So hey, let’s start off 2025 maybe making somebody’s life better in a small tangible way. What is a small practical thing—object, lifehack, whatever—that solved a small annoyance for you?
For me, did you know you can buy clips with elastic specifically to hold the corner of your fitted sheet on?
For me, did you know you can buy clips with elastic specifically to hold the corner of your fitted sheet on?
Comments
The ones i'm familiar with just go across the mattress corners with a single strap; Amazon appears to have MANY alternatives now.
https://bucketboss.com/products/mug-boss?gQT=1
Relatedly, this thing is a marvel. It’s super easy and lifts up the mattress and holds it elevated so it’s easy to fit the corners even in hard to reach corners on our King size. Pricey but I love it.
(Not even joking. Two months later, still in physical therapy.)
Fixed that now.
I usually make several onions at once (Spanish onions so there’s less peeling) and after using what I need I cool the extra & put them into a gallon Ziplock bag, flatten it & freeze. Later I’ll break off pieces of cooked onions when they’re needed for a recipe.
No, I’m not associated with or paid by them!
https://youtu.be/VyoErvzMfS0?feature=shared
Our cat liked to chew on the mushroom-shaped, fabric-covered pins, so we put a dot of orange oil on each one.
And I never, ever tuck it in. If my feet get too warm, I might want to have them outside the blankets for a bit.
Bed sheet elastic saves so much frustration.
Sewing straps to tie works, too, if I do it.
I don't trust safety pins but I could like... sew some little ties to the bottom corners like for dining room chair cushions. Then tie to bed post or slat.
They're also easy to use one-handed which makes changing sheets way easier.
https://www.amazon.ca/KUUQA-Upholstery-Slipcovers-Bedskirts-Decoration/dp/B07HHNM6KL
Fill a bowl with water, squeeze in half a lemon, then put the lemon in the water. Nuke for five minutes, then let sit for fifteen. Even the nastiest buildup should just wipe right out.
Bonus: put lemon down sink disposal - will kill the bad smells!
#ConvergentEvolution
Ahem.
Not that I would ever have the need to do such a thing.
How much do you suppose I should use?
I don't think it did better than plain steam. Interior did wipe clean, but I had to hand wash the turntable.
OTOH, the distiller is clean now, the acid's been put away, and I made muffins.
(I'm more likely to have vinegar on hand than a lemon)
(Citric and acetic, respectively.)
just put a paper towel on top of whatever you're cooking. don't let it touch your cheese or you'll have cheese loss which is tragic.
They put their stuff on top of it.
True story.
(I am also INCREDIBLY guilty of just putting stuff on top of the cover & completely ignoring the convenience.)
Keep the lids vertical next to the microwave, and have paper towels nearby to wipe the steam & splatters off, quick rinse and back in the rack.
*The inside of our microwave is nevertheless a disgrace to hygiene and good kitchen practice.
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/julkaktus-elastic-strap-70436796/
Since I had turned a slow drip into a fast one, learning that let me turn it back into a slow drip again, which amused the cat anyway.
Up until the start of night sweats, I HAD to have my feet covered even when it gets sweltering and most of the rest of me can't handle a sheet.
Dude, 2025 isn’t a leap year.
Or a pain med that is NOT a blood thinner, perhaps?
Asking for me 💔
If this is about drug interactions you can check w/ various online lists/tools like https://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html or https://bnf.nice.org.uk/interactions/
It's a paradigm shift for me, because I think before I felt like I was "working my pain tolerance muscles" by enduring the pain.
I use the water in the basement analogy. You want to shut off the water right away... Not when you have 3 feet of standing water. Easier to stop/see improvement the faster you act.
Had my first major surgery and my recovery was extremely speedy.
But you should also ask and expect to have them for IUD inserts!
I have migraines, and in my experience, I use *less* medication when I catch them earlier.
https://bsky.app/profile/gabbklein.bsky.social/post/3leq5jff6l22m
Another migraine tip - if you can tolerate NSAIDs (eg naproxen), using w/ triptans can have synergistic benefit.
For even easier egg salad, though, you may want to look into IP egg loaf. (I’ve seen ppl mention the method in an FB IP group.)
you can put the dye and bowl right on there and it doesn’t matter if you spill/drip — I reuse the same one that I made to fit my sink, and now it’s delightfully multi-hued
Great for holding clothing layers in place, adjusting necklines, securing scarves. Also helps weighting a skirt down, or holding curtains closed.
One of my favorite weird online shopping habits is vintage scarves from Etsy stores. There’s a lot of really amazing pieces that ship from SE Asia - I’ve got a YSL and a Balmain that were $40 each from a seller in Malaysia
Also, babyproofing works for clever pets, too!
