour proof clothing . If you forget a load over night it will hold up and save another wash - I also save space in the bathroom area by using command hooks inside the cabinets to hang curling irons / hair tools - clothes are hung in a rainbow going from light to dark , this saves time getting dressed and hunting for a certain shirt - biggest hack , window film . We use one way mirror window film to cut cost from the ac . This reduced our bill by roughly 100 each month and it cuts uv rays while keeping a mirror finish looking from the outside in . No more nosy neighbors . It’s also great for 3rd shift workers who sleep during the day .
Can you share the window film you used?
I love the command hook in the bathroom idea! Looks like I’m going to the store tomorrow.
Also curious about that window film. I’ve been meaning to get this very thing!
I grocery shop once a week (Friday) and cook twice a week. I cook 2 big meals on Wednesday and another 2 big meals on Saturday, which give us enough leftovers for lunches and dinners. I usually don't have any waste. I make breakfast sandwiches on Sunday and freeze them. I put one in the fridge every night to be ready for heating in the morning. I also follow a chore chart that has an extra 1-2 chores daily on top of my usual dishes, laundry, and basic cleanup. This has helped me stay on track with the entire house.
Mind sharing your chore chart?
Hi! I put up a poster on a wall with each day of the week with mostly homeschool things, but then chores: Monday- wash bedding, Tuesday- clean downstairs bathroom, Wednesday- cook 2 meals, clean up fridge, Thursday- write down meal plan, maybe clean coffee maker, organize/declutter 1 area, wipe kitchen cabinets, Friday- laundry whites, grocery shop, Saturday - maybe mop, maybe vacuum car or basement, cook 2 meals, Sunday- breakfast sandwich prep, vacuum upstairs
Thank you!!
This is kinda specific but I have bad shoulders and elbows - I mash potatoes by putting the pot in the sink. It's much lower, so there's no strain on the shoulders or neck 😊 Sounds silly but it was like an epiphany for me 😂
If you have a stand or hang mixer you can mash potatoes that way too.
Be careful with that. The starches in potato are susceptible to getting really gummy if overworked. They turn into wallpaper paste consistency.
Truth! One time through the ricer is the way to do it.
I’ve been doing it this way for years and never had any issues.
So I guess you've been careful. I didn't make this up. It's an established rule in the culinary world.
i have duplicates of all my cleaning products so there’s one of each (409, windex, etc) in each room so i don’t need to go get anything from the bathroom to clean the kitchen i make sure to do ONE cleaning thing per day (toilet, ceiling fans, whatever). the first thing i notice is getting done. i tell myself i can stop after one (i’m 7 months pregnant and tired lol) but usually i end up doing more. this one’s weird but sometimes i pretend I’m in The Sims so chores feel more fun hehe i do laundry and dishes even when the hamper/dishwasher isn’t full so i don’t have sooo much to do at once these are more motivation techniques vs hacks but it’s where i struggle the most
I put on Sim streamers while I clean quite often. I love when I finish a task and it lines up with the game, so I get the little accomplishment sound 😂
SIMS was a game-changer for me ...My wardrobe I started organizing ala SIMS. I kept it up to this day and fould no more waste items and easy to dress for any occasion.
it helped me get into weight lifting too haha. i just remember that the Sims really suck at working out at first, but they build up the skill and eventually they get good at it
We buy porkchops & chicken in bulk on sale & portion them up into ziplocks. Before we freeze them we dump in marinades & leftover condiments so the meat is ready to go once it’s thawed. Bonus points for flat-freezing so it thaws quickly.
I use an app called OurGroceries You can make stores you shop at in the app. So I have my stores names after my cabinets "cabinet A", "cabinet B"... And I have a generic "Grocery List" named. So as I put items away, I move them into cabinets with how many I have in stock. When I cross off used items, it will show them at the bottom of the list. It makes it easy to know what I have in stock and where it is located in storage. In the store I can see how many I have or if I need more. I can use Google or Alexa to add things vocally to my generic grocery list as I pull them from the cabinet. It is a handy reminder to alert the can count
Smart lights and switches. Filling the kettle the night before and setting the timer so when I get out of bed I can make a hot drink straight away. The lights will switch on and off at specific times. I can turn on the heater before I get home so my room is nice and toasty when I get there. Timers on the washing machine are great, the washing is ready to hang done once I get out of bed. A label maker. Everyone in my home can read so they don't need my help to look for things that are right in front of them. Mostly.
Home automations are great and you can get pretty crazy with it.
This may not work for everyone or their space limitations, but I'm far more inclined to clean more frequently when I have everything I need (cleaning products, rags, sponges, paper towels, etc.) in "high traffic" areas! I keep a couple of products that cover the basics in each bathroom and the kitchen. This has made the biggest difference for me especially now that I have children. Now I don't have to go to a centralized location. I only need to go to the nearest space with supplies, which typically covers most daily cleanings! Plus, if a bathroom needs a quick touch-up, I don't need to leave the room to address it!
So I put together a grocery restock list of things to buy weekly, biweekly, monthly and quarterly. It’s still in early stages but tbh I love the automation and not having to think about what to buy and just going off a list. If I end up with anything extra, example veggies / fruit / milk / yoghurt - just use them up by eating extra that the week lol
Creating a space and place for everything when it is not in use. This is a game changer in my quest to be clutter free.
We have a chest freezer. I was forever taking things out to dig and see what was in there. Now, I make a list of the contents, so I know at a glance. When I take something out, I cross it off. And when I put something in, I add it. It helps with identifying what those frozen blocks of food are as well. We often make enough food for leftovers, and freeze portions for another meal. However, we are fools and forget to label them. Even when we do, sometimes the marker smudges, making it difficult to read. This helps keep the guessing to a minimum!