Lots more Sneaky Ways to save the pennies

Hobsons_Choice

I clean my washing machine about once a month by putting in soda crystals and doing an empty wash on the hottest setting.

sparrer

Becky_2 wrote: »

I read on here earlier this week, that you can clean your dishwasher with vinegar on a hot wash.

Would the same idea apply to cleaning the washing machine and the coffee machine? If not, how do you clean yours?

I do my laundry with 2 tablespoons cheap detergent, 1 tablespoon soda crystals and a tiny squirt (no more than a reaspoonful) of Star Drops. Gets the washing really clean and stops it going hard, gets rid of stains, cleans the machine and costs a fraction of expensive 'new, improved' washing powders. It sounds a faff but saves soaking, boiling etc and if you mix the two powders together in an old ice cream tub or whathaveyou it saves having to measure each time.

Love your sig Hobsons :rotfl:

Penny-Pincher!!

sparrer wrote: »

I do my laundry with 2 tablespoons cheap detergent, 1 tablespoon soda crystals and a tiny squirt (no more than a reaspoonful) of Star Drops. Gets the washing really clean and stops it going hard, gets rid of stains, cleans the machine and costs a fraction of expensive 'new, improved' washing powders. It sounds a faff but saves soaking, boiling etc and if you mix the two powders together in an old ice cream tub or whathaveyou it saves having to measure each time.

Love your sig Hobsons :rotfl:

May I ask if it smells fresh though?

Also, I have bought in the past Shake n vac for the carpet upstairs as I spend a lot of time up there atm so the dog is with me. Could I use soda to sprinkle on the carpet to eliminate any doggy smells?

Thanks

PP
xx

sparrer

Penny-Pincher!! wrote: »

May I ask if it smells fresh though?

Also, I have bought in the past Shake n vac for the carpet upstairs as I spend a lot of time up there atm so the dog is with me. Could I use soda to sprinkle on the carpet to eliminate any doggy smells?

Thanks

PP
xx

It gets the laundry clean, but it doesn't smell of fabric softener because I don't waste my money on it. If something needs little more softening than usual, or to get rid of static, a small cup of vinegar does the job just as well. I don't/won't have a tumble dryer so my laundry smells of fresh air which I much prefer anyway

You can sprinkle baking powder/bicarb on the carpet, leave for an hour or longer then vacuum up. Alternatively dissolve soda crystals in warm water and spray lightly onto the carpet, rugs, bedding and anything fabric, then vac when dry.

BitterAndTwisted

Eh, most fabric-conditioners smell really horrible and artificial anyway. I can't see the point of them. They don't reduce static and don't appear to make ironing any easier either. I want the kind of fabric-conditioner which will make clothes iron themselves or I'm not interested in wasting my money on them.

I reckon that ShakenVac stuff is only bicarb with a perfume in it. Same with that cat-litter-fresh gubbins. I'm not fooled.

anguk

Penny-Pincher!! wrote: »

May I ask if it smells fresh though?

Also, I have bought in the past Shake n vac for the carpet upstairs as I spend a lot of time up there atm so the dog is with me. Could I use soda to sprinkle on the carpet to eliminate any doggy smells?

Thanks

PP
xx

Bicarb with a few drops of essential oil makes a great carpet freshener.

If you've got an empty coffee jar (or any other jar with a plastic lid) put the bicarb in there with a few drops of essential oil, give it a good shake to break up any lumps, then poke some holes in the plastic lid and you can sprinkle it over the carpet just like you would with shake n vac.

I use one of my OH's artificial sweetener jars because they've already got holes in to sprinkle or pour, you just have to twist the lid.

You can also use it as a gentle cleaner too if you sprinkle it on a damp sponge.

Barbeduk

Bicarb is definitely the way to go for a carpet freshner. When my darling son kindly vomited all over our mattress and carpet, nothing would shift the smell until I remembered bicarb. Did take a few goes over several days though. He still mentions it, we're still trying to forget!:rotfl::rotfl:

Uniscots97

I've just the advert for the packet coating for chicken, you know the one where she dips the chicken in egg, coats it in this packet coating then bakes?

I keep a small tupperware box in the freezer and add any bread crumbs, cracker crumbs (have been known to crush any remaining odd stale crackers) to this (and I vary it) I add a good pinch of mixed herbs, 1/2 tsp tumeric, a good twist of black pepper (sometimes I'll add a little chilli). I dip the chicken breast in egg, then roll them in this mixture and place on an oiled baking tray and cook until done. To me this is the same thing..... only cheaper!!!!!

Flat_Eric

unixgirluk wrote: »

I've just the advert for the packet coating for chicken, you know the one where she dips the chicken in egg, coats it in this packet coating then bakes?

I keep a small tupperware box in the freezer and add any bread crumbs, cracker crumbs (have been known to crush any remaining odd stale crackers) to this (and I vary it) I add a good pinch of mixed herbs, 1/2 tsp tumeric, a good twist of black pepper (sometimes I'll add a little chilli). I dip the chicken breast in egg, then roll them in this mixture and place on an oiled baking tray and cook until done. To me this is the same thing..... only cheaper!!!!!

I think that advert is really naff! A bit like the cook in bag that gets advertised with another mix of some description where the chicken or meat get put in the bag and then the lady is doing the dance around the kitchen and singing??!! although I haven't seen them in the shops yet, I bet the mixes are vastly overpriced. Its a bit like those pre-made spice mixes you can get at over a pound each. I could probably make hundreds of mixes with all the herbs I have!

Uniscots97

Flat_Eric wrote: »

I think that advert is really naff! A bit like the cook in bag that gets advertised with another mix of some description where the chicken or meat get put in the bag and then the lady is doing the dance around the kitchen and singing??!! although I haven't seen them in the shops yet, I bet the mixes are vastly overpriced. Its a bit like those pre-made spice mixes you can get at over a pound each. I could probably make hundreds of mixes with all the herbs I have!

The only place I've seen them is home bargains (at around 80p), even at that price I'd still rather make my own!