Laundering for less

maman

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I dunno what most people do but I use about an egg-cupful or thereabouts. I can't think of any cheap alternative to fabric conditioner other than good old malt vinegar. It doesn't have to be white, the brown stuff is cheaper and does exactly the same thing. One uses so little of it, it won't colour anything.

supers wrote: »

If anyone is interested i found a spray white vinegar in home bargains 79p today (thought that was cheap), it can be used to spray on stains on clothing on cuffs and necks on shirts etc and as a cleaning product on shower heads etc

Sadly, we don't have HB here in the south. I so wish we did. My laundry is fine with Asda SP powder. I think it's about the best value around and I use a couple of tbsps (at most) and SP malt vinegar as a softener. White vinegar isn't necessary, I promise my washing doesn't smell like a chippy!!!!

lancashiregirl

I used to use Formil but ordered 4 x 5ltr detergent from ebay as recommended by another MSE'er and it works out half the price even taking into account postage, around 6p per wash and does a good job.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271016332705?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

By the way, a pretty surefire way to remove drink marks (juice, tea coffee, wine whatever) from clothes is to steep for a while in tepid water with a capful of white vinegar and dash of washing up liquid, then wash.

wookie_2

Hi we use this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Washing-Powder-3-x-10-Kilo-Bags-Leading-Brand-Only-5-50-delivery-/280929545742?pt=UK_WSJL_Wholesale_GL&hash=item4168b4ae0e#ht_901wt_698

This washing powder is designed to be placed within your washing machine. It will clean at varying temperatures with great results. The powder is highly concentrated therefore you only need a small amount. There is enough powder in each bag for approximately 350 small washes at 30g of powder per wash, or 150 large loads at 60g of powder per wash. This can work out at low as 2p per wash, depending on the kilogram of wash load.
Although this works out for us at 5p a wash using 50 grams of powder, it looks and smells like persil, very happy with the results.
Will use again at this price.

MattLFC

The best value stuff I ever used, by far, was Netto's "Delta Plus".... which I could swear was very similar to the big boys "cheaper stuff", and cleaned just as well. It seemed much better than all the supermarket value stuff, both the actual powder, and the cleaning quality.

It was £1.59 for 3Kg, although towards the end, the price increased to £1.69 for £2.6Kg or something like that.

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/delta-plus-biological-automatic-washing-689018

Also, they did a range of it, including Biological and non-biological, which is something of a rarity for cheap/value stuff.

Then ASDA took over, and killed it off, replaced with the SP !!!!!. I've not bothered to find a replacement, but will consider the suggestions on here, so cheers

Ezmondino

I too am looking for a replacement for the Netto washing powder. I brought 12 boxes before they shut...I should have brought 120! Was great cleaning at such a good price, how did they do it at half the price of aldi and lidl, let alone Tesco etc.

maccymum

hi
my dh , ds and dd all have sensitive skin so i can only use daz, fairy or aerial i got an 85 wash daz powder from b&m the other day for £14 which i thought was a bargain.
xx

Edwardia

I had been using Formil from Lidl which I thought was pretty good. Then I got some Ecover on special at Sainsbury's and even though it doesn't have optical brighteners an old tablecloth came up whiter than I'd ever seen before. Dunno what to buy now !

Ben84

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

What bugs? Soap kills germs so you'll only need to worry about them if you have someone in the house with an infectious disease or a compromised immune-system.

I wash things at 60 whenever possible as it kills the dust mites a lot better (I am allergic to them) and because I find it kills the mould that can appear in washing machines. This article describes it better than I can really:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6669551.stm

Ben84

anguk wrote: »

I use Method laundry liquid, DD and I have very sensitive skin and it's a nightmare finding soap powder that doesn't irritate us, the big brands do and the cheaper ones. I've tried "natural" stuff including soap nuts but find they just don't get the washing clean, especially the whites, they go dingy after a while.

Method is expensive at £6 a bottle :eek: but I stock up when it's on offer (currently 2 for £8 at Tesco). It's got a pump top and you're supposed to use 4 pumps per wash and you get about 25 washes per bottle but I only use 2 so I get about 50 washes which works out about 8p per wash if bought on offer or 12p full price.

I know I could get cheaper washing powder/liquid but it's worth paying the extra for one that doesn't irritate our skin and this is the first one I've found that works well, removes stains and has a nice smell.

It can be worth setting the machine to do and extra rinse or two at the end of the cycle. A lot of moderner machines scrimp on the rinsing to save water - but if you find enough powder is left to irritate your skin you should rinse more.

debbie22

Well, I was sceptical, but made loads of the gloop yesterday.
It works! It's fab, and will save me at least £5 a month in laundry detergent. No going back now..very impressed, thanks for posting details on how to make it : )

Debbie