Baby-latches for my kitchen cabinets are the only way I can keep my dog out of the kitchen trash. Even stacking heavy things on top, like a gallon bottle of bleach or something, would just get knocked off so he could get at whatever he smelled in there.
https://www.command.com/3M/en_US/p/d/cobnaw017029/
https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Organizer-Adhesive-Management-Nightstand/dp/B0CBRK59J7
https://geekcalligraphy.com/stickers-and-coloring/cordthulhu-sticker
https://geekcalligraphy.com/art-prints/cordthulhu
Need more coffee. 3:O(>
(But thank you for the offer.) 3:O))>
Get a heavy duty spray bottle from Lowe’s-add water and a few drops of dawn to one for cleaning almost anything.
I lay on my back with a pillow under my head, push it against the side of the bed, and then position the Kindle about 18-24 inches out. Makes it a breeze
I read super fast so it can be kind of annoying to have to stay in that one position. :)
I used to be really allergic to ebooks. I refused them. Since the pandemic started, I've literally read thousands of Kindle books. Lol.
Thank you very much! :)
Happy New Year!
The earlier physical page advance buttons were perfect.
A slider switch to “enable screen” would solve so many problems.
Thanks. I'll look around to see what the options are. :)
Conveniently also a great size for oven roasted tomatoes, when I'm not getting through a Costco pack.
Moving to the sofa or guest room is obvious, but even flipping upside down in your bed can be enough!
Head at the foot, feet at the headboard. Try it!
also
Clapper - one who slaps their hands together, often rhythmically, to produce a sharp sound
Folks in commercial fishing know them as "net knives" or "vickies"
This was done in an emergency when i couldn't find my actual can openers, do not recommend doing this unless u *absolutely have to*
I wish I were making that up.
Better than all the fancy steak knives too, and go in the dishwasher.
gone are the days when i could whack thru 3/4" with one stroke, but that's me, not the knife 😹
They were our family steak knives since I was a kid, and they're what my kids use now.
They're phenomenal.
https://a.co/d/08raM46
Plus, you can't slice up a nice steak with one of those!
Sorry, I’m down a few fingers
My mental "autocorrect" didn't even catch your typo (it only sees MINE)
https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/cabelas-flashlight-keychain
I did just find out about these cute little gizmos a lady 3d prints & sells on etsy, that slide onto the pop top of a can and make opening it without breaking a nail, hurting arthritic joints etc, easier.
I find they are also useful for tagging spots I want to treat on a large sheet or blanket (versus frustrated fumbling to find them again once I get to the laundry room).
https://www.amazon.com/Cooplay-Holders-Stockings-Washing-Organizer/dp/B0102SXAN8?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vE28JdKQ0GwK2MKXhtItiXSJh6oBzYArTfcmLEuu6ZuvcX43gro98qJ1mXjbErTGqXKTSFczqmalhVsmCN8ltVdDGIxdLPMpuPmUfjeBL3xvkkyZbKcf9qSeIUsPjY3GOUg6nms8pF882ZP0luIJjXlJyKPbwrmu0uh0aKer_NsEpY_6v4fdWImkIgBr4wjuKzllhDecZF61VajACnVv4Q.WtEupv7LMKqSycMvE9wTvUOIglVZ0xpSApA3-Z-zcQo&dib_tag=se&keywords=sock+keepers+laundry&qid=1735765156&sr=8-3#
I got one and I go through the kitchen in like 45 min and it looks new.
Leebein Electric Spin Scrubber, Cordless Cleaning Brush with 8 Replaceable Brush Heads https://amzn.eu/d/asfVlLO
(It's probably a smart impulse-buy, though, because "it'll be fast" tends to move the needle in my slightly-ADHD brain from "dun wanna" to "okay!" as efficiently as anything does.)
It comes with a long handle so for kitchen floors, when you have dogs and live in England...
Hope you enjoy it too!
This brush is quite light and comes with an extension handle for floors or upper cabinets, but yes, you can definitely get a cleaning set for a drill.
If you wear a retainer and you're sleeping with your mouth open (very dry mouth in the morning) try switching to wearing the retainer during the day instead of while you sleep. The retainer might be causing some tongue discomfort that makes you open your mouth while asleep.
Never again. 😂
Also good for getting rid of the aggravation of dealing with the stuck lid.
