Hints, Tips & Tricks.
When Cooking:
Cover baking trays and cooking trays in a layer of foil. This saves time washing up after every use as you can just replace the foil in most instances.
Opt for pre-cut meats. These are a little more expensive gram for gram but if you are desperate for free time then its a worthy sacrifice.
Use a food processer or hand blender for chopping up veg. I just got one for christmas and now can cook things like a stir fry in just over 10 mins total time. I cant explain what a life saver its been. Ive fallen in love with cooking again.
Have a washing up ready for pots and pans after cooking. You will thank yourself later on when you dont have to scrub.
When Cleaning:
Walk around the laminate or stone floors with mop socks on. You can find these on ebay for a few pounds a pair. Great for mopping on the go while washing up.
For quick and powerful washing up, buy a big scrubbing brush (made for surfaces and the like) The bristles are powerful and they cover more surface space. So with minimal effort and time the washing up is done.
Rather than spending your time trying to erase stains like hair dye or the like, just get a magic sponge. The stain will be gone instantly, and you wont be hanging around scrubbing. These also work great for grout cleaning.
Invest in a robot hoover. This is something I will be doing this year beyond doubt. There are ones out there for around £60 that look like they will do the trick ok. Obviously a Roomba would be ideal if you have the £££ for one.
When doing a laundry load, always make sure you are doing a full load. Not only does this save time but its also saves money in the long run. Also most machines have a wash, when in a hurry I use quick wash on the items I can. I can get through a full wahsing basket within an hour. My machine has a 28 min cycle and a 15min cycle as far a short washes go. These are normally fine for towels and things.
Do not fall into the trap of cleaning out cupboards and things before you have cleaned the rest of the house. For people who dislike housework its easy to get caught up in tasks that have you sitting down sorting rather than up and cleaning. All this results in is a beautiful cupboard and a messy home. Start with the rooms people would see first if they came to visit. Makes sense.
