Cleaning - sometimes the old fashioned methods are the best.

I was told by a French lady that white vinegar and a splash of washing up liquid in a spray bottle provides a powerful weed killer and saves using dangerous chemicals. Better for the environment. Not tried it yet, but am going to as soon as all this rain stops!

Same here- have used the same refillable spray for years.

I use one fifth white vinegar to water in a spray bottle to clean my shower cubicle,window's and mirrors.

Can some kind person tell us the amount of Soda crystals we need fir washing machine and the proportion of white vinegar you use for other stuff you are cleaning. I am definitely going to take your advice. I will clean the washing machine and then put towels in and wash them but how much soda do I use. Currently I live in a country with soft water. Thank you all. I love Gransnet!

Star drops do a white vinegar spray, I got mine from aldi

My favourite product is 'Fuller's Earth' - 100% natural and does a brilliant job. For any fat stains on sweatshirts, t-shirts, furniture and more. Sprinkle a thing layer on stain, leave overnight, then shake off and brush off gently before washing. Fat stain, absorbed and gone. Brilliant.

Definitely soda crystals and white vinegar to unblock a sink.

Having read about the use of vinegar rather than fabric softener I would love to know how much people here use?

Llamedos13

Are soda crystals the same as baking soda?also as someone else asked,how much vinegar and crystals do you mix together?

No. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate and washing soda is sodium carbonate.

I get my white vinegar in 5 litre containers from Amazon.

Are soda crystals the same as baking soda?also as someone else asked,how much vinegar and crystals do you mix together?

Or not.
#lazygran
??

I am so happy I started this thread now. Brilliant that many of us use products that cost little, do the job and do not add to pollution.
So come on - let's convert everyone. Give us your tips !

I buy 5 litre container of white vinegar with lemon. £8.29 Amazon prime so free next day delivery

Alexa

The Tesco white vinegar is in bottles with tiny wee holes on top vinegar comes out of so you have to keep squeezing to get anything out. Is there a way to buy white vinegar in ordinary bottles that can pour properly?

I think mine is from Sainsburys.

Daisend1

Nothing beats getting down on my knees to clean my tiled kitchen floor. .Sadly now out of the question as doubt whether I coud get up again so its 'Magic Mop 'Have to admit it does 'a grand job'.

I've always done the same but this week had to admit the knees are done so I bought my JML mop. Might be similar to magic mop, I'll have to look it up.

On the otherhand I've just used my new JML mop which was great and then removed the business end and threw it in the washing machine on a 15 minute wash and it is sparkling clean again. Love it.

I do use bicarb and vinegar alot so like to use the best of both.

I'm a total advocate for things like white vinegar, lemons, soda crystals and borax.

Also, Essential oils are great too, things like lavender, tea tree, and eucalyptus all have great uses around the house and smell great too.

A few drops of neat tea tree oil on my dog's leather collar helps keep any fleas and ticks away.

The Tesco white vinegar is in bottles with tiny wee holes on top vinegar comes out of so you have to keep squeezing to get anything out. Is there a way to buy white vinegar in ordinary bottles that can pour properly?

Nothing beats getting down on my knees to clean my tiled kitchen floor. .Sadly now out of the question as doubt whether I coud get up again so its 'Magic Mop 'Have to admit it does 'a grand job'.

Due to allergies I gave up on most modern cleaning agents years ago.

I do still buy a well known make of toilet cleaner, but otherwise use soap for washing floors, vinegar or citric acid for removing limescale, and vinegar in hot water for cleaning windows.

Laundry soap of the unperfumed allergy tested type.

I love all the old fashioned ways and soda crystals are brilliant, lemon in fridge and steamed in microwave. Always have white vinegar in my cupboard too.

hazel93

Or, would you disagree ?
Had to laugh when after telling DS and DIL for ages to clean washing machine with soda crystals rather than a modern brand which costs so much more they tried it.
Text from DIL to say machine now sparkling and no odour - she is amazed !

I'm intrigued. Do you put the crystals in the drum/detergent tray?

Where do you all get white vinegar? I only ever see it in small bottles in the supermarket - assuming that we’re talking about the same thing.

I’m a fairly recent convert to soda crystals - they go in every wash now, with just powder, no conditioner.
It was something of a revelation to me, to do a 90 deg wash with no laundry, just soda crystals,
Had to do it twice before a mass of gungey foam stopped appearing.

I still use slot of the old methods for cleaning and odour control. Lemon halved and put in fridge keeps it smelling lovely. I always keep lemons, baking soda and white vinegar in cleaning cupboards, far more friendly and works. I clean washing machine with soda crystals once a month and dishwasher with vinegar and lemon mix, rinse well after. Cooker cleaned with vinegar, lemon and baking soda paste, keeps it sparkling. Windows cleaned with lemon and vinegar mixture and buffed up with old newspaper. So many uses. I also still use bees wax to polish my oak furniture, smells gorgeous and keeps it sparkling.