Small Kids Bedroom Ideas on a Budget (Realistic, Not Pinterest Fantasy)
If you’ve ever searched for kids’ bedroom ideas and immediately felt tired instead of inspired, you’re not alone. Perfectly styled rooms with matching color palettes, custom storage, and themed wall murals look beautiful on a screen — but when you’re living with...The Home Systems That Save Me the Most Time
For a long time, I felt like I was constantly behind in my own house. No matter how much I cleaned, planned, or tried to “get organised,” something always slipped. The laundry piled up again. The fridge needed another sort-out. The school bag was missing something...Cheapest Way to Do Laundry
The cheapest way to do laundry is to wash full loads in cold water, use less detergent than the label suggests, skip extras like fabric softener and scent boosters, and air-dry whenever you can. For most households, that combination cuts costs more than switching...How Often Should You Clean Your Kitchen?
most kitchens only need a light clean every day, a proper clean once a week, and a deeper reset every month or so. Anything more than that is usually driven by marketing, guilt, or unrealistic standards — not real-life hygiene. If you’ve ever felt like...How Often Should You Clean Your Bathroom?
most bathrooms only need a proper clean once a week, with a few quick touch-ups in between if needed. You do notneed to scrub everything daily to keep your bathroom hygienic or safe. If you’re exhausted by conflicting advice — bleach everything! clean after...Laundry myths that cost you money
a lot of common laundry advice is unnecessary for everyday households, and following it blindly can waste money, time, and energy without making your clothes noticeably cleaner. Most of us are over-washing, over-buying products, and overcomplicating something...Tumble Dryer vs Air Drying – Which Costs More?
Using a tumble dryer costs more than air drying, every single time. Air drying is essentially free, while a tumble dryer uses electricity (or gas) every time you turn it on. The real question most people are actually asking is whether the extra cost of a tumble dryer...10 Family Films Everyone Can Agree on For Movie Night
Family movie night sounds lovely in theory… until you’re scrolling for 40 minutes, one child wants cartoons, the other wants something “not babyish”, and you just want something you can sit through without sighing. I’ve got two boys — one is 3 and one is 9 —...
Ideas to Make Money From Home as a Mom (What Actually Works)
If you’re a mom looking for ways to make money from home, you’ve probably noticed one thing already:there’s a lot of advice online — and most of it feels unrealistic. Between school runs, naps, laundry, and just being exhausted, you don’t need another...Heated Airer vs Tumble Dryer Cost: Which Is Actually Cheaper?
In most homes, a heated airer costs significantly less to run than a tumble dryer — often pennies per hour instead of pounds per load. For everyday laundry, especially small or regular washes, a heated airer is usually the cheaper option. A tumble dryer can still make...Eco detergent vs regular – is it worth it?
For most households, eco detergent isn’t strictly necessary to get clean clothes — but it can be worth it if you care about skin sensitivity, fragrances, or reducing chemical build-up in your home. It’s not a magic upgrade, and it won’t suddenly transform your...How I Run My Home Like a Business
For a long time, my home felt like it was constantly slipping through my fingers. Not in a dramatic, everything-is-falling-apart way — just a quiet, nagging sense that I was always behind. Behind on cleaning. Behind on meals. Behind on money. Behind on life. No matter...Is an Extra Rinse Bad for Your Clothes?
No — an extra rinse isn’t bad for your clothes in most situations. In fact, it can be helpful. But it’s also not something you need to use all the time, and for many households it’s solving a problem that doesn’t really exist. If you’ve ever stood in front of the...How Often Should You Wash Jeans and Hoodies?
Most jeans and hoodies don’t need washing after every wear. For jeans, every 5–10 wears is usually enough. For hoodies, it’s more like 3–6 wears, depending on how you use them. If they don’t smell, aren’t visibly dirty, and haven’t been sweated in, they’re probably...Can You Wash Clothes Twice in a Row?
Yes, you can wash clothes twice in a row — but most of the time, you don’t need to. For everyday laundry, a second wash usually doesn’t make things cleaner. It mostly adds extra wear, extra water use, and extra stress for you. If you’re staring at the machine...How Often Should You Replace Sponges and Cleaning Cloths?
Most kitchen sponges need replacing every 1–2 weeks, sometimes sooner. Cleaning cloths (like microfiber or dishcloths) last much longer — as long as they’re washed properly and don’t smell or feel grimy. That’s it. You don’t need to bin things daily,...How Often Should You Clean Your Washing Machine?
