Radical laundry reduction

anguk

ceridwen wrote: »

Right now - I am thinking it would be ideal if I could use no more than 3 things for cleaning house purposes and ditto no more than 3 things for moisturising myself purposes (have got as far with that as thinking maybe olive oil and vaseline between that would do for everything - perhaps the oil for body lotion and hair conditioner and Vaseline for everything else?).

What about pure coconut oil? It's the only moisturiser I use for body, hands & face, you can also use it as a hair conditioner. It's wonderful stuff, really moisturising and soaks in quickly and it smells alot nicer than vaseline & olive oil!

I use Akamuti's virgin organic coconut oil, £3.95 for a pot and it lasts ages.
http://www.akamuti.co.uk/products/new/organic-virgin-coconut-oil-fairly-traded-120ml/

And if you want to simplify things further get some African Black Soap, you can use it as a face/body wash and as shampoo!
http://www.akamuti.co.uk/category/african-black-soap/

purpleivy

My parents and MIL have just been in Tobago. APparently coconut oil is quite satisfactory for frying!

Vaseline isn't really a moisturiser as it is mineral based rather than vegetable based, the same for baby oil. I was taught that it's better to use vegetable based products that are absorbed by the skin, rather than mineral oils, which just sit on the surface of the skin and form a barrier. I trained in massage.

angchris

angchris wrote: »

now theres a thought! i wonder if it will do as washing up liquid hmmm :think: never thought to use it like that dohhh that would save me another couple of quid a month as ds squirts wul for england :mad:
i tell you what...i have a pile of tea dishes languishing in my sink, i will go and conduct my very own experiment and report back later

ok experiment complete i had a whole days washing up in the sink...brekfast dishes, hm pizza for lunch and sweetcorn n tuna in mayo in a jacket spud for tea (don`t nag at me flyladies )
i used 1 tablespoon of my "recipe" mix in the sink and i must say it did look very odd as im used to bubbles for the last 20 years, it was a milky colour.
it did the job wonderfully, even the greasy measuring jug i used to mix the sweetcorn/mayo in came up lovely, im now sat here with a cuppa and can taste no residue etc on the mug (i didnt rinse) even my hands feel lovely and soft and my diamond in my engagement ring is sparkling :j i then tipped the washing up water into my bucket and mopped the floor, jobs a good un...no more wul for me, thanks for the idea :T :T

ceridwen

ta very much for that.

Reminded me that I have a jar of coconut oil languishing in my cupboard - just got it out to try as body lotion after my shower. Thanks for link as well - where I live the shops charge literally at least 250% of the "real" price for coconut oil - but I do visit a town nearby occasionally and can get it there for the "real" price:D (along with a lot of other things too - :mad: my area is SO expensive to live in) - so that internet link will help me out.

African Black Soap - never heard of that one - but might give it a go. (Assume it is actually a type of soap - that being the case - would I need to use a vinegar rinse for my hair after shampooing?)

Thanks again.

(hmmmm.....never thought of it like that....but the Internet isnt just a boon for shopping to those in isolated areas. It also helps those of us who aint isolated by any means - but just live in a dear area.)

anguk

ceridwen wrote: »

African Black Soap - never heard of that one - but might give it a go. (Assume it is actually a type of soap - that being the case - would I need to use a vinegar rinse for my hair after shampooing?)

You could use a vinegar rinse if you wanted but you don't have to, it rinses out really easily, easier than shampoo. Unfortunately I found it didn't suit my hair type but I have really difficult hair :rolleyes: but loads of people rave about it, especially those with flyaway or afro hair. The first time I bought it I got the bar but now I buy the liquid form, it's just the black soap mixed with rosewater. I have the big bottle in the bathroom for bathing & face washing and decant some into a little bottle for handwashing in the kitchen, a little goes a long way. I haven't bought normal soap or showergel for ages, I find they irritate my skin whereas African Black soap is really gentle & suitable for sensitive skin, it also makes your skin nice & soft. When my little grand-neice came to stay I used the liquid soap to wash her top to toe and it was so easy, as it rinses out so quickly there were no tears when hairwashing.

CravingSaving

ceridwen wrote: »

Hi angchris

Know about this one - but havent tried it yet. Currently having a go at soapnuts - which seem to be working fine (and lovely soft sheets).

Cant use soapnuts for handwashing clothes though. As I handwash all clothes except my socks/knickers - then would your "detergent" work for that?

Hello.. just thought I would add that you CAN use soapnuts for handwashing... I have made an all purpose cleaner with them by boiling about 8-10 halves in a litre of water for about 10 minutes, then leave to cool and decant into whatever you have to hand. I have used this to do handwashing of my smalls (works a treat), washed my hair (again, lovely and soft - used instead of shampoo), and put in squirty thing to wash down kitchen tops, oven, floor ......... the list goes on.... You can add a drop of tea tree oil or lavender once cooled if you want it nice n smelly.

Soapnut shells are my new addiction!:D

ceridwen

Thanks for that.

I feel a lot of experimenting coming on. Soapnuts, the borax mix and Black African Soap coming up.

Think I'll just start my own chemists here chez ceridwen:D

All further ideas welcome.

monsieur_epargnant

I've just had a quick look on this thread and there's some great ideas. Thanks for the washing liquid recipe pigpen. I did this for a while when I was younger and I'll have to try it again.

Have any of you considered using face cloths instead of towels?Does the job. Still only takes seconds to dry yourself but dries quicker on the radiators and will reduce your washloads A LOT!

Austin_Allegro

morg_monster wrote: »

my god i feel quite minging now! live in a 1bed flat with OH and we probably only do 2 or 3 loads a week... bedlinen in an ideal world would be washed every fortnight but in reality its usually longer... towels for a week then they sit in a pile on the floor til they're all used and fill up the machine. OH wears that day's undies in bed and I wear a nightie which gets worn for a week. OH has a clean work shirt every morning but I think doesn't get his suits drycleaned nearly enough (only before weddings or funerals!!)... I wear jeans etc at work but they don't get washed very often, and I often wear tops for a couple of (non-consecutive) days before washing - I hang them up to air and if they don't smell they get worn again. Tea towels - oh my, well maybe 2 a week and they again pile up for a while before being washed! But then we don't need them much cos we only do the washing up twice a week too usually!!! ooh aren't we terrible.

Oh well while its just the two of us (and in a rental flat) I don't think it matters ... as long as we do a big tidy when the parents come over!... I think when we have our own place, with a washing line and more room to dry clothes, we'll be much more clean and houseproud!

LOL Don't worry, I must be a minger too!

One thing that's surprised me is how often people wash trousers and jumpers - some people after every wear. I really don't see the point of this (unless you like to 'go commando'). My work suits get dry cleaned twice a year (dry cleaning isn't very good for some clothes), and the rest of the time I brush and steam clean them myself.

I suppose it's mainly because I only have a mini washing machine and a seperate spin dryer, which takes a certain amount of effort to use, I so don't have the luxury of just washing things whenever I feel like it.

kal25

ceridwen wrote: »

...and of course - dont wear anything to bed. Every little bit helps (of saved washing that is).

I wonder if my younger son has been reading this. He is only 5 but insists on going to bed in just a pair of pants..if I am lucky:rotfl: . Perhaps he thinks this is his way of helping me. However, doesn't discourage him from asking for dr who pj's., He had 4 pairs for xmas and if he has worn each pair twice I am lucky:rotfl: .