How do you do things?

Honey_Bear

carrielovesfanta wrote: »

I confess to being one of the "running water" washer-uppers

*ducks to avoid flames*

Just cannot face the idea of the bits floating in the bowl.

It's my one really non-OS habit. I figure we all need a vice

*fling*

cruddy old j-cloth with bits of greasy food in the folds heading your way

Although I'd have to say, whatever you do in your house is entirely up to you - it's my hot water bill I'm worried about.

maman

soba wrote: »

I don't make porridge as it's DH's speciality. If I asked how he made it I'd end up doing it myself so I'm happy not to know.

Same here, breakfast isn't my role so I'm just happy to eat what I'm given.;):D

Just came on to post that I noticed Maple Syrup for sale in Aldi this week. I've no idea how it compared for price but thought someone might be interested.

I like golden syrup on mine and generally stock up when it's on special for pancake day.

[Deleted User]

quintwins wrote: »

I must be the only person who doesn't rinse dishes i just leave them to dry.

For your syrup could you decant some value golden syrup into the bottle? that way you still have a squeeze bottle and you can assess properly if anyone noticed the change because they won't know what brand or type of syrup it is?

.

Your not alone I have been washing up dishes for over 50 years and as yet never rinsed them.
I have a bowl in the sink and as hot water as my rubber gloves can take and a squirt of Fairy and all of my dishes come up sparkling.I stick them on the drainer and dry them up after all the washing up is finished .If I have a particularly obsinate roasting dish I fill with very hot water and chuck a couple of spoonsful of washing powder in and swirl around and leave until its cool enough to scour and all the grease just lifts off no problem at all.Cutlery gets washed first then plates, and then pots and pans If the water is looking a bit murky then I will change it.I am on a meter so am careful not to waste water running it down the drain.When I use my shower I always have a bucket in there to catch the cold water first (it comes down from the roof as my bathroom is downstairs) then I use the cold water for the garden I am paying for it so I don't want to waste anything.Re the washing up cloths I too have several which get popped into a machine wash and sponges which I have used to clean the sink with get relegated to the bathroom then binned when they have been used for the toilet and floor.I never use conditioner for my washing (grew up without it in the 1950s and never saw the point) I have half soda crystals and half washing powder and in the conditioner drawer I chuck some white vinegar.No smell and makes the clothes nice and soft.I don't want my clothes smelling of artificial chemicals I don't like air freshners either I open the windows:D fresh air is free;).all my washing is as far as possible line-dried and I have never wanted or owned a tumble dryer.All soap scaps get saved in an empty jam jar and I make up a new bar when I have enough by melting them in the jar in hot water then pouring into a small plastic mould.Nothing ever gets wasted in my house.:rotfl::rotfl:My children still call me Frau frugal but some of my ways have rubbed off on to them.My mum went through 9 years of rationing and I can remember clearly some of her money saving streeetchers :rotfl:
She would have adored this site

jacks993

I usually use Fairy, one squirt in the bowl as the water's going in the bowl. I like Persil washing up liquid as well but never seem to be able to find it anywhere.

I put porridge in a bowl the night before with raisins and half (long life skimmed) milk and half water. The raisins fatten up overnight and sweeten and flavour the milk so no further sugar or syrup is needed.

8ofspades

I recently switched my washing up routine.. I've started diluting my WUL (ecover or method) with white vinegar, which I can't believe I didn't know about before, and it has worked wonders. Has the advantage of helping to kill bacteria and also prevents streaks and limescale build up - my glasses have never been so clear & sparkling. I use an ecloth sponge (as others have suggested) which frequently gets thrown in my normal clothes wash, or, if really grubby, has bicarb rubbed in and then soaked in boiled water before washing.
I also recently switched to cold water washing to save on gas bills. Took a while to get used to, but haven't noticed a difference in how clean things get. Only problem is cold hands now the weather is cooling, but I plan to start using rubber gloves. I don't rinse as I go - scrape off first, maybe soak dirty things in cold water (living alone, I leave washing up until I have enough to make it worthwhile - at least, that's the excuse I use ) Greasy items (roasting tins) get scraped with a spatula onto newspaper then sprinkled with bicarb to absorb and pre-washed at the end in whatever water is there (even if it is gross), then washed properly in fresh water. I do have one exception to the cold water wash - anything which has touched raw meat - this either goes in the dishwasher on the rare occasions it is used, or a small amount of boiling water poured over it before being scrubbed thoroughly with soap & vinegar. I don't dry up often, much better to leave them to drain & air-dry.