For most households, cleaning your washing machine about once a month is plenty. If you use it lightly, every 2–3 months is usually fine. If you wash daily, use cold washes a lot, or notice smells or residue, monthly is a sensible rhythm. That’s it. You don’t need to...How Often Should You Wash Towels?
The short answer: most bath towels should be washed every 3–4 uses, or about twice a week if you shower daily. Hand towels usually need washing every 1–2 days. Kitchen towels? Daily, or sooner if they’re used for spills or wiping hands....What Happens If You Don’t Rinse Laundry Properly?
If laundry isn’t rinsed properly, leftover detergent and residue can stay in the fabric. That can make clothes feel stiff or scratchy, cause skin irritation for some people, trap odors, and shorten the life of your clothes over time. For most households, it’s not a...What happens if you over dry clothes?
Over drying clothes wears them out faster and makes them feel worse to use. Fabrics get stiffer, colours fade more quickly, elastic breaks down sooner, and you’re more likely to notice shrinkage or rough textures. It doesn’t usually make clothes “cleaner” or...What happens if you wash everything together?
The short answer: most of the time, nothing dramatic happens. Your clothes usually come out clean, wearable, and fine. Washing everything together doesn’t automatically ruin your laundry, destroy your washing machine, or mean you’re “doing it wrong.” For a lot of...What happens if you don’t clean your washing machine?
If you don’t clean your washing machine, it usually won’t explode, break overnight, or ruin every load of laundry. What does happen over time is much quieter and more annoying — smells creep in, clothes stop feeling truly clean, and buildup slowly affects how well the...Do You Need Ironing Spray?
The short answer is no — most people don’t actually need ironing spray to get clothes smooth and wearable. For everyday laundry, it’s usually an extra product that doesn’t change much, especially if you’re already washing, drying, and ironing clothes in a fairly...Do You Need Antibacterial Spray for Clothes?
For most households, no — you don’t need antibacterial laundry spray for clothes. A normal wash with detergent already removes bacteria well enough for everyday life. If you’ve been staring at the laundry aisle wondering whether you’re missing something important,...Do You Need Colour Catcher Sheets?
Short answer: most people don’t need colour catcher sheets for everyday laundry. If you’re washing clothes sensibly — separating colours reasonably well, using cold water, and not overloading the machine — they’re usually unnecessary. They can be useful in a few...Do You Need Scent Boosters in Laundry?
Short answer: no — most people don’t need scent boosters to get clean laundry. They’re optional, not essential. If your clothes come out of the wash clean and smell fine already, you’re not missing anything. Scent boosters are mainly about adding extra fragrance, not...Powder vs liquid detergent – which cleans better?
For everyday laundry, both powder and liquid detergent clean equally well when you use the right amount and wash properly. One isn’t secretly “stronger” than the other. The difference comes down to how you wash, what you’re washing, and what problems you’re trying to...What Happens If You Use Too Much Detergent?
The short answer is: using too much detergent usually makes your laundry worse, not better. Clothes can come out stiff, smelly, dull, or still feeling dirty, and over time it can cause buildup in both your fabrics and your washing machine. More detergent doesn’t...Fabric softener vs vinegar – which is better?
Short answer: neither is essential, but if you’re choosing between the two, vinegar is usually the better option for everyday laundry. It can help with smells and mineral buildup without coating your clothes. Fabric softener mainly adds scent and softness, but it does...Laundry Sanitiser vs Vinegar – What Actually Works?
If you’re choosing between laundry sanitiser vs vinegar, here’s the straight answer: laundry sanitiser is designed to kill bacteria and viruses, vinegar is not. Vinegar can help with smells and mineral build-up, but it doesn’t reliably disinfect laundry. For most...What Happens If You Stop Using Fabric Softener?
Short answer: not much — and for many households, things actually get easier. If you stop using fabric softener, your clothes will still get clean, they may feel a little different at first, and you’ll likely save money and reduce residue build-up in your washer....Do You Really Need Fabric Softener?
Short answer: no, most people don’t actually need fabric softener. For the average household doing regular loads of clothes, towels, and bedding, fabric softener isn’t necessary for cleanliness, hygiene, or even softness. It’s largely a habit that’s been passed...Do You Really Need To Use Laundry Sanitizer?
Honestly? No — not if you regularly wash at 60°C or higher. A hot wash is usually enough to kill bacteria and deal with everyday dirt. But if you mostly wash on cold or low temperatures, then using a laundry sanitizer can be helpful — especially for things like...Is it cheaper to make your own butter?
The short answer is: no — not if you’re buying cream specifically to make butter. I actually tested this myself, because I wanted a real answer, not a theory. I spent £2.60 on cream and ended up with 318g of homemade butter. The cheapest supermarket butter near me...How Often Should You Wash Your Bedding?
