What are your favorite ways to save time?

**Sara Noel** · 12-01-2009, 12:33 PM

Most everyone has little home hacks. You know your own little time savers that are simply a habit now.

For example, my office is downstairs and the laundry room and play room are down here too. So I never go upstairs or downstairs empty handed. I always grab something that needs to be put back in its place. Then I don't have to make a separate trip hauling things either direction.

Another time saver I have are over the door organizers. I have one on almost every door in the house. I have them for winter hats, gloves, scarves and for the kids to hold their socks and underwear so it doesn't take up precious dresser space. I want to get another one for the bathroom to hold washcloths because we have so many for bathing, cleaning, etc. I hate the amount of space these washcloths take up and they always topple over in the linen closet. But I like that these organizers make putting items away a breeze and they're easily accessible when you want these items.

So what types of time savers do you do?

**Grainlady** · 12-01-2009, 02:46 PM

1. Make the bed when we get up. It takes us about 15-seconds and we don't have to backtrack to remember to do it later.

2. Like Sara, don't go downstairs empty-handed. We have a nice basket placed by the stairs going down to the basement. Anything that needs to go downstairs is placed in there. I also stick a note on the basket if I need to bring something back up.

3. Keep cleaning products, tools, towels/rags, etc. in a plastic tote. You can easily move everything needed from room-to-room - saving steps and time.

4. Keep like-kinds of things together in your kitchen. Store frequently used cookware and ingredients so they are close at hand.

5. Develop a "do-it-now" attitude in order to execute the less desirable things in life.

-Meal done, do the dishes and clean the kitchen - THEN relax.
-Whoever is the last one in the bathroom, spritz down everything with water/alcohol solution and wipe down all flat surfaces and change the hand towels.
-When the mail is brought into the house, it is quickly divided. Bills go into the bill-folder, junk goes into the recycling bin, and anything else that has a "home" gets placed in it. This avoids clutter on counters/tables.

**vickilynn** · 12-01-2009, 04:36 PM

Looks like the above posts covered it but here's a couple of habits:

Never watch tv without doing something...knitting, quilting etc

If you see something that needs to be done...just do it

make a list

lay out everything you need at night for the next day

Leave a room the way you want to see it when you come back the next time

**shoiji** · 12-01-2009, 04:39 PM

Ok don't laugh.

Before I get out of bed in the morning, I arrange the pillows and pull the covers straight up. Then slide out of bed. This way I am not running from side to side to make the bed. Then I place the decorator pillows on the bed. Cat continues to sleep in its bed on top of my bed while all this is happening.

I keep a separate bottle of windex under the bathroom sink. Anytime I feel like cleaning the mirror or glass on pictures it is right there.

I keep baking soda in a closet next to the bathroom. Anytime I feel like a quick exfolliant in the shower I just put some baking soda in a small dish and place it next to shower. All I have to do is add some water, take care of the dead skin and rinse off in the shower.

Like so many others on this site. I have many small meals individually frozen. Anytime I need to eat and do not feel like cooking out comes a meal.

I always look forward to Thursday since I receive circulars in the mail. I look for the sales I want for the grocery store then circle everything I plan on purchasing. Then I wait until Sunday to match any item with coupons on the couponmom website and make my list (with total dollar amount) that follows the store floorplan. I can pretty much be in and out of the grocery store in half and hour. Which leaves me time to shop a different store before the van comes to pick me up. Grant it I pretty much shop the perimeter.

My shoes, coat, hat, and gloves are left at the door when I walk in. Not tracking in all the dirt has kept my rugs clean. Everything is organized so I can go to the door and put on whatever I need for the day. No running around looking for things.

I pack my bags in the evening. That way in the morning I am not running around organizing things. Everything is ready and I can head out the door. Makes mornings less stressful.

**Ali Lee** · 12-01-2009, 08:12 PM

Like the people above me, I take all my cleaning stuff n 2 1 room @ 1 x 2 save x & steps... (took 50 some years 2 learn that!) I empty my dishwasher @ night b4 going 2 bed, saves x n the morning. I do all my letter riting on the 'puter like this, xcept 4 here! Saves x!

