What OS tip didn't work for you?

Curv

Sorry, but soapnuts just didn't cut it for me, although I AM a bit of a laundry freak. And I won't be switching to 30 degrees until my babies are old enough not to puke, poo, pee and parp on every bit of clothing they (and I) own...

On the positive side, I am absolutely loving:

• menu planning
• fixed lists
• the Grocery Challenge*
• white vinegar
• slow cooking
• baking my own bread
• home made hob nobs and
• everyone on the OS board :happyhear

*(even though I fell off the wagon this month )

lightisfading

Vinegar never worked for me for anything. Though thats probably because I didn't *try* anything cus just the smell makes me want to vomit

As for washing I use an eco wash ball (cheap version £8 for 2 from ebay) for lightly soiled washes and one washing tab instead of two for whites etc. So I'm halfway there?

Sorta half OS and half green - reusable 'womens products'. Tried the mooncup and never looked back

Gforce_2

Try as I might I just don't like the feel of clothes that have been washed with vinegar instead of conditioner

luxor4t

Thanks for the slow cooker comments, I have decided not to buy one!
I was tempted... but as OM pointed out (after reading over my shoulder) we have a 'slow' setting on the oven, so could cook casseroles etc over night.

What has really worked for me is going back to writing everything down: I have 2 folders called 'Making money' and 'Spending less', which are slowly growing into my financial tracking system. 'Making Money' is a record of savings, E-bay, Greenmetropolis etc and 'Spending Less' is the grocery challenge, gas/ electric monitoring, Christmas etc plus my spending diary. It is growing slowly because I want it to work!

moanymoany

Breadmaker didn't work for me. I bought a Kenwood Chef (2nd hand!) and I use that to make brill bread.

I've never bothered with stardrops, vinegar in the wash, wash balls or soap nuts (whatever they are?), use a combination of value and own brand products

I use half and half white vinegar and water as a kitchen cleaner. It works very well.

I soak kitchen cloths in a mild bleach solution (a la Aggie and Kim) overnight to keep them germ free.

Cheap microfibre cloths feel weird when dry. I use them as normal cloths EXCEPT the special glass microfibre cloth which shines up windows and mirrors like magic after I have washed them with water + drop of wash up liquid. No streaks.

scubaleopard

Money saving-- addicted to this forum cant have helped the electricity bill !!!

Icemaiden

Washing at low temps doesn't do it for me either, 60 degrees or more for my mucky lot:rolleyes:

I have been quite selective when trying out new things so can't comment on alot of the items used like vinegar, MF cloths, yogurt maker but looove the SC, use it all year round but not for whole chickens or big joints of meats as abit slimey for me BM is used everyday, I love the smell. Also stardrops gets use for everything, bleach is the only other cleaner I buy.

Elliesmum

Looks like we all have similar experiences :rotfl:

I only use my BM for pizza dough - which hm is far nicer than thing we buy in the shops, which is great as my DD is quite fussy.

SC is very useful for me in the winter as we do like casseroles but I know what folks mean when they say it tastes overcooked.

I've never used vinegar in my washer just do not like the idea.

Menu planning is going out of the window at the moment cos I'm pregnant so I have to eat what I fancy :rolleyes:

Stardrops are ok but again I agree with others that it doesn't seem to deep clean - I've had to get some oxy gel for my bathroom as the tiles were going orange :eek:

One of the best tips I have followed was using half a dishwasher tablet - to me this was a brilliant idea and we have saved loads since starting to do this.

EM xx

Bambywamby

Not impressed with - bread maker (prefer to make own loaves by hand) and yoghurt maker (stringy gloop maker...machine quickly got freecycled.

Loving - Vinegar & bicarb for cleaning with a bit of elbow grease thrown in.
Stardrops for floors, shiny kitchen and laminate floors
30 degree washes with watered down Bold liquid
Slow cooker (use it twic a week and saves me soooo much time)
Airers and washing lines rather than tumble dryers.
My own fair hands and a nano drop of Fairy washing up liquid for
pot washing.
Shopping using a list/menu planning/recycling/Freecycling/Ebaying.
Reading by candle light on an evening rather than TV/PC.
Growing own herbs.
Loving O/S in general.

aurorahelios

My only total failure has been the store cupboard challenge. I have now been attempting to empty my cupboards and freezer for about two years and yet they remain resolutely full.

My cupboards are stacked high and I'm still treating my freezer like I believe it is the tardis, as yet again I'm trying to do the impossible of fitting in yet more of those lovely batch cooked meals made from my latest bargain and padding out ingredients.

The problem is despite making more of what I have, I just can't seem to get into the mindset of buying less.