Sheets and pillowcases should be washed once a week. This is the general recommendation from hygiene experts because pillowcases and sheets are in direct contact with your skin, hair, and face every night. You may need to wash them more often if: You sweat a lot at...10 Easy Sewing Gift Ideas That Save You Money
You know when you want to give someone a lovely, thoughtful gift……but your bank account’s like, “absolutely not”? 😅 That’s where sewing comes to the rescue. Whether you’re a total beginner or you’ve got a sewing machine that’s been collecting dust in the corner, these...Why Do Towels Go Hard After Washing?
Honestly, towels go hard after washing because tiny leftovers build up in the fabric — mainly detergent residue, minerals from hard water, and sometimes fabric softener. Those things coat the fibres, stop them moving freely, and make towels feel stiff instead of soft....How to Cut Your Grocery Bill as a Mom (Without Couponing)
The short answer is: yes, you can cut your grocery bill without couponing — and you don’t need complicated systems to do it. Most mums save the most money by simplifying, not hustling harder. Honestly, you’re probably already stretched thin. Grocery prices...Is Mediavine Journey Worth It for Small Blogs? (My Honest Experience)
The short answer is: yes, Mediavine Journey can be worth it for small blogs — but not in a life-changing way. It’s worth it in that gentle, reassuring way where you finally see a bit of money coming in and think, “Okay… maybe this blogging thing isn’t...How Makaton Helped My Child Communicate (and How You Can Start Too!)
I first came across Makaton years ago, long before my youngest was born.My oldest son didn’t speak until he was four because of a developmental delay, and those early years were… honestly, a lot. He understood everything perfectly, he just couldn’t say it....How to Make Your Bathroom Look Luxurious on a Budget
Bathrooms might be one of the smallest rooms in the house, but they have a huge impact on how your home feels. The problem? Renovating a bathroom is expensive — and not something most of us can splurge thousands on. The good news is, you don’t need a full remodel to...15 Quick & Cheap Family Meals That Save You Time and Money
Feeding a family every single night can feel like a never-ending challenge, can’t it? Between school runs, work, laundry piles, and trying to keep little ones entertained, the last thing you want is to spend hours in the kitchen — or blow half your weekly budget on...10 Cheap & Fun Halloween Activities for Kids
Halloween is such an exciting time for kids — the costumes, the sweets, the spooky fun. But if you’re a parent, you already know how quickly the costs can add up. Between school parties, shop-bought decorations, and endless requests for treats, it can start to feel...How I Made My First Dollar(s) Blogging – Even After Taking 4 Months Off
When I first started blogging, I honestly had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t know if anyone would ever read my posts, let alone if it could make me any money. Honestly – when I first started blogging I was posting my math notes from studying for my degree! I...Why I’ve Decided to Be a Stay at Home Mum — and How We’re Making It Work
Being a stay-at-home mum was never part of the plan.I’ve got two boys — one is 8, the other is 2 — and this year, my littlest has just started nursery.You’d think that would mean it’s time for me to dive into work… right? But here’s the truth: even before I had kids,...What I Feed My Family on a $150 Weekly Grocery Budget
Let’s be real—grocery shopping lately feels like a financial workout. With prices going up on pretty much everything, it’s easy to feel like feeding your family on a budget is impossible. But over the past year, I’ve slowly figured out how to make it work. Each...How to Save Money Fast with a No-Spend Challenge (Free Printable!)
Take control of your spending—sign up below and grab your tracker! If you’ve ever looked at your bank account and thought, “Where did all our money go?!”—you’re not alone! A no-spend month is one of the simplest ways to reset your spending habits and...
The Secret to Family Dinners with a Picky Toddler
You know that moment when you finally sit down at the dinner table, and your toddler takes one look at the meal and declares, “I don’t like that!”—even if they happily ate it yesterday? It’s exhausting, isn’t it? You put effort into making a meal, hoping for a...
How I Make Dishwasher Tablets at Home and Save Money
I used to spend a small fortune on dishwasher tablets every month—don’t even get me started on all the unnecessary plastic packaging and ingredients I couldn’t pronounce! One day, I ran out (again!) and thought, “Nah, I’m not doing that anymore.” Making...
Hi, I’m Jordan!
I’m a mum of two boys and the creator of Jorlou, where I share simple, practical tips to help busy mums feel more organised and in control. I’m currently completing my degree in Mathematics, and before that, I worked full-time—so I know all about juggling hectic schedules and finding balance in the chaos of mum life!
Learn More About Me
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