Household Goods - See How to Save Money

Welcome - come and join us and see how you can save money on household every-day items.

The following pages are also closely allied to household tips:

Eco-Friendly Non-Toxic Cleaning Materials
Do-it-Yourself Tips
Weather-proof Your Home
Save Money as We Talk Dirty
Save Money with WD.40
Save Money - Go Green
Use Lemons - Save Money

This page concentrates on saving money at home on basic goods that are sometimes forgotten.

Cleaning and household items often become the Cinderella of the budget as far as money is concerned - always there, but not much thought about. Yet this is where tremendous savings can be made.

These tips have all been tried and tested and will help you save a small fortune if used continuously!

Some have been contributed by friends and if you would like to add your household tip to this list, we would be pleased to hear from you.

1. Instead of expensive branded name washing detergents buy the cheaper supermarket own brand (Tesco make a good one that is about a third of the cost of the top brands) and add one heaped tablespoon of washing soda crystals when you are washing dirty working clothes etc.

This is what the manufacturer will use when making their own more expensive ‘dirt and grease removing’ brands and they will charge you accordingly! This is a really good way to save money on household items.

Caution. If you have a Siemens, Bosch or Neff machine do not use soda crystals as this will damage the coating of the drum.

2. Don't waste money buying the small hand-wash soap dispensers, which only contain around 250 ml of liquid soap. When you you have used the contents of your present dispenser just refill with Tesco Creme Bath (or similar). This costs just 58p per litre which should provide you with four re-fills.

It is just as effective as the expensive dispensers normally priced at over £1.00. A tremendous way to save money on a household item. Thank you - Chrissie of Chelmsford, Essex.

Taking this tip one step further, try refilling your shower gel bottles - the type with the twist-off cap - with Creme Bath. These also contain only 250 ml and are priced around 99p. each, so another great saving amount to a few pounds here.

Tesco are now offering an Economy Shower Gell, 300ml. for 10p. It is thick, a deep blue in colour with no discernible perfume.

3. Although spray-on polishes are quick and easy to use where furniture is concerned, it is far kinder to the wood to use an old-fashioned beeswax type polish. (Tesco sell one). Just rub in and polish using the old sweat shirt dusters (Tip No. 9.)

This method actually saves on time etc. because it will only be necessary to polish your furniture once every six months – a light dusting is all that will be needed between times. If you get any finger marks showing, just rub extra hard with your duster and think 'save money' as you do it and it will make the elbow grease flow! Many old-fashioned tips on household items put the 'modern' products top shame.

4. Do not buy window-cleaning sprays - make your own. Use the old empty sprayer; fill with 2/3rd cold tap water and 1/3rd white vinegar. Use as normal. Old screwed up newspapers make good window polishers (The Daily Telegraph is just the right texture!)

5. Another home mix for cleaning windows is one pint warm water with a heaped tablespoon of cornflour mixed in. Pour into an old spray bottle, shake well and use as a normal window cleaner spray.

6. Mix Borax with lemon juice (Tesco's own brand is OK.) into a fairly stiff paste and keep in a small lidded plastic container. This is excellent for cleaning sinks and baths. Rinse well when finished and it will really make them shine.

7. Instead of kettle descaler, use white vinegar instead. About 6 tablespoons of vinegar will be sufficient. Add water up to the ‘scale line’, boil it up, and leave to stand overnight.The result is amazing. Rinse the kettle out before re-using.

You will probably find that this cheap method lasts longer than the shop bought products. Again, 'old' household tips proving their worth.

Some of our friends also recