OS MSE ideas haven’t paid off for you?

tinkerbelluk

OMG - This thread makes me feel so much better. Sometimes I can feel really low that I'm not as OS as some others. But if we are confessing here are mine:

I agree with you Queenie, I really love my meals out even though they are expensive. But in my defence we only tend to eat out at places where I've tried and failed to do the dish at home as well.

I buy ready made pastry (but that's because we tend not to use it often enough)

My slow cooker and I are not the greatest friends in the world, although we only met a couple of months ago and it just may take a while for us to get used to each other, but in all honesty my oven and the casserole dish have a more reliable relationship and we tend to know what each other wants and needs :rotfl:

I use stardrops for most of the cleaning but I admit I still use a branded cleaner on the bath as the smell is fanastic and I get a much better shine

I'm sure there are loads more, but also on the positive side OS has helped with so many other areas so I think it's a bit of trial and error to see what works for you.

dannahaz

Hi Queenie

What a great idea for a thread! I'm afraid I found I couldn't just answer your question without adding in what I do do, for context. Maybe I'm just trying to make myself feel better...but I don't think so.

I use Surcare washing powder and fabric conditioner, as both myself and my DH end up with blotchy skin if we use any other. We've tried them all, even the baby ones like Fairy. I didn't get on with soapnuts, and vinegar just wasn't leaving my washing soft enough.

I buy packet pastry, and Gu choc puds - although not for eating at the same time. However, when I make mince pies I use the "Best mince Pie Pastry Ever" recipe.

Don't have a slowcooker.

I love my BM, make my own sourdough from my sourdough starter too. FOr those who were having problems slicing, I would recommend you invest in an extra long bread knife or one of the evenslice type machines. (Lakeland do/did them)

I have Kefir every day, make my own greek style yoghurt in a flask but use Rachel's organic as my starter each time. I just buy a big tub, freeze it in two-tablespoon tubs, and then get a tub out each time I want to yog.

I make my own butter and sausages, love cooking from scratch and cooking extra for the freezer. Grow oodles of fruit and veg for eating and preserving (but did that anyway - that's what got m into OS).

I follow the one-zone-a-week idea from Flylady, but tend to do everything for that zone on a Monday leaving the rest of the week clear. I DO make sure I have a "shiny sink" and I swish & swipe the bathroom on every visit..but I did that before I discovered FlyLady. I also bring a load of laundry downstairs with me when I get up, it's a great habit to get into.

Use Stardrops, damp microfibre cloths, and vinegar for all my cleaning, and baby oil for polishing my stainless steel kitchen appliances. Use bio washing powder (Ecover) for soaking the oven racks and hob plates. I gave all my cleaning products away to my brother - I think the only commercial cleaner I have under the sink is a bottle of Fairy Power Spray which I still use....although I've just had a lightbulb moment and realised that bio washing powder would probably be just as effective. Will try that next time.

Of all these things, the only thing I am a little disappointed about is the vinegar as fabric conditioner. So many people rave about how soft it leaves their washing, but no matter what I did (cleaning the machine, descaling the machine, cleaning the clothes first, washing a load without powder then rewashing it) it just didn't work for me. But it's only a small thing.

jennet1

I had visions of fresh baked bread from my breadmaker every day, but the loaves are just too heavy, still use it for pizzas, bagettes etc. HM biscuits are a no no, I make them and scoff them VERY quickly as they are lovely, but I don't normally have biscuits in the house and we live quite happily without. so no good for the waist and a bit of a waste of money on ingrediants

mrs_mix

Boy do I feel better
don't do the flylady thing do what needs doing as it needs doing don't skrimp on toilet cleaner I'm afraid I would rather be doing something else whilst the chemicals work
don't use fabric softner anyway but tesco's own non-bio soap powder
the only other cleaner I use are stardrops,bleach and disenfectant
cook from scratch 99% of the time but use oven chips when I have to which is about once a fortnight for the children dh and I don't eat chips and I can't peel potatoes very well plus I won't have a chip pan in the house
I'm sure there's more but can't think right now

newlywed

Frozen ready-rolled puff pastry - OH would have a fit if I made that much mess in the kitchen trying to make my own!!

Tried making my own gravy but it just ended up a lumpy mess so it's back to granuals I'm afraid

I'm allergic to lots of things so it has to be branded washing powder and softener (although have just convinced OH to add soda crystals to the wash)

Bargain_Rzl

I haven't dared try Flylady yet

I do use my slow cooker but generally for specific dishes - e.g. cheap meat cuts, or whole chicken infused with lemon and garlic :drool: - or to fit with particular circumstances, such as if I know I'll have lots of time in the morning to prepare ingredients but very little time later in the day.

