Lots more Sneaky Ways to save the pennies

peachespeaches

iris wrote: »

We have done this for years. I don't like using paper table napkins. We also use a different napkin ring for each person, i.e. mine is a pear and my husband's is an apple. This ensures that we use our own napkin for each meal. They are then washed every couple of days, or more often if dirty;)

I keep meaning to do this. I have boxes full of fabric I dont use, I could hem some squares using my overlocker and have table napkins for free! One day I will do it. My husband is always saying I need a bib.

Uniscots97

I find the best way to clean sparkly jewellery is warm water with a drop of ammonia then rinse. It makes any jewellery shine.


I use a rubber broom (these are around £3 from home bargains etc) to go over the carpets. This will pull up any pet hair (or long hair which I have and can be a nightmare for my hoover) and mean less work for your hoover (and less electricity used because you can get the pet hair/hair in one go).

mcculloch29

Just a quick mention for voucher devotees; it's Aldi's Daily Mirror voucher tomorrow, £5 off a £40 spend, valid from Thursday 24th to Thursday 1st May. Worth getting two, if you spend around this amount.

Re the rubber broom, most of you probably know about rubber gloves getting hair and bits off carpets. This works best on stair carpets, as it is often dangerous to use a hoover on steps.
Napkins in our house tend to be for high days and holidays, I'm afraid.
I have a large apron that I wear when cooking that I keep on for eating, if it's anything a bit messy, like spaghetti. Especially worth doing if I'm going out afterwards and need to keep clean.

Frugalsod

mcculloch29 wrote: »

Re the rubber broom, most of you probably know about rubber gloves getting hair and bits off carpets. This works best on stair carpets, as it is often dangerous to use a hoover on steps.

It is also easier to get the fingers into the corners and so much more effective than a vacuum.

peachespeaches

marmiterulesok wrote: »

Apparently this is not a good idea (watering down shower gel or anything else for that matter),as the water will introduce bacteria.A safer solution is to buy pump dispenser bottles and decant into that.You really do use less,especially if you wrap an elastic band round the pump thingy,so it doesn't go down all the way.

I dont buy this about introducing bacteria. Our supply is chlorinated to kill bacteria. I dont honestly think they would thrive in soap solution but someone may like to prove me wrong. Has anyone got access to laboratory facilities to try it? I suppose if you used the same bottle for years there might be a build up, but in a busy household it will only last a few weeks anyway. Just clean out your dispenser with very hot water every time it gets down to bottom.

Pyxis

peachespeaches wrote: »

I dont buy this about introducing bacteria. Our supply is chlorinated to kill bacteria. I dont honestly think they would thrive in soap solution but someone may like to prove me wrong.

Yes, the water from taps is clean but it's not sterile. There aren't enough bacteria in it to make you ill, but there are bacteria everywhere. If you leave water standing for any length of time, the bacteria count will go up, ( but in the short term, probably not enough to harm you!). Besides which, there are bacteria and bacteria, and not all bacteria are harmful, particularly in smaller quantities.

Also, if the cold water in your bathroom comes from a cold-water tank in the loft, then it's not quite as fresh as if it comes straight off the mains.

None of this matters a jot in a normal day!

Soap solution will kill bacteria, but at a certain dilution level, bacteria will still grow in it. Whether they would be harmful ones or not, I don't know.

I would have thought that you could dilute the shower gel, but ensure that you give the dispenser a jolly good clean-out before refilling, and don't just top it up each time.
HOWEVER, the cost of the soap and hot water that you'd need to thoroughly clean out the dispenser might negate the saving from diluting the shower- gel!

peachespeaches

DundeeDoll wrote: »

Interesting. Mydoc told me to get an srs free toothpaste as i have linctus planus. What good are srs's ?! Pleased to say l!dl do one for49p

What is SRS? I have itchy facial skin and thought it might be due to hair products.

Pyxis

Do you think that Dundeedoll means SLS-free?

If so, this link is quite informative.

http://www.greenpeople.co.uk/blog/article/looking-sls-free-toothpaste/

peachespeaches

mrsinvisible wrote: »

I wash out and leave to dry, 4pint milk cartons/plastic bottles, fill with washing powder (use funnel) easy to pour into washing machine no spill no mess and can control quantity easily.
Also use them for flour, sugar, rice, (clearly labelled) and for soup storing in the freezer. Smaller bottles also for other dried goods. lentils split peas etc.

Murrell wrote: »

curiousralphy wrote: »

Not sure if it helps anyone but I use a trouser hanger (the one with clips at each end) to hold up my printed recipes when cooking in the kitchen - by putting the hanger on the handle of the higher cabinets it's at the perfect height. Holds a smallish recipe book as well.

I work in a shop and always ask if customers want the hangers and always give this tip to every customer that is interested. I just wish I had more tips to use hangers, not just trouser ones to pass on!

pondskater wrote: »

I got some pretty pillow cases from charity shop and used a hanger to make a hanging laundry bag.

All good tips!

peachespeaches

mcculloch29 wrote: »

Washing.... I was talking to a friend the other week who is on benefits and has a prepaid key meter for gas and electricity. I was trying to help her make savings from what she spends on fuel.
She told me she spends 'Hours in the shower, I like to get all the shampoo and conditioner out of my hair.'

Like me, she has a deep bathroom sink, and short hair, so I suggested she wash her face and shampoo/condition her hair in the sink as I often do, before stepping into the shower for a 3 minute from- the- neck -down wash. (I have a timer that helps me to stick to under 4 minutes.)

My friend looked at me as if I'd come out of the Stone Age... I thought it was quite a sensible suggestion!

At the risk of it being TMI and my being new to this thread, I've found a portable bidet brilliant for freshening up those Important Little Places, rather than having a full shower when I don't need one... I won't let you know what she said about that! :rotfl:

I also have a portable bidet hidden away, it is excellent, I wont go on about it, you can use your imagination. :eek: