PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

OS Essential Housekeeping Kit

Options
A couple of days ago I was browsing through a magazine and saw a lovely old-fashioned metal housekeeper's bucket filled with 'essential products' for keeping the modern house clean 'just like grandma'. Trouble is, everything they'd put in the bucket was modern off-the-shelf stuff :rolleyes:

It got me thinking. What would you include in an OS housekeeping kit? White vinegar and bicarb are obvious suggestions, but what else? Any HM cleaning solutions that you can make up in advance and bottle? What about cleaning tools - any old fashioned gadgets that you can't live without? Any OS products that you couldn't live without when doing the laundry and the ironing?

To start things off, I'm going to put vinegar, bicarb and some OS dusting cloths made from an old flannel sheet into the housekeeping kit. I'm looking forward to seeing what else you all put in!
«1

Comments

  • 16011996
    16011996 Posts: 8,313 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    tooth brush def for all those fiddly places, denture tablets for fast cleaning the toilet, or cheap value coke for same purpose, and for shining up the kitchen sink.
  • Zed42
    Zed42 Posts: 931 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    soda crystals for removing grease, old newspaper for streak free windows.
    GC - March 2024 -
  • Fullup
    Fullup Posts: 48 Forumite
    Not sure if it would fit in the bucket but good old elbow grease is a must.
  • beanz_2
    beanz_2 Posts: 123 Forumite
    soda crystals for stain removing in white wash
    and clearing drain, vinegar for descaling kettle
  • kiwichick
    kiwichick Posts: 1,857 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    prehaps not OS, but I've just discovered microfibre cloths (£1.99 for 2 in LIDL)and they are a time saver for sure. Great for windows - no streaks.
    WW Start Weight 18/04/12 = 19st 11lbs
    Weight today = 17st 6.5lbs
    Loss to date 32.5lbs!!!
  • nabowla
    nabowla Posts: 567 Forumite
    Silly question, but where can I buy soda crystals?
  • Any supermarket with the cleaning stuff
  • Ticklemouse
    Ticklemouse Posts: 5,030 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    nabowla - Tesco do them at 51p per pack. In a placcy bag, about the size of a bag of sugar and in our store they are kept with the laundry stuff, next to all those stain remover products (but they are kept on the bottom shelf so that you look and hopefully buy the above mentioned items :D We know better though, don't we? :santa2:
  • I would also put in a stiff hand brush for the stairs , and a mop for the floor.
    My old mum used to have a brush called a 'switch' which I think she must have bought from the Kleeneze man who used to come around to the door. It was full of very stiff bristles and you could brush the stair carpet down very quickly,a lot quicker than getting out the Hoover and all the fiddly attachments. I have a similar one and as I am not very mobile, I sit on the lower stair and brush towards me with this. I couldn't lift the Dyson up the stairs now anyway.
    I would also put in a bottle of Meth to clean the windows with. Meth and old newspaper works beautifull. when my Dad was alive he always used this and afterwards the paper was screwed up to used as lighting for the range in the morning The kitchen range always lit first time as the Meth is quite inflammable
  • kiwichick
    kiwichick Posts: 1,857 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    A hand brush and pan to sweep up messes in the kitchen, I've been trying to use mine more rather than get out the hoover for every little crumb spillage - must be saving lekky dont you think???
    WW Start Weight 18/04/12 = 19st 11lbs
    Weight today = 17st 6.5lbs
    Loss to date 32.5lbs!!!
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.