Similarly, vinegar in the washing machine serves a specific purpose - I use it instead of fabric conditioner ONLY when my microfibre cloths are in the wash (you're not supposed to use fabric conditioner with MF cloths). I do swear by vinegar for cleaning glass though, especially my bathroom basin (one of those ones that looks like half a fishbowl, looks lovely but not very practical in a hard water area!) and shower screen.

Pastry - well, I haven't cooked anything involving pastry for years. For preference I would make it myself, however I do have a packet of shortcrust in the freezer which I snapped up when it was yellow-stickered in Sainsbury's the other week.

Herbaholic

Nothing so far as I've really only just started, but there's time LOL! Can I just say although a bit off topic.....

Queenie wrote: »

I enjoy having guilt free meals out – I know a lot of people on here frown on that expense, but it’s just so lovely to have someone else shop, cook, clean up that to me it’s well worth it!

I totally agree with you Queenie, it's so good to have a break from cooking and washing up afterwards I'm budgeting to include 2 meals out per month at the local 2 for 1, although they do list them sometimes as '2 4 1'. Both me and DH can eat out there getting 2 tasty and decent sized meals and 2 coffees for between £10 and £15 depending what meal we choose, you get the cheapest meal free and it's 7 days a week all day! They have a good choice and the meals are tasty and filling. Don't much like their beer though hence having coffee lol! You can see if they have a local one near you here Marston's Pubs

potogold wrote: »

Don't get me wrong it was lovely to wake up to a fresh loaf every morning BUT we just couldn't get the hang of cutting it into even slices, and the kids were crying when thye were taking their packed lunches in, containing *DOORSTEP* sandwiches..............:rotfl:

I was having the same problem pot'o'gold but I read on here somewhere (so many threads and posts I forget where, sorry to the OP!) about keeping bread in the fridge nakes it last longer, when it comes out it's firmer and I've found it easier to slice. It seems as though the bread has gone hard when you first take it out. But once it gets to room temperature it's nice and soft. Since starting doing it two weeks ago, the bread at our house has lasted longer and I've had thinner slices from the loaves. Hope the above is of some use to someone, be nice to give a little back after all I'm learning from everyone else

MrsTinks

I have to say I might not be using everything as much as I'd like but it IS all used... My dehydrator makes great pineapple and apple snacks (when either is on special offer only), my slowcooker is my winter saver... I use it at least once a week because I get so depressed about cooking after leaving home when it's dark and it's dark by the time I get home again... so I stick it on when I leave for work and return to a gorgeous hot meal. My bread maker - never shall I be seperated from thee!!! They'll have to bury me with my bread maker!!! I make bananaloafs, ginger bread (ok I cheat on this one - I use a ready mix but I don't care it's gorgeous!), pizza dough, dough for rolls and of course bread! This year I'm really growing my own veg as much as possible without an allotment (STILL!) but OS things I don't so would be flylady... never felt like it... I use star drops occasionally - I use vinegar for my towels as a fabric softner with a few drops of essential oils they are just great to snuggle in, but I still use washing powder (biological now and only half what it says and my clothes are still as clean!). I also still use the TD but not as much now I have a rotary airer in the garden - but I finish everything off in it to remove pet hairs...
And my ultimate confession... I use cilit bang... I'm sorry!!! But it is just so good and quick at cleaning the toilets... a few sprays before I get into a bath - all three toilets - when I get out I do a quick round and scrub with a brush... and all clean...

catkins

I hardly ever use my slow cooker - really only for a few vegetable stews in the winter.

I could not get on with flylady - all that shiny sink stuff!

I agree with Snowy Owl about the soapnuts. I just don't feel that my clothes are clean when I use them even though they look it!

And now my biggest bombshell - I don't like Stardrops!!! There, I've said it. I know loads of you rave about it but to me it just doesn't clean things like some other products do.

moanymoany

The mention of washable sanitary towels gave me a hot flush! I remember my mum telling me how Grandma used to boil them in the hankie boiling pan - ooooooh nasty:eek:

I don't do the cooking double and freezing the extra, I ended up with strange frozen lumps I couldn't bring myself to eat - I know I should label but there you go.

My bean seeds turned to slimy frogspawn and I hadn't the courage to try again.

I can't find stardrops in Crawley and driving somewhere to get it seems to defeat the object.:p

I too have got rid of the breadmaker and I like casseroles in the oven - tried the slowcooker thing and it didn't work for me. I think a lot of this is habit.

I liked flyladyand still really go for the shined sink, but now use the Christian fundamentalist housewife's emergency cleaning rota and I've started to use her cleaning recipes. The equal amounts of white vinegar and water as an all purpose cleaner really works. The Tesco value cream cleaner is absolutely brilliant and so cheap I use that, it works a treat on the toilet. I squirt it down and scrub with the brush (value) - see my loo how white it gleams:D

I use Tesco's own brand 2 in 1 washing tablets as I like them and can't be fagged with softener. I do only use one tab and soda with coloureds.