# What's your best practical tip for around the house? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 18, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-best-practical-tip-for-around-the-house/539899 "2010-05-18T16:26:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-best-practical-tip-for-around-the-house/539899/181 "2010-06-16T03:25:49Z")
FYI, I think I’ve figured out part of the missing socks problem; have you checked your fitted sheets? I’ve discovered that when I dry my fitted sheets, there is always something stuck in one of the pockets. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Mood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@Blue\_Mood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Mood)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-best-practical-tip-for-around-the-house/539899/182 "2010-06-17T10:38:12Z")
> [@I\_Am\_The\_Lorax](#): > > I get caught up on the laundry on Saturday or Sunday and dump it all on my bed. I put several baskets at the foot of the bed and holler to the kids that the laundry party is starting. My husband stands on one side of the bed and I stand on the other and we start whipping the laundry at the kids, yelling out whose basket it goes in. Half the time we call out the wrong name on purpose just to keep them on their toes. They laugh and have so much fun that if we do it while they’re asleep, they are sorely disappointed that they missed the “party”. They are 6 & 7; it may not work as well when they’re teenagers. This is adorable! ---
**Author:** ![robin13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@robin13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robin13)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-best-practical-tip-for-around-the-house/539899/183 "2010-06-17T10:56:50Z")
Store your compostables in the freezer in a zip-lock bag until you’re ready to run them out to the compost bin- eliminates problems with fruit flies and smelliness. Just be aware that if you have houseguests, you may get some strange looks if they come across a bag-o-frozen-garbage while they’re getting ice cubes for their drinks! ---
**Author:** ![I\_Am\_The\_Lorax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19adc/32.png) [@I\_Am\_The\_Lorax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Am_The_Lorax)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-best-practical-tip-for-around-the-house/539899/184 "2010-06-30T13:04:21Z")
We used to have a problem with DVDs not in cases, scattered in front of the TV, never getting put back no matter how much I nagged. So I boxed them up and hubby moved the DVD shelf to the closet in the baby’s room. Now, the kids get one movie at a time, and they have to return it to me to get another one. No more scratched and scattered movies! YAY! ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-best-practical-tip-for-around-the-house/539899/185 "2010-06-30T13:16:10Z")
> [@StuffLikeThatThere](#): > > I have an index card for every immediate family member including prescriptions, surgical history, and diagnoses. I keep them in my wallet with the insurance card, and update whenever something changes. I did it initially because I am forever filling out forms for either myself (I can’t remember when my knee surgery was, or when they removed lymph nodes) or my son (who has a chronic condition and a lot of meds), and it just made that easier. A similar tip - if you’re kids are still in car seats make a copy on BRIGHT paper and put it in a ziplock back that’s attached to the car seat. If you’re ever incapacitated in an accident they’ve got all the information needed to treat your kids. Keep yours there too although they’d likely check your wallet for yours. ---
**Author:** ![Waxwinged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@Waxwinged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waxwinged)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-best-practical-tip-for-around-the-house/539899/186 "2010-06-30T13:23:00Z")
You don’t need to cook instant oatmeal for it to be yummy. Just add yogurt. 8D ---
**Author:** ![DivineComedienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c67d28/32.png) [@DivineComedienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DivineComedienne)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-best-practical-tip-for-around-the-house/539899/187 "2010-06-30T14:57:52Z")
In the summer, it’s hard to keep the outdoor flowerpots watered, especially when it’s 90 degrees. I fill up empty soda bottles with water and up-end them into the soil, so the water can slowly leech into the soil. I use two- and three-liter soda bottles in the large flowerpots if I"m going to be away for a couple days. A couple years ago, I saw this idea pop up in stores as “Aqua Globes”. The soda bottles are not as pretty, but they are a lot cheaper. I also keep a shoebox handy to collect unidentifiable odd pieces of my son’s toys - if I find a little piece, I throw it in the box; then, later, when he yells, “Have you seen the little green flag that goes on top of Wolverine’s command center?”, I pull out the box so he can find it. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-best-practical-tip-for-around-the-house/539899/188 "2010-06-30T15:18:29Z")
Anytime I replace a faucet. I take a quart zip lock bag and staple it sideways inside the cabinet. Make sure the open end faces out. Now slide in the faucet paperwork and receipt. If you ever need to order parts the paperwork is easy to find. I did that in both bathrooms and my kitchen. The bathroom cabinet also has my tub faucet paperwork and receipt. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-best-practical-tip-for-around-the-house/539899/189 "2010-06-30T15:46:45Z")
I take the drip pans out of my stove and run them through the dishwasher every week with a load of dishes. Sometimes they may not look dirty. But, why not. There’s always extra room in the dishwasher anyway. That way I never have burned on grease build up on them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-best-practical-tip-for-around-the-house/539899.md?page=9)