Shower chair
Like esp after a hard day it has saved me
The tabs have a mild bleach
- keeping a fold up cane with me on days out for when fatigue and instability hit
- neck fan (and a mask!) while traveling
Essentially, using adaptive tools! They’re great! Hoping to find a stool or something to help with doing dishes and cooking
- compression socks, sleeves, wraps
- weighted washable sloth for the anxiety times
- trialing apps and different lists for tasks we need to do from groceries to chores (and changing when it stops working)
In a time where food will become more difficult to manage with everything increasing in costs, there’s no shameful food.
It’s just body fuel and sometimes hella tasty!
And lots of other cool everyday things - neck wallets, loop holders, etc!
-the spill not is super helpful for carrying drinks outside!
-the full mouth ultrasonic toothbrush is amazing for people like me who hate brushing teeth and for those who don't have a lot of hand strength.
-Xbox and PlayStation both make adaptive controllers if you love video games
-Tab buddies! I just keep finding new uses.
-dressing stick w/shoe horn & sock hook (so useful esp as the fam gets older)
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1778038954/
We bought a standing holder.
This place was built in 2022!!
Also I swapped to a fancy hotel style cloth curtain and it's great being able to wash it.
Other dish soap probably works, but you do want dish soap not hand soap. It's meant for breaking up oils.
I installed a towel bar on each side where I hang stuff that's not "dirty" but not clean enough to put back on a hanger or in a drawer next to the actually clean things.
Very handy for slips, camis, bras
And now I have a chair I can actually use for sitting
Finally in 2023 I went online & found a 30-pack of scissors for $23. I liberally sprinkled them all about the house, in pen cups, in drawers, in the garage tool thingy.
NOW, I can always find scissors. 🥰🥰🥰
For those who don't eat cheese: Put some light miso in pesto to give it some of that umame flavor the parmesan traditionally provides.
Fake Caesar dressing in a pinch: jar mayo with some good olive oil beaten in, big slug of fish sauce, lots of lemon juice and garlic.
Depending where you are travelling, you can often just cheaply buy an adaptor when you get there. There are american versions of all my cords.
Hotels often have a drawer of abandoned adaptors they can give you if you ask nicely, too.
Does a pretty good number on dried on mystery crud on baking pans too (provided said pans haven't been cursed with teflon).
Roll out the cookie dough on a silicon mat.
As you're cutting cookies, and the dough starts to warm up and get harder to work with, pull the cookie sheet out of the freezer, slide it under the silicon mat, and re-chill the dough.
https://www.acehardware.com/departments/home-and-decor/kitchen-utensils-and-gadgets/miscellaneous-kitchen-utensils-and-gadgets/6069132?store=06025&gStoreCode=6025&gQT=1
It is so damn helpful.
Related, I have embraced "clean-as-you-go" cooking big-time, which uses a lot of towels, and is awesome.
https://theproperkitchen.com/why-do-you-have-to-soak-basmati-rice/
On a Windows computer, you can select an area of specific dimensions to screenshot by hitting WinKey+Shift+S. It makes my life so much easier.
For my own work: If it stores data anywhere other than locally, is it HIPAA-compliant?
It'll screenshot every click and every text entry, and any commentary you want to add, and compile it into a HTML file that you're supposed to send to a support guy. But, like, you don't gotta.
But it's a glorified script that screenshots and describes stuff every time the user does a thing. It debuted in 7, but still works today, despite the phase-out.)
(Are you also peeved at how they used to tell you, “Just wait until you’re older and your acne will clear!” despite the fact I know have both pimples AND wrinkles?)
It was an easy set-up in my alarm app.
https://youtu.be/xLJSjbR5z9s
“First we are gonna do dishes, then we are gonna go for a nature walk/have a snack/work on that fun project…”
HIGHLY recommend for people w/ oily scalp, although IDK how it would work with curlier hair
I tend to find a shampoo that works for where ever I live and stick with it, then find a new one once I move. But, this has worked consistently across continents 🤷♀️
So ricotta no, stilton bring it.
Similarly, store celery in a pint glass with water, as tho it's a bunch of flowers
it’s Romaine every time.
The pens are magnetic too, so they're easier to keep track of; this is an important detail. We just stick them on the fridge by the whiteboard.
Something like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hisredsun-Magnetic-Whiteboard-Message-Reminder/dp/B0C2GZLZ4D
these are best white board markers I've find for this.
Cut the top off of a cafeteria tray. Cut an oval hole. Fitted pieces together around spigot. Screwed onto wall.
Drywall is now protected from banging up and soaking.
$Dayjob only had one in the "Ladies" toilets, which was a problem when the decorative "Forest Bark" mulch around the building caught fire and we had a bucket chain to put it out.
Interesting sex bias though: assuming all the cleaners would be female. 3:O(>
Ditto here, though I was surprised that there was only one in the "Ladies". Skimping on the building design, I suppose (but it was in the 1990s). "Everything at the cheapest possible price."
