A Simpler Life 2018

jamanda

Hi
Just de-lurking (again) to say that I've accidentally found that cream cleaners clean brass and copper. It is much quicker and cleaner than Brasso type things. I just give them a scrub with it and dry thoroughly.


You don't get the same glitter as with a metal cleaner, but good enough is good enough for me at the moment.


J

skint_chick

Bluegreen you shouldn't worry so much about what the other parents think - we didn't go abroad until I was in secondary school, all our holidays were self catering chalets in Norfolk or Devon and we went to free places like museums, art galleries, forest walks etc - lots of museums and galleries do free art/learning workshops for small children. I think it's important these days to encourage children to be outside and explore nature as much as possible, as they seem to end up spending a lot of time with technology inside (just like us adults lol).

I have lung problems so stopped using spray cleaners and now use bicarb and vinegar for pretty much everything, although star drops is a great cheap multipurpose cleaner too.

This week I'm focusing on using up everything in the freezer as we're getting a kitchen extension so will be living on salad, slow cooker meals and ready to go food for the next few weeks. It's been great for decluttering the kitchen and thinking about what I really need and how I eat too many convenience foods instead of making things from scratch.

GreyQueen

ploppy57 wrote: »

On the subject of cream cleaners. After reading everybody's comments I thought I would try some as got a stain on work surface that I can't remove. So I nipped out and bought some savers range from Morrison's...only 30p! I can see why its cheap though, ....incredibly runny and didn't get the stain out anyway.
What are the best ones anybody uses? Not sure what the stain is. Its a yellowy colour. Could be tumeric or stain from squash or ....not sure really.

I've been using tosspots basics cream cleanser but am using it from the several year old stash under my sink (I only use 2-3 bottles a year).Dunno if the current iteration of the product is as good, but it certainly used to be fine and not runny at all.

Have used Sains basics c.c. at Mum's and it seems fine. So not going to pay for J/C if's advertising budget.

Brambleberry

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I have been wondering that - as I bought a bit of "conventional" cream cleaner recently in case my green cream cleaner wasnt strong enough. Then I spotted the word "microcrystals" on it and thought "That's a new one on me". Followed by thinking that surely it's exactly what they say it is - ie weeny crystal stones. On the other hand wondering if they're lying and they actually really mean "plastic microbeads". I'm not sure whether they're telling the truth (in which case - it's okay) or trying to "pull wool over eyes" - ie in saying it's "crystals" but really its "plastics". Does anyone know which it is?

Oh golly I love chemical questions too much...just trying to be helpful and keep things clear and simple and save others time and faff worrying... here's the link to the data sheet https://www.cleaningsupplies4u.com/blog/cif-cream-with-microparticles-coshh-safety-data-sheet-msds3830/

I can't see any plastic in there, the only polymer refers to a surfactant, not a microbead polymer, so I would reasonably assume that the microcrystals are finer particles of the same type as used in other cream cleaners. Looking at the data sheet, probably just sodium carbonate.

Hope this is helpful

System

Another one who has had to stop using spray cleaners. Ive been a bit wheezy after using them in my bathroom for a few months but recently I had a pain in my chest as well after using a commercial spray.

Cream cleaners, I love them but dislike the white residue they leave behind when dry.

maryb

Oh thank you Brambleberry for that. The Rose Waite one is a bit runny so the brand leader might be better. Next time I won't worry (provided it's on offer). It's just seeing that label and thinking perhaps not... I do wonder if they will quietly drop that but of labelling

CurlyTop

ploppy57 wrote: »

On the subject of cream cleaners. After reading everybody's comments I thought I would try some as got a stain on work surface that I can't remove. So I nipped out and bought some savers range from Morrison's...only 30p! I can see why its cheap though, ....incredibly runny and didn't get the stain out anyway.
What are the best ones anybody uses? Not sure what the stain is. Its a yellowy colour. Could be tumeric or stain from squash or ....not sure really.

I used to use jif I think it was, back in the 80s when I lived at home. When I moved out I stopped using it but 2 yes ago had a stain I couldn't remove and a colleague recommended Bar Keepers Friend - love it. Gentle, non scratching and good consistency. I get it from tkmaxx, John lewis or lakeland. It's 2.49 per bottle but lasts me ages. Cleans tiles and silver bin very well even tho the bin is years old.

dolly84

IrisViolet - I try to support local independent shops where possible. I haven't bought from Amazon for nearly 3 years now, the whole ethos of the company trying to dominate every market and the tax thing did it plus the obscene amounts of packaging.

MTSTM - your 'friend' doesn't sound that nice to me, using a phone on the road is totally unacceptable.

It is lashing down with rain here at the moment so I am going to carry on my decluttering, I think I will tackle my clothes today - some of them anyway. I can see some improvement now, the cupboards downstairs are much tidier, I don't have things hanging about in rooms but all the cupboards and drawers were filled to bursting.

Ginmonster

Bluegreen - another one delurking here to say don't worry about the parenting stuff. I too am a bit of an outlier among the mums i know as I get plenty of my 5 year old's clothes, books and toys from chazzers, he doesn't go to any clubs or classes (other than breakfast and after-school childcare for 4 days so I can work) and at weekends and school holidays we don't plan too much. The boy's at school 5 days a week and needs some time to play with his toys! We make popcorn and have family film afternoons on rainy days, make stuff out of toilet rolls, paint and sellotape (messy and not artistic - I am not a naturally crafty person- but his imagination makes beautiful things out of junk), go to the park, get the bus or tram to a museum, go to the library etc. We too holiday in this country in self-catering cottages in the countryside and go on walks to find sticks and maybe gruffalos hiding in the woods, or to not-so-sunny beaches to find shells and dig sandcastles. He loves all of it.

Just to be clear, like every other child in the world he's a little toerag some days and like any other parent in the world I'm a grumpy old so-and-so and there are plenty of days when it's hard work but I don't think that doing more stuff would make any difference to that. In fact, it would definitely make me grumpier!

juliettet

A good shake of the bottle mixes it up better, as cream cleaner and BKF both separate in my experience.