Astounding cleaning products

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I stopped using bath/shower mats years ago, when a retired nurse told me about using a tea-cloth or similar piece of fabric. It's definitely non-slip and easy to wash and dry; no more mouldy plastic to clean, they just go in the washing machine.

That sounds so sensible shodatin. I'll deffo give it a go.

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My place is a real mess. Where do I start? What do other people start with ?

I start with a mug of tea , then make a list then - - - -

---- then I go on GN for a bit

I have such plans when I wake up
Then I get out of bed .....

I saw on the 'gadget' page an egg pricker to stop eggs from cracking when boiling. Putting a live matchstick in the pan works 'eggsactly' (sorry, couldn't resist that!) the same. No more cracked eggs.

I tried using an egg pricker but on several occasions managed to break the egg in the process - probably my inadequacy rather than the gadget's.

Not seen any mention of my favourite one!
I buy cheap own brand white vinegar 49p or so . . . then I put it [undiluted] into a good quality spray bottle and add 20 drops of peppermint essential oil. I have tried other scents but the peppermint leaves a room smelling fresh and clean.
I use this for everything mostly - and it brings up stainless steel/chrome/glass very well. I read that is the stuff [without the oils] that chefs use to clean their counters that does not interact with food and is anti fungal, etc etc.
In fact it is the only thing I use now except for a bottle of thick bleach for the stubborn things which I very rarely use. This gets ALL my cleaning including the loos. Give it a try as I do think cleaning stuff prices are crazy high now.
Bicarb for the burnt saucepans though is a given!

I love white vinegar use it all the time. My son used a fork to fluff up my parents carpet when we moved the furniture for them. I was surprised but it worked. Two weeks later when I visited you could see the marks at all.

Couldn't se the marks

If you move furniture, put ice cubes into the indentations. When they melt and dry the carpet springs back, and you can't tell where the sofa stood.

Wouldn't be without a few bottles of white vinegar, it's a very useful cleaner.

I have some old style kitchen scales with brass weights. I clean the weights (very fiddly things) by soaking them in a bowl of cola (any brand!).

Cola is really good for cleaning fiddly brass items by soaking, just a quick buff up after.

I'm pretty sure my mother used brown sauce to clean brass sometimes when the Brasso had run out.

From this thread sounds as if Cola, white vinegar, soda crystals and bicarb are all we need

Any tips for making a stainless steel sink shiny in a hard water area?

Forgive my total ignorance about using white vinegar for multi cleaning jobs, but is that ordinary white malt vinegar or something else?

I have a 150 year old household management book which I treasure . Some of the `tips` are hilarious though .....
A spoonful of gunpowder on a good thick fig ( a cure for constipation)
Rub your head with paraffin every night for a week but avoid a naked flame ( male baldness)
A spoonful of brandy in babies bottle before bed ( sleepless nights in infants)

I have another called The Home Surgeon ! If the illness doesn`t kill you the `cure` certainly will !

I've just bought a marble-topped coffee table from a furniture shop clearance sale. It doesn't have any care instructions and the shop couldn't help either. I tried some of the marble polish I use on my fireplace but it made the stone (on the edge of the table where it shouldn't show) look darker. Any suggestion how to look after marble, please?

Oldgoat , I have just googled cleaning marble and it says use very diluted washing up liquid and warm water then wipe with plain water and dry . It also says anything acid like lemon will damage the marble . Hope this helps .

I have read that tomato ketchup removes the smell of fox poo from a dog who has rolled in it. Leave on for 10 minutes then use a mild shampoo.

Thanks for the tip on cleaning marble f77ms.I'll give it a try where it won't show, just in case. Obviously not a job for white vinegar though!

Has anyone mentioned windows yet?
No chance of a window cleaner here, so it's left to me, and I do like to be able to look out to the view.
I have steps, and use kitchen roll with special window cleaning spray, but would appreciate ideas for an easier method.

Oldgoat - I have a marbletopped coffee table, a gift from a friend who was moving away. I just wipe it down with warm water. It doesn't need any special treatment.
The only risk - don't drop anything heavy on it - ours has a little chip off one side.

For windows we just use washing up liquid in water and then a squeegee. I have heard of people using newspaper but I haven't tried it.

For mould in bathrooms, along the sealant and in the shower, I have found Astonish which comes in a big spray bottle for £1 on the market. I was a bit scepticall but the assistant swore it worked. Just spray and walk away she said, so I did, and it worked a treat. Just leave it on overnight, fantastic!

TriciaF I have small paned windows and use a nonscratch scourer dipped in a bowl of warm water with a few drops of washing up liquid. Then a squeegee, but I think it has to be a good squeegee.
I did try the newspaper instead of the squeegee for a while and that works too, but the squeegee is quicker I find. Then a quick 'go over' with kitchen towel to polish.

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