What OS tip didn't work for you?

[Deleted User]

I love my SC and my remoska but my breadmaker is still in its box and I bought it three years ago.I looked at the instructions and then wondered why I had bought it to be honest as I really don't eat a great deal of bread anyway, a whole loaf of Warburtons multi-grain bread although at £1.49 is dear, it last my for ages as I freeze it and only get out a couple of slices at a time.
I even lent it to a friend so she could have a go and she also decided it was too much of a faff.Lifes too short to stress over home made bread.although if I had a family at home it may have been different but there's only me so its not worth the effort.I aslo tried cheap washing up liquid and went back to Fairy, as although its not cheap its worth every penny

Sunnyday

I`ve gone back to big brand soap powder but only for whites, i found the cheappie powder and soda crystals just couldn`t get that sparkling bright white finish.

I do still use vinegar as fabric softner though, the towels are much more absorbant. This took a while to get right but i think after getting used to it i shall be sticking with it. I started off using white vinegar but now use plain old cheap malt vinegar at 13p per bottle and it`s great.

SD

princesstippytoes

I used soapnuts for a time but they didn't work for me the washing didn't come as clean as when I used detergent. Wash balls were the same and I tried the laundry gloop but couldn't be bothered with the faff so I went back to washing powder because it gets the clothes clean.

I do like stardrops and its a good all round cleaner and its great if you ever run out of washing up liquid.

rosieben

clutterydrawer wrote: »

I have not heard of using vinegar as fabric conditioner - could anyone tell me more? ie how much and what type of vinegar....thanks

There are a couple of threads here and here with more information

Jet

I hated my slow cooker. Everything came out runny and overdone.

I like using vinegar but sometimes revert to fab conditioner for a change. I like stardrops although wouldn't rave about it as some people seem to. Love microfibre cloths. Haven't bought a yogurt maker or a bread maker - don't eat enough of either to warrant it.

bizzylizzy

I tried using a spoonful of bio washing powder in the DW - it seemed to work at first but then everything started to come out with a white film on it :eek::eek:
so I am back to the cheapest DW tablets. I do use white vinegar as a rinse aid though, and for cleaning DW and WM.
Still happily using a stardrop/vinegar/water mix for cleaning, and vinegar/water for window cleaning with newspaper to dry it off.
Zoflora for disinfecting toilets, bins etc.

But I detest lentils! :eek::eek:

Lily-Lu

I use Stardrops, but not as a regular cleaner. The one thing I use it for and have found it really good, is the grease and dirt that builds up on top of the kitchen cupboards. I pour a small amount on 'neat', then use a regular dish cloth (wet) to wipe it all around. The grease/dirt just lifts away with very little effort. Then a bit of a rinse and it's done.....Usually I cover the tops of the cupboards with newspaper, or any left over wall paper, which keeps the cupboards clean, but if I don't have any to hand then....

I only really use shop bought cleaners like Flash and bleach in the bathroom. Like others have said, I like it to have a nice clean smell when I've cleaned it.
Most other things, windows, dusting (very occasionally:o), kitchen floor, carpets etc I'm a big steam cleaner fan, as I like the fact that I'm just using water to clean with....And although it's costing me in electric to heat the steam cleaner, it's nothing compared to what I'd spend on surface cleaners and polishes. A bottle of Flash can last about 6 months in this house....Bleach is more of an extravegance, and lasts 2-3 months:rotfl:

I do have a slow cooker, but since changing to a smaller freezer (which means I don't have much room for batch cooking now) it's rarely used. Stews are just made in a pan on the hob....Any left over, gets made in to a pie for the following day - which is something my late mum often did

thriftlady_2

bizzylizzy wrote: »

But I detest lentils! :eek::eek:

I love them but I don't use them to add to mince to make it stretch further, I like my bolognese to be all meat. What I do do with lentils (usually the darker ones) is make 'less meat' meals with them. For example lentils and sausages or bacon. Last night I roasted 3 duck legs and used the meat to make a salad with puy lentils, vinaigrette, peas and chives. We ate it with potatoes cooked in the fat from the duck legs. A green salad finished off the meal which was devoured by all 3 kids plus husband.

mrs_tooti-frooti

I read with glee the other day about using only half the amount of detergent when washing, using soap flakes for hard water, and watering down washing up liquid and shampoo without anyone in the household realising.

Wow, I thought, this is gonna be great.

I thought I wouldn't push it and in a ltr bottle of washing up liquid put about an eighth of water to a three quarter full bottle. Looked fine to me, seemed ok when I used it, no worries.

First words out of his mouth on Friday morning 'have you watered down that washing up liquid??!!!'

Come on then, how do you all get away with it??

Answers on a postcard please

LondonDreamer

My DH is exactly the same, I gave up trying to water things down after a couple of failed attempts. Instead, I trained him to use half the amount that he thought he should for everything and only add more if absolutely necessary. Even though it ends up with the same result, that seemed easier for him to get along with.