Lots more Sneaky Ways to save the pennies

OurLass

kackleful wrote: »

Love reading Jackie O, s comments!

Me too!!:)

asparagus1968

:):):):):)

OurLass wrote: »

Me too!!:)

and me:T

Chi-me

Pyxis wrote: »

For the last 10 years I haven't used any fabric conditioner, as I couldn't stand the synthetic smell of them. Now I haven't used detergent in my machine at all, either, for the last three years.I found I was becoming intolerant to the scents used in the powders and liquids, and after weeks of trying to find a detergent with a scent that that didn't give me a headache or just make me go 'yuk!',I discovered washballs.

These are little mineral balls held in a perforated plastic ball that you put in the machine without detergent. They change the pH of the water, so that any dirt is loosened and is rinsed out. As detergents only really change the pH too, the only difference between them and the washballs is that the detergents contain the ghastly perfumes. These are put in to disguise the horrid smell made by the build-up of gunk in the pipes, caused by, wait for it, the detergents!!

I've read in several places that it's the mechanical action of the drum that really cleans the clothes. Most clothes aren't 'dirty', they are just not fresh, and maybe a bit sweaty, so only really need a good soak,tumble about, and rinse.

It took a bit of a change of mindset to wean myself off the lifetime of brainwashing that only soap can clean clothes, and a few hot soda-crystal washes of the machine to get rid of some of the gunk already there, that does smell when you stop using detergent perfumes. But I find that there's no difference to my clothes now, than when I used detergents, apart from the fact that they don't stink of horrid perfumes.

Sometimes, I forget to put the washballs in as well, and there isn't really any difference there either.
So I think it really is just the hot water, rolling action of the machine, and good rinses that cleans the clothes.
So why spend a fortune on detergents and fabric softeners?

WASHBALLS! Where do you buy these? I sat here last night with my torso burning like I'd been grilled due to detergent allergies. I'd love to try these

Pyxis

Chi-me wrote: »

WASHBALLS! Where do you buy these? I sat here last night with my torso burning like I'd been grilled due to detergent allergies. I'd love to try these

I bought mine from Lakeland. They do online or mail order, or there may be a shop near you.

The one I'm using at the mo is called Ecoegg. You can buy refills to put in the plastic 'egg'. Each refill lasts for about 54 washes.

There are other brands on the market. The principle is the same.
Ecoegg has two types of pellets: tourmaline ceramic ones, and natural mineral ones. They work at all temperatures up to 60 degrees.

Uniscots97

When OH and I treat ourselves to a burger from a fast food place we get one meal (burger, fries and drink) and go large on it so we get the large fries and a large drink and order an extra burger on its own. This means there's enough fries and drink for us to share and we each get a burger, this normally saves around £3-4. We also print out any vouchers (from this site and others) and use voucher sites.

mcculloch29

I do use fabric conditioner for one very good reason; DS has a habit of doing washing late at night (machine is going now). He wouldn't deal with it until the following evening, and the fab conditioner keeps it smelling sweet and not musty.
However I have also had a go periodically at doing my own laundry gloop to clean clothes. Works fine. I suspect washballs would work well too. If you don't have small children or a dirty manual job nothing gets grubby enough to merit heavy use of detergent.

muffin_man_7

Chi-me wrote: »

WASHBALLS! Where do you buy these? I sat here last night with my torso burning like I'd been grilled due to detergent allergies. I'd love to try these

You can get them in argos as well hth

Chi-me

Pyxis wrote: »

I bought mine from Lakeland. They do online or mail order, or there may be a shop near you.

The one I'm using at the mo is called Ecoegg. You can buy refills to put in the plastic 'egg'. Each refill lasts for about 54 washes.

There are other brands on the market. The principle is the same.
Ecoegg has two types of pellets: tourmaline ceramic ones, and natural mineral ones. They work at all temperatures up to 60 degrees.

Thanks Pyxis and MuffinMan! It's amazing what I've learned from MSE OS forum.

Lakeland (or Argos) here I come! Although I think I'd best stick to online shopping rather than venturing into Bluewater... tooooo much temptation and I am rather new at this

Topher

I'm a bit late in the conversation (about Milk & milk substitutes/reconstitutes) May I also recommend Nido milk powder which makes a full fat milk.
T

peachespeaches

I have only got up to page 9 so I apologise if you have read this before.

If anyone is giving away on freecycle prefold nappies, grab them, boil wash them to sanitise. These are not terry but made of winceyette folded about 9 times. They make the most fab absorbent cleaning cloths and their thickness is great to soak up spills on carpets. I am a fishkeeper and when I clean my tanks I spread them all around so I dont mark the carpet. If you are cleaning the carpet or the sofa they are great as they seem to soak up dirt. I have had mine about 7 years now.

Also Morrisons sell off their black flower buckets cheap. Good for gardeners if you put a few holes in the bottom by heating a skewer. They are usually found by the reduced veg table.