Old style things that 'only you' do...

Mirtos

Sarahsaver wrote:

Nanna cleaned the windows with newspaper. I get gift bags in multipacks from the pound shop and always re-use ones I get given. CLose friends know this and now do the same:)
Just asking scientist OH how hot something would have to be to kill bacteria. I saw anthea doing the 10 second thing. I just hope on the 'only person who does something' front she is the only one who makes piggies out of bath towels to impress house guests. Please let it be only her, the world is troubled enough already.

Scientist OH says listeria will survive that as it wouldnt be hot enough, unless the micro waves themselves have an effect on the bacteria. His credentials are degree in biology and microbiology :rolleyes:

However Anth in the microwave for 10 seconds would produce a small cloud of smoke, orange i think.

I'll just get my coat...

Don't shout at me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that microwaves work by making water molecules vibrate at speed which generates heat - thus any water molecules INSIDE the bacteria will also vibrate and thus kill them. Basically cooking them from the inside out. Lovely. That's what kills the bugs, not the heat! - Ahh the joy of physics!

Glitterari

Went I want to post something for ebay, I will look through the fruit and veg sections of supermarkets as they often have bubble wrap under produce.

If I ever get any paper bags (from lush usually) I will cut them up and turn them inside out and that's the brown paper wrapping. I will also re-use the bubble wrap and wrapping paper that's been used to wrap something I've bought.

Louisa_2

I freeze bread scraps for weekends when we go and feed the birds so I don't have to use full slices! How sad. At least the ducks are nice and fat.

Sarahsaver

Mirtos wrote:

Don't shout at me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that microwaves work by making water molecules vibrate at speed which generates heat - thus any water molecules INSIDE the bacteria will also vibrate and thus kill them. Basically cooking them from the inside out. Lovely. That's what kills the bugs, not the heat! - Ahh the joy of physics!

Ok but how hot DOES water get in 10 seconds in the microwave?;)

GardenMillie

I do lots of the things already mentioned. I also use the plastic tubs with lids (from the local Chinese) after they are empty and washed out to freeze food in.

I often "re-cycle" unwanted gifts!

Glitterari

You shouldn't feed ducks bread as it is actually very bad for them, not MS but better off for the duck's welfare to buy the duck seed you can get.

That comes from my friend who knows a lot about birds (I don't know anything :rolleyes: )

GardenMillie

Just remembered something else. I save all the corks from wine bottles - and ask friends if they don't keep them and use them in the bottom of plant pots when planting flowers, seeds etc. They are brilliant for drainage.:j

libra10

Am enjoying reading this thread and do some of the things mentioned.
My own tip is cutting face wipes in half so that you get twice as many in each pack. I then put them all in a small sealed container and take out whatever I want to use.

CAFCGirl

I put the plug in the bath while I have a shower and then scoop out a couple of buckets full to water my plants

They're pretty hardy plants so dont seem to mind a little bit of shower gel in there too!

I saved my old toothbrushes for cleaning the tiles and awkward places.

Have also kept a number of old shower curtains (the plastic/rubbery type ones, as opposed to the more fabric style ones) and stitched them together round the edges and used there as extra ground sheets when camping

Also collected lots of free cds (like the AOL ones) and glued them together so double sided shiny, and strung them together using nylon twine from work and made a funky modern style mobile.

Do the "sachet stealing" too lol

Use the inners from toilet rolls as play toy for our rabbit.

Save old bits of fabric, and cut up old clothes and mix and match them to stitch together to make patchwork style cushion covers for gifts etc, I've found denim has worked pretty well on this,especially for some of the younger people I give gifts too.

Also got large quantity of fabric from boot fair and used it to cover furniture that was looking a little worse for wear, amazing what you can do with a staple gun

dianasnan

i keep my tomato ketchup upside down in a mug in the fridge then the contents are always at the top. spent 48p on a set of 3 plastic funnels from Asda which are used to decant the last dregs of any bottles into a new bottle, handy as you can prop the 2 bottles up by a wall and not try to balance them on top of each other which usually ended in disaster

soap dregs are dried then grated through an old rotary grater and used for hot washes in the washing machine.

any moisturiser or foundation samples are squeezed into small pots and can last 2 weeks with care or taken on holiday.

Measure my washing powder with a scoop which was carefully chosen to be the smallest exact size that still gave a good wash, get at least 3 times the suggested washes per box this way.

decant hotel coffee sachets into a small plastic pot as it then looks like I am a coffee addict not a klepto.

always think of a quote in the Tightwad Gazette from a housekeeper who kept the washing detergent and conditioner bottles that her employer had thrown in the trash and used the dregs to do all her washes for the week at home by turning them upside down and using up every last bit.