The Nice People Thread, No.16: A Universe of Niceness.

PasturesNew

vivatifosi wrote: »

Pastures, re descaling the kettle... get some white vinegar, fill the kettle to above the element, leave for an hour (or longer if needed). Then add equal measure of water. Boil kettle, then empty. Boil a couple more times to make sure any vinegar residue has gone. No scrubbing needed, jobs a good un.

Vinegar is very safe to use, much better for the environment, and best of all, no prodding required.

It also works as a descaler in the coffee machines with the little tubes, though may need running through a few times. Much cheaper than the special stuff they sell you too.

A 50/50 mix of white vinegar and strong washing up liquid (I use lemon scented) is good for cleaning soap suck in the bath too.

While it's hard water here - there's a big build up of sand.

The elements look like sand as there's more sand in there than hard white stuff.

I reach down and poke off the hard sandy bits on the element.

I know the white vinegar thing works.... I just never get round to it.

When I was growing up we always had one of those "bullets of rolled up steel wool" in the kettle ... everybody had those. Just a roll of metal stuff the size of a cotton reel inner.

Pyxis

I use an ecover descaler, but I might try the vinegar method, as I have a fair bit of vinegar left over from my pre-fennel attempts at deterring cats.




On another thread, we were discussing the new idea of throwing scent beads into your washing machine to make the clothes smell nice for longer.
Horrific idea for me, as I gave up using even washing powder a few years ago, due to not liking the perfumes at all, and wanting to be a bit more environmental-conscious.
Then, looking at the product details, the first thing it says is harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects. :eek:
Then you get all the warnings about getting it in your eyes etc., not to breathe it in (a bit difficult if it is a nice scent!), and also says if swallowed see a poisons expert, or words to that effect, and to keep the list of ingredients to show them. And when disposing of it, do so in the toxic waste section of your local tip!

I'd rather not coat my clothes with this stuff!
I don't even like using aerosols for anything, as I try to reduce what I breathe in, due to be asthmatic.

Quite apart from the fact that I thought we were supposed to be reducing our toxic input into the oceans/watercourses etc., so why bring out a new product that no-one actually needs that is that harmful?

No wonder we're all getting allergic to stuff.

Someone said that some people are putting these beads in oil burners to scent their houses.
And breathing in lots of lovely toxic chemicals.

Words fail me.

PasturesNew

Pyxis wrote: »

Someone said that some people are putting these beads in oil burners to scent their houses.
And breathing in lots of lovely toxic chemicals.

Words fail me.

Darwin will be on overtime making those Awards!!

What strikes me about your description of this product is .... many parents are super slack about anything to do with looking after kids... and these will be available at floor level for kids to snack on.

Jazee

Another one here who avoids chemical smelly things. I want to be able to breathe and not use an inhaler.

Years ago when first married, we had a two ring with oven/grill underneath. I managed to cook a roast dinner for four on that.

I've just bought myself a student cookbook as I'm pressed for time these days and the one I've got has normal meals but with less ingredients, and shortcuts.

zagubov

Jazee wrote: »

I've just bought myself a student cookbook as I'm pressed for time these days and the one I've got has normal meals but with less ingredients, and shortcuts.

There used to be a series on telly late at night many years ago which was quick cheap recipes for meals, aimed at students. Had a snappy title like Grub's Up or something. Wonder if that's available any more?

Pyxis

zagubov wrote: »

There used to be a series on telly late at night many years ago which was quick cheap recipes for meals, aimed at students. Had a snappy title like Grub's Up or something. Wonder if that's available any more?

If it is, it's probably online rather than on TV.

Do students still have TVs any more?

silvercar

Do students still have TVs any more?

No, they watch everything on their laptops, making sure that when watching live TV they don't have their laptop plugged in, to legally avoid needing a TV licence.

Pyxis

silvercar wrote: »

No, they watch everything on their laptops, making sure that when watching live TV they don't have their laptop plugged in, to legally avoid needing a TV licence.

I thought it didn't matter what you watched it on, you still need a licence


However, if they are in Hall, I think there might be a blanket licence for the Hall to cover students' TVs?

Something like that anyway. Unless they changed the rules.


.

chris_m

Pyxis wrote: »

I thought it didn't matter what you watched it on, you still need a licence.

Well, you don't need one for a portable TV powered only by its internal battery - I guess they are interpreting that as also applying to a laptop computer.

Pyxis

Well, I had a little look, and I was wrong about the communal hall licence. Re. the not plugged in thing, you're partly right..........


QUOTE
A halls communal licence won’t cover your room. But you may be covered by your parents’ licence. If you think you are, please check that all of the following are true before telling us you don’t need one:

# Your out-of-term address (parents’ address) is covered by a TV Licence
# AND you only use TV receiving equipment that is powered solely by its own internal batteries
# AND you have not connected it to an aerial or plugged it into the mains.
UNQUOTE

So if your home address has a licence you're ok if you don't plug in the device.