**sunshine** · 12-01-2009, 09:33 PM

Use my crockpot - saves cooking dinner time after a hectic day at work.

Always carry a project with me - either mending, crochet, knitting - to do when I get stuck in line somewhere, waiting at the doctor's office, etc.

Clean the junk drawer, wipe down the sinks, etc. while on hold for phone calls. . . .

**ravenmaniac** · 12-01-2009, 10:55 PM

I do a lot of what everyone above does. I keep cleaners and rags upstairs and downstairs so I am not running up and down the steps.

Having all my baking/pantry supplies and tools in the same general area so I am not digging and searching. It makes cooking quick and easy, or easier.

It is not really a time saver but a motivator is when I call my sister and talk to her on the phone. It helps my get through tasks that I don't feel like doing. I talk with her instead of focusing on how annoying the task is and before I know it, it is done.

**rowdy35** · 12-02-2009, 12:05 AM

ok here is my list:

coffee pot is ready to go the night before so coffee is ready in the morning

make lunches the night before so just grab and go before work

pick out outfit the night before work so in the morning no confusion over what to wear. I usually give myself at least 2 choices because the next day I might not be in the mood to wear what I picked out the night before

sort laundry as it gets dirty so when you have enough for a load, just grab it and wash it

**Libby** · 12-02-2009, 02:02 AM

These are great tips! Keep em coming please

**Dutchie** · 12-02-2009, 02:29 AM

This may sound silly but when I watch my daughter I know that this saves time.

She is ALWAYS looking for keys, bus passes, shoes, well just about everything because she never tidies up behind her when she comes home (she never tidies up period but that's another story for another time LOL).

Personally I have a place for everything. My keys have a place, my cell phone has a place, well you get the idea.
So when I have to go out I am ready within seconds because everything is in it's place and saves me so much time (and annoyance).

**joyofsix** · 12-02-2009, 08:06 AM

I do most of the ones already mentioned. I also

~Never cook just one meal. I cook two and freeze one so when I am short of time someone else can do dinner quickly.

~ I keep browned hamburger and cooked chicken in the freezer to speed dinner prep. I do this when I get home from the store. I often use the crockpot so I don't really have to do much.

~I always put things back and have my kids do the same. It's pretty much been effective with them. At least in the bookbag/shoe realm.

~I have older kids do their own laundry. They each have their own basket in their room. I don't waste time doing or sorting.

~Younger kids only have a minimum of clothes. Makes much less mess.

~On the same note, keep the amount of 'stuff' down in your house. Much quicker to dust and set it to rights if there's just less.

**shoiji** · 12-02-2009, 11:27 AM

Just thought of another one. On my walk, I will stop by any store on the way if I need something. Saves alot of time when you do not have a car!!!

**spyzvixxen** · 12-02-2009, 11:41 PM

Make my food shopping list (in aisle order) on an envelope & put all corresponding coupons inside.
Set up my coffee maker to auto brew.
Make the day's worth of bottles at once.
Cook enough for a few days.
Clean/cut my veggies & portion out meats/freeze on the day I go shopping.
Lightly clean daily...better than a whole day worth of deep cleaning.
Combine errands/run them while DF is home to watch the baby. Wayyyy less time if I fly solo.

**monkeywrangler71** · 12-03-2009, 12:06 AM

I have a laundry basket on the landing going down to the basement. If there are any dirty clothes, napkins, or towels on the main floor I just open the door and chuck it down.

When I used to pickup dh at work I would always bring paper to work on the menu, flyers on flyer day, mail to go through, etc. Basically any paperwork that didn't involve the computer.

**monkeywrangler71** · 12-03-2009, 12:11 AM

I only use one cleaner to do everything in the house (except toilets and shower). It's a spray bottle with water, dishsoap, and vinegar. I just carry it around with me when I'm cleaning.

I have days designated for different cleaning jobs, and all the jobs on a particular day are always in the same region of the house.