A Simpler Life 2018

I'm probably going to do my washing differently after reading what you guys were saying!

I've never had thrush, though, even though I wash stuff on low temps. I assumed I've never had thrush as I drink a lot of water each day.

jackyann wrote: »

Hi Wednesday. You might like to look at some of the aromatherapy wholesale sites. They often do decent basic moisturisers, lotions, shampoo etc. in largish tubs. I decant into smaller tubs or bottles and don't add the oils. I have paid postage for a 'sample' to see if it suits me. I'm not actively recommending one as my previous favourite has gone a bit weird, and I'm just trying another!

Oh, okay, thanks, I will check it out.

Great skin and hair moisturiser: organic coconut oil. Buy very cheap in @ldi.

Whites gone yellow: soak overnight in a bowl with a splash of washing up liquid and spirit vinegar (if you add some bicarb and make it fizz it seems to help too). Then wash at high temp next day with a bit of natural non bio detergent. I use Method or Faith in Nature. Once a year treatment for my bedding, keeps it brilliant white.

Capsule wardrobe: check Project 333 https://bemorewithless.com/project-333/

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Re stains coming out of clothes etc. I did try a hint I read somewhere on MSE the other day about getting a bit of blood out of material. It went "spit on it/rub it in hard/then follow up with a rub from bar of soap before washing".

I didnt think it would work - but duly spat and rubbed and didnt even have to get as far as rubbing it with a bar of soap. The blood had come out after just spitting and rubbing hard. That surprised me - but have remembered it in case of future need.

I've never heard of that either but duly noted because it makes sense. When I was in the dry cleaning industry very early 2000's we used to use chemical enzymes to break down stains and then rub like billiow with a hard brush. I can imagine the enzymes in the sputum would do the the same job in creating a biochemical reaction. Working out how to get rid of stains is about working out whether the stain is alkaline or acid then finding the correct antidote to the PH level... and then what the fabric is, how long it's been there, has it been rubbed in to the fibres or no. Never dab up a stain. You won't be dabbing it up, you'll dabbing it in and if you use water you'll seal in in the fibres too.

A word from an old dry cleaner... man made fibres are actually very, very difficult to change colour let alone absorb other weakened colour. They need very high temperatures to get the dye to take. In my experience, and a bit of knowledge, greying bras occur because of the chemical reaction between sweat/deoderant/perfumes/body lotions and the laundry detergent. Laundry detergent generally has blue tones in it as whitener. They're blue in tone because natural fibres naturally want to yellow over time. Detergent manufacturers add the blue tones to combat the yellow, like we use blue shampoo on yellowing blonde hair. They brighten by neutralising the colour but only in natural fibres. Your grey bra is down to chemical reactions if it contains man made fibres.

Just been simplifying DS’s (already quite decluttered) room. Packed away any toys he’s turned too old for and all his bibs etc as don’t use them any more. I do love a nice decluttered room

Looking for a bed for him on Gumtree (as he’s currently in a cot). A lot are just as expensive as getting a new one! My husband wants to get him a toddler sized bed but I want to go straight into a single and save buying another bed in a year or two. We’ll see who wins that one!

I finally turned my compost the other day after neglecting it all year (I’d had to stop composting for a few weeks as it was totally full). Ended up with a massive wheelbarrowful which I’ve spread on the dormant veg patch and the compost bin is only half full now so I can compost again

Gardening tips would be most appreciated, what should I be doing this month?