Took phone out of case.
Drilled two small holes in case, 3/4" apart.
Ran through perhaps 3" of sturdy braided cord (surveyor's line). Tied ends to form a loop.
Phone back in case.
Attached standard conference-issue lanyard.
Phone case now has a lanyard!
1) don't put it down, put it away
2) it's ok to make "away" a place that's convenient for you
3) if you keep your socks all together and wash & store them that way you don't have to hunt for them in the rest of your laundry
4) clear storage solutions help me remember I own things
Much harder to have socks go missing if they can’t hide or get stuck on the wrong side of the drum.
Set whatever recurrence and be done with it! Don't get it done that day? Move it to the next day (or week!)
one of the reasons I'm still with Outlook 🤙🏽
I also have the ADHD so I lose that thing constantly
I finally bought a screwdriver with swappable bits to keep on every floor of the house so there’s always one there
Then added o-rings and clips to or for tools, keys, glasses, anything that can hang.
Makes it much easier and faster to find and then return what you need.
Also, I wrap different colored duct tape around handles and label them with the room they belong to.
My OCD/ADD regularly bumps head with my mom's chaotic ADHD and this helps keep the peace.
this is a long way to ask: which one did you get? i love the one my sweetie has but i can't seem to find it again.
My parents and I are hoarders of/and tool hounds (and other might be useful, what if I need it one day, it's broken but I can probably fix it things).
I can easily blame them for the affliction.
It has led, among other things, to hand tools. So many hand tools. Mediocre, rusty, unsellable hand tools.
The way these things are, there might be twice as many 10mm as sets, just hiding in corners. Like the Screwdriver Drawer in the roll unit. Gotta be at least a half dozen Phillips #2.
I'm still forever looking for them, but the odds of finding one have gone up considerably.
Command hooks are simple, white, and adhesive won’t damage wall.
Tuck the hook behind the door (but on the wall) or decoratively anywhere!
I have one inside the kitchen cabinet! Kids can’t reach but I can open food packaging! Same in the laundry & a separate in the office
I also do cross stitch and have a magnetic needle holder dish. When I drop a needle, I literally wave the dish across the floor until I hear it ping
water bottles, coffee to go mugs in the kitchen too..
And if I sit with my grocery receipt and add in new things right when I get home, it stays pretty up to date.
If / when I do (maybe in near future) I can pop back here!
I hope you find any of it useful!
It's a lot of work on the front end but
A spreadsheet tab for every cookbook I own / recipe I've saved. Not the whole recipe. Just the name, page number in which book, and a column with list of ingredients to search what I want to use
Also great for when you're walking through the grocery store like "what did I need for X recipe?"
Once it's set up--one hyperfixation session or two should do it--it's a life-saver.
One (1) person asked, so I quickly gussied up the Recipe Spreadsheet copy I'd made for my brothers and
*drumroll*
Please enjoy my cobbled-together
- Recipe Catalogue
- Pantry Spreadsheet
- Meal Plan Bingo
- Chore Tetris Game
You do not have to use All of it for it to be useful. :)
📌
I downloaded it simply bc I'm an info hoarder and love a good spreadsheet 😁
I am Not a Skilled Individual with google sheets,,
❗️❗️❗️💖
what's the crime anyway? contempt of marketing?
I almost wonder if it’s just a test account in the software.
Wow.
Sincerely, a Jenny
Altho, cypherpunk@gmail is a possibility.
https://bugmenot.com/
There are websites that are specifically blacklisted from this site, but, like, 95% of the time, it's good.
—
¹ I can't be bothered to look it up. It's late and I'm tired.
—
¹ I blame Sir Terry Pratchett, GNU.
² See?
North American phone numbers without area codes, with area codes, British numbers, European numbers, Asian, African,...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHL2XeuA6Yg&t=40s
I just shrugged
Jenny has 16 gas visits saved up.
2) When you’re using a cutting board and want to dump what you’ve been cutting, don’t hold it by the hole in it and try to scrape it. Instead, scrape stuff through the hole.
Not as bad or as long as high school, when Mom was on a first-name basis with the Oreck shop over the rubber drive bands I have killed, but still bad.
But, my furry kids provide so much emotional support, cuddles, and cuteness, it's worth it!
https://amzn.to/4j2bPCs
📌 pinning this for later!
Highly recommend, especially if your chair is a fair bit lower than your desk height.
I have a super cheap mousepad and could upgrade, but I'm wondering what I'm missing for benefits. Thanks!