Laundry washing is usually 30 degrees and I use ecoballs, which has saved me loads in laundry liquid. Only downside is clothes don't smell of anything, but I wasn't really fond of the scent of the eco liquid I used to use anyway. I do wash towels on a hot wash with vinegar occasionally, to keep them and the machine free from build-up.

Cleaning is done with bicarb or vinegar as much as possible. I make my own surface spray with vinegar, a squeeze of dish soap, distilled water and essential oils. I use ecloths which last for ages.

welhamroad

With a dishwasher I don't have much washing up, however when we were without for 2 weeks I couldn't believe how quickly the washing up liquid went down. When I do use it I use Fairy, as its always gone much further. Have heard good things about Aldi liquid but haven't had to buy a new bottle in months. I like Vileda green sponges if something needs a scrub. Ecloths, or equivalents are fab. Yes, they cost a bit more initially but they last years and go in the WM. Our kitchen has an instant hot water tap and in the 3 years we've had it I haven't bought any kitchen cleaners (except floor cleaner and bleach). I just use the very hot water and an cloth and wipe things down. Anything slightly stubborn gets the green sponge treatment but haven't needed anything else. (Fab appliance by the way, and bought on Ebay at 30% of the cost of a well advertised brand of hot tap).
I wash most things at 40, although sheets at 50 and this often includes muddy and grass stained sports stuff. A scoop of Vanish or own brand 'whitener' goes in the drawer too. Check the different programmes you have. Mine vary from 20 mins to 2 1/2 hours which obviously makes a difference to the cost. I usually use the 1 hour 12 mins programme and things come out fine.
A WM and DW expert also told me not to use liquids at low temps, i.e. 30, in either appliance regularly as they fur up the machines, particularly if you wash at low temperatures, you need to run a hot wash once a month to flush them through.

Mags_cat

I tried Aldi's washing up liquid - swayed by the adverts and the "Which" recommendations but I just couldnt get over the smell of it. I'm afraid that one bottle is the last one I'll ever buy. I've gone back to Fairy (bought in bulk from Costco).

I have to say I feel like a right "durty moo" after reading some of this thread! I never rinse my washing up, it usually air dries.

I do wash bedding and towels at 60 degrees but I use a fraction of the recommended amount of powder and softener. My mother, on the other hand, uses enough powder/softener in a wash to last me about 4! (She could also bleach the whole village with the amount she uses!)

ravingsaver

For me washing up has become easier and more economical since i came across a dishmatique brush in wilkinsons, you purchase replacement heads for these at 3 for 99p. you fill the brush with washing up liquid and use it to clean your dishes, it releases enough to make your dishes hygeinically clean but lasts an age.

how i wash up... using my brush I clean my dishes under running water into sink/bowl allowing bowl or sink to fill up, i keep waashing dishes in this way until sink/bowl is full, i then use the dish ful of water to clean the remaining items.

bkkmei

Washing up: I put a sieve in the sink and rinse all the food scraps into that so the bits and pieces don't get stuck in the drain. I'm also a Fairy / green&yellow sponge-user, but I'm tempted to try Aldi and the e-cloths. I also rinse the dishes

Porridge, I use water and then add a bit of long-life milk at the end. Also use honey & banana to taste.

Clothes-washing, always at 30-40. I make my own laundry gloop and use vinegar as softener cos my eldest has eczema.

lilyp

Slightly horrified at the amount of people who use none Eco products but hey ho.

I use method ( which isn't that Eco so I intend to try the bio1 next) with an Eco plastic brush and Eco scrubbers only when really needed. My cloths are old towels cut into squares that get bunged in with the towel wash each week. I always have a spray bottle of equal parts vinegar and water which I use on greasy stuff. After I've done I spray the brush and scrubber with this and they last so much longer.