Preparing for Winter V

Green_hopeful

For drains and the loo we have been using citric acid. We get it from our fantastic refill shop. It seems to clean better than normal toilet cleaner. Not sure if it’s septic tank safe. You can get it in the supermarket. 

Cherryfudge

Nelliegrace said:

High strength Vitamin D for the darker months. Zinc tablets, Echinacea capsules. Ever the optimist!
Crystallised ginger, cinnamon, apple cider vinegar for sore throats, vapour rub, something for chapped lips and a sore, runny nose. 
Fresh lemons on the weekly shopping list, pearl barley, local raw honey, lozenges.
Whisky, I think there is some still from a raffle about ten years ago. 
Paracetamol if you must, but just the minimum. 

A budget pack of packets of tissues, and a small plastic bag for used ones if I have to go out. Mask and hand gel. Let’s be good and not spread germs.
Soft loo roll instead of boxes of tissues at home. ( Protection for stress incontinence for coughs and sneezes, and a reminder to do the pelvic floor exercises.) 

I have a thermometer, pulse oximeter and bp machine, and batteries. My Fitbit will do a short ECG. They can be very reassuring, but can cause unnecessary panic. The GTN spray is in date- it is easy to forget to check it. 

I'm fairly sure I've read that the body stores Vit D for about 90 days (three months). If that's the case, it may be worth checking with your pharmacist or doctor about an appropriate dose for you: it varies between individuals and circumstances, and having too much can lead to problems just as not enough can.

Vitamin D - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Nelliegrace

I think you are right @Cherryfudge too much is not good, but in the UK we don’t get enough sunlight to produce Vitamin D naturally for much of the year. I have to avoid sunshine because of one of my medicines.

fionaandphil

I think you are right @Nelliegrace, I was tested a few years ago after returning from sunny climes abroad and it was still low. I was put on very high dose vitamin d for a few months and now take a regular weekly dose to top it up, and extra if I feel coming down with a cold. I also think I've read that when you are peri menopausal or menopausal you need extra to help further down the line.

Cherryfudge

I'm on prescribed Vit D too - seems to be the in thing! My concern is when people take it as a supplement without realising it is stored in the body for months so without medical supervision some people are at risk of having too much. High doses aren't right for everyone.

otb666

really enjoyed all the tips.  I have vinegar and bicarb for cleaning drains.  Our dishwasher goes on twice a day but apart from that used water for cleaning goes down toilets or on patio to keep clean.  I always buy a lemon every week for various cleaning tasks but comes in handy if I get a cold.  My soup is veg The harder stuff plus i onion gets fried for 7-10 minutes in saucepan then add 2 stock cubes in 2 mugs of water and add soft veg and simmer for 7-10 minutes then hand blender and add either cream or cheese or soft cheese.  If none off these I add a rash of bacon at the start when frying hard veg. Lovely I keep my flour in freezer.

Cherryfudge

Oh, now I want to make soup again @otb666! Especially with bacon... my simplest soup is to fry veg in a spot of butter (and oil, but the butter works very well for flavour), add water, season if necessary and blend. I learned that about 30 years ago in a playgroup session where the children were supported to chop the veg using an ordinary table knife, then had the resulting soup when it was time to eat. My daughter loved it and she's still an excellent cook all these years later!

And I need to take care when reading: I wondered why you needed vinegar and bicarb for cleaning trains.  

Is anyone else struggling to get useable washing soda? All the packs on the shelves here are still rock hard from the summer heat and I can never get all the lumps out. The neighbours probably think I'm attacking some heavy DIY from the banging noises but I'm only wanting to add it to the washing machine to soften the water! Is there a effective way to turn it back into powder?

MadamMim2013

Cherryfudge said:

Is anyone else struggling to get useable washing soda? All the packs on the shelves here are still rock hard from the summer heat and I can never get all the lumps out. The neighbours probably think I'm attacking some heavy DIY from the banging noises but I'm only wanting to add it to the washing machine to soften the water! Is there a effective way to turn it back into powder?

I had seen somewhere (think it may be on Nancy Birtwhistle’s page) that she crushes it with a rolling pin then sieves it into crystals again.. ( cannot find the link now I want it 🫣) 
drypak says you can still use it just make it into a solution with hot water. 

Hope this helps ☺️

Cherryfudge

Thanks @MadamMim2013, I will try the solution. I usually use it all the time and I'm missing it. I had a few goes at crushing it but it was getting to the point where the kitchen counter was at risk! It's incredible how solid it sets!

PollyWollyDoodle

@Cherryfudge just delurking to say Nancy says put it in the fridge for a few hours. That should soften it enough to make the lumps easier to break up.