Old style laundry - hints and tips

Curry_Queen

Great tip chrisico, thankyou

I've got a few bottles of shampoo I don't like cluttering up the bathroom, so now I know what I can use them for

Ticklemouse

For the past few days, I've been doing my washing on a 30 deg wash (on account of I haven't turned heater off and the cold wash is too short). I've been putting 1/2 scoop Oxiclean in drum and a little bicarb/vinegar conditioner in too. All clothes have come out clean and fresh smelling. Haven't noticed anything untoward yet. Looks like I'll be saving the washing liquid for the REALLY dirty clothes. Right result, I say!

Austin_Allegro

I've been using Sainsbury's economy wash powder (58p for 1.1kg) and using half the measurements they suggest, then adding vinegar as a softener.

Seems to be working ok and no different from when I used expensive powders.

Mind you I've got an old fashioned manual washing machine so it might not be the same for autos.

I do have to use vanish on collars and cuffs though, but then I always need to whatever powder I use.

elona

You can use the dregs of shampoo for collar and cuffs and it works even better at dissolving grease. :):)

Austin_Allegro

Thanks Elona, I used shampoo for a long time, but Vanish seems to work slightly better. Most annoying for a frugal person to have to admit using a brand name product! I work in London so get VERY grimey cuffs and collar.

Ticklemouse

You'll have to keep a look out for the next bumper box of shampoos with one of the 3 for £1 mag subscriptions.:D I can only use Aveda so I have lots of OS stuff for guests and for making into liquid soap, but will put a bottle next to the washer. (Hadn't really thought about it, yet if there's been a stain and I've only had a bit of S'poo to hand, I've used it without thinking.)

Austin_Allegro

Is there any difference in stain removal between the expensive shampoos and the cheapo supermarket shampoos?

chrisico

Have you tried using a bar of ordinary soap as a stain loosener before it goes in the wash? I have done this for a while on my hubby's collars and seems as good as Vanish to me. A use for all those tiny bits of soap at the end of a bar.
I think it is the degreaser in the shampoo that gets rid of the grime so I suppose all shampoos would work as well , have been known to use Boots Basic (29p) for clothes myself but then I am very cheap!!!

Austin_Allegro

Yes, I tried soap for a while as well, but again it didn't seem to work so well as Vanish. Sorry to keep plugging it! It seems to have some kind of oxidysing/bleaching action, as if I get any on my hands it stains them white, and says not to be left on clothes for more than 10 minutes.

It's probably hydrochloric acid or something...!

Anyway I've finally found Napisan in Sainsbury's so I will give this a try next washday.

Well it's nice to have something to look forward to in life!:rolleyes:

r.mac_2

austin,

do you use the vanish bar, oxi action stuff you put in the machine or the power spray?