I found a thicker, angled pad so I could have it right at the edge of the desk and prevent that pressure point altogether.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0CRKN396N
I started using a weighted blanket that came with a duvet cover and even though there are eight (!) ties inside (each corner and middle of each side), it somehow still manages to get twisted up.
I thought maybe everyone else knows something I don’t.
Uh, hi! *waves shyly* And also I hope there’s more Booking Agents books, please, if you happen to have the time. They’re some of my most fave recent books!
Thank you!!
AND I love fresh corn!!!! 😂
Love it!
No more tragically widowed socks.
(And I keep a hyphen-bag for skeet-posting.)
I’d probably watch that show.
Cuts way down on my use of paper tissues!
Also, put a squeegee or microfiber cloth in the pram basket. Use to dry slides
I don't even think of them as "pairs" anymore, they're just three groups of socks that I use two at a time.
- Turn cover inside out
- get inside it
- put hands in the corners
- grab corners of said duvet
- wriggle out
- duvet cover is now on
You can also crumble the frozen cooked bacon into quiches.
Oven bacon has a rich, smoky flavour.
(If you don’t need extra easy open, I like the sleek Port & Polish ones.)
https://www.walmart.com/ip/7-Day-Pill-Box-Organizer-Hard-Case-Embedded-Magnet-Stackable-Trays-4-Times-Small-Compartments-Labeled-Morning-Noon-Evening-Night-Perfect-Organizing-M/5010230141
That could work!!! Space is part of my problem!! 🥰 thanks!!!
Finally added reminders via Apple Watch for each of the 4 pill spots.
spent good money on duvets with soft fabric. one for on.
one for off.
no top sheet.
duvet and bottom sheet gets changed and washed after seven nights.
i'm lucky to have a good sized front loading washer for our queen duvets.
- Saliva breaks down the proteins in the blood -
Once the blood stain is dissolved, it is a good idea to rinse/dab the area with water to complete the process.
That's what the quilters tell me, at least.
No dishwasher? Do it over the sink.
plz store these non-childproof containers in a high cabinet. i know you don't have any kids or pets...still, up high and/or locked away 🤙🏽
Total game changer
Take two Command hooks. Attach them about halfway down the outside of your trash can (hooks should be upside down, one on either side of the can).
Fit your bag over the can, and then hook the trash bag "handles" around the Command hooks. Tada!
Also useful for the laundry hamper and its wretchedly too-short cloth liner.
I’ve also used it to identify different keys on my key ring
https://a.co/d/1k3JsXH
Oh my gosh, thank you! I have a little plant that needs humidity, and I wasn’t sure what to do once it grows bigger!! 💚🪴
I know the multiple pins don’t make a difference for the actual app but my heavens this would help the situation at my family home.
Granted -.- my family’s obsessed & rarely any is wasted, but I’m grateful for the tip 🩷
I also bought a pack of multicoloured electrical tape for hydraulics, power cords, etc so I don’t have to think what goes where.
However, one of those clip-click Champagne bottle stoppers does in fact work really well for a couple of days!
Not as much of an issue now that there are metal screw tops.
Mine is the LoveHandle phone grip. I didn’t know it was magnet, I bought it for the grip. Magnet has been a life-changer
The I picked up my grater and presto! Mixed well in no time.
We write down whatever leftovers are in there, or fresh foods we want to make sure we eat before they go bad. Then we erase as we finish them.
It's reduced both our food waste and the number of times we ask each other "Is there any __ left?"
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07V38XBMV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
~45 min recipe here -
https://lisasdinnertimedish.com/instant-pot-caramelized-onions/
wtf is an
elder millenial?
I sprinkle them (raw or roasted/salted depending on the dish) on almost everything to add some crunch.
The additional geniuses of it are that it’s small and simple enough for the kids to use independently and it’s a great size for those tiny in-between loads.
Unless, of course, you don’t fw Siri.
Also set the camera to switch on when the phone is turned left to right a couple of times.
It also turns off during the night - unlike the old central heating in the house without any possibility to set a timer. So I can go to sleep in a warm bed and not wake up in a room that's hotter than Satan's bumhole.
Except cotton.
Had to explain to someone recently that merino is wool. If it is merino it is made of wool. You wash it like wool. You dry it like wool. They honestly thought it was something else. Evidently not from Oz, where merino is local.
Simple, but it's been useful for objects I'm not quite sure what to do with.
1) Store it near the place you use it.
2) Put things you use often in easy-to-get-at storage spaces; use the very top shelf and the back of the closet floor for things you don't use often.
If you see cheese being sold cheap because of its date (and it’s well wrapped/sealed), it’s a bargain.
Side note I taught the kids the two ingredients required to make cheese wiz. Always a chuckle in the dairy isle.