how do you clean? OS or not?

ladygrey_2

since joining OS I'm willing to give all of the cleaning advice a try
but these days can we keep the house clean using just OS methods? especially if we have a busy life or a job.
Do we compromise a little?
or do we go for ease over OS?

Queenie

Predominantly OS - but, there are times where I use commercial products :laugh:

Sometimes, just *sometimes* I want to hold Mr Sheen in my hand and whiff something a little more fragrant than vinegar/bicarb 'sherbert'

Quackers

I recon I'm a 50/50 so have gone for the middle option.

I use a lot of OS tips and we use lots of white vinegar but I also use commercial products too. I use bathroom wipes in the bathroom.

Its all about what works best for you.

I work full time and we lead busy lives. I use bathroom wipes 'cos they are quick and easy to use. I am often found brushing my teeth with one hand and wiping the sink and bath with the other

Its the same with food. Although I reckon I'm 80% OS. We cook everything from scratch in my opinion but I doubt others will see it that way. I dont make my own bread for example. Its easier to buy a loaf!

I also spend a lot more on food than most people by what is posted on these boards. We really enjoy our food (I'm not saying any of you dont) and I wont compromise on spending more on the stuff we really like. I used to buy value tins of tomatoes for example and we wondered why our currys/sauces didn't taste as good. The more expensive tins add much more flavour in my opinion.

I'm waffling.......so I'm off

Rachie_B

im getting better

i use vinegar / water in a spray bottle instead of buying mr muscle type shop bought sprays
using soda crystals / vinegar / bicarb for loads of jobs
i do still buy fairy power spray,but using soda crystals more and more and toilet cleaner (though ive added denture cleaning tabs to my shopping list this week) : )

i do still buy furniture polish as i lurve the smell lol

iwanttosave_2

I hardly use any products, in fact I have just cleaned all the surfaces in the house with nothing but a microfibre cloth and hot water.

The only commercial thing I buy is washing up liquid for the pots and bleach for mopping the floors.

EDIT, I forgot I buy stardrops aswell and can use that for pretty much everything

mah_jong

Old style even before I came here. I work full time but children are grown up.

I rarely buy anything other than cif, bleach washing powder and washing up liquid. I have a feather duster, cloths for a damp dust and do a little every day. Keep on top of it thats my motto!

i spose i could go further into OS but I have been doing it this way for 30 odd years so its pretty much OS anyway!!!

Meals again, OS. Never ever by takeways never did. Rarely feed my children on anything other than HM meals. Still cooking now. make my own bread now too. quicker than going to the shop for a loaf!

Linda32

At the moment I have cleaning things in the cupboard from before joining here.

Sainsbury's Lavender funiture polish and flash bathroom cleaner make the whole house smell wonderful, but I expect I shall manage without them.

I intend to use microclothes for dusting and I shall see how it goes. Stardrops, hotwater and microclothes for the bath, sink, and floors.

I shall still buy dettox spray for the kitchen worktop and bleach type affair for the loo. Aerial washing powder bulked out with supermarket own brand. Plus washing up liquid and that will be it.

I'll see if I notice any different.

amazon_spice

About 50% here - love the idea of being totally OS, hopefully will get there one day. So much greener.

Bit like wanting to be a veggie but needing bacon butties now and then!!

Penny-Pincher!!

We use vinegar solutions for most things (high gloss worktops, tiles in kitchen and bathroom, fronts of cupboards, windows and glass etc) Also use toilet descaler, Flash for the wooden floors (love the scent-but minimum used) and sometimes like Queenie...good ald fashioned Mr Sheen for a polish as I love the smell:o and it needs using-have about 4 cans of it-Pre MSE & OS.

Use microfibre cloths now (damp or dry) for dusting, cleaning wooden blinds, woodwork, cleaning and buffing tiles in kitchen and great on bathroom scum, sinks, kettle, toaster, fronts of utilities etc. These cloths are fabulous and cant praise them enough. They are also excellent for cleaning round the loo. Each morning I fill sink with very hot water and a little vinegar and soak a cloth in there, then clean down/around the loo, bin and kitchen bin-then I just stick them in the wash weekly but are soaked in the meantime IYKWIM.

Windows have been using vinegar for the past few months and is great! Want to try the vinegar with newspaper. ATM I use kitchen towel and obviously I cut back costings here if I used the free weekly paper to do it..LOL.

Am gradually going through all my cleaning products I bought Pre-MSE/OS and is going down, but cant believe how much rubbish I had bought and stocked up on

May I ask what Stardrops are?

PP
xx

amazon_spice

Stardrops - a yellow liquid in a bottle - kind of detergent - not sure quite what exactly. An old brand - still available.

Hubby says there's a Stardrops song apparently!! LOL

loopylass

Hi

After reading about stardrops on here and microfibre cloths
i bought some
stardrops 59p savers cloths 3 for 99p savers
Its brilliant i put a tablespoon in 8 pints of warm water(half a bowl)
I clean paintwork,windows,dado rails,worktop,floor tiles,laminate flooring,worktops window frames,glass shelves
As im spring cleaning i havnt got done upstairs yet so havnt tried it on the bath or tiles but i bet you could its brilliant
I have used it a lot changed the water several times
and have only used a little out of the bottle
In general cleaning 1 bottle will last ages
I used to buy flash and cost nearly £2 and lasted a week