I make my own washing liquid for the laundry which has saved our family of seven a fortune over the years. Use 1 cup Lux Soap Flakes (you can grate a bar of soap but I like the flakes) 1/2 cup washing soda (do not confuse with baking soda!). Bring 2 litres of water to […]
RJ from Auckland asks, “Can anybody help me clean the underside of my iron? It has black sticky residue on it which stains any clothes I might want to iron. I have tried baking soda, and ceramic cleaner (the iron is ceramic after all) but nothing will get it off as yet.” My mother would […]
Grease stain remover. Try making a paste of baking soda and a few drops of water. Work the paste into the grease stain and rinse with warm water. Repeat a couple of times if needed. The baking soda will help remove the grease while also removing any smell.
I have found that Sugar Soap can be great for getting oily stains out of clothes. It might be an idea to test it on an area that isn’t visible in case the dye bleeds but I have found it to be quite successful.
You don’t have to look specifically for products labelled “distilled vinegar” (distilled vinegar is a clear vinegar, too strong and bitter for cooking but excellent for cleaning glass and as a disinfectant). As a substitute, you can use white vinegar instead – it will do the same job. White vinegar, is readily available at most […]
I use a tablespoon of soda with the detergent, which decreases the grease, and the detergent goes further. I also use soda to soak my tooth bushes and combs, which gives them another lease of life! Or in the bath as bath salts. I only use a fraction of toothpaste of what they advertise; I […]
Have a “bought-by” date. This is the opposite to a used by date. When you buy cleaning liquid, such as dish washing liquid, write the purchase date on the bottle. Challenge yourself to see how long the bottle lasts.
Buy the cheapest two-litre container of dish washing liquid. Tip half into a one-litre container. Top up the now half full container with water. Use the full strength solution for big washes and greasy dishes. Use the diluted mix for light everyday washes and small amounts of dishes.
Through six children I cleaned many sweat-tops and most clothing of oil, food or grease stains by hand-washing (scrubbing the old fashioned way before there were washing machines) with a cake of sunlight soap and moderately hot water before putting them through a normal wash. Alternatively you can just soak them in a bucket of […]
For those with fireplaces/woodburners who do not know what to do with their ash: Ash can be dumped in the garden to add alkalinity. I use it to absorb oil from pots and pans and then wash, also on stovetops to absorb splatters, then just wipe clean. I got this tip from an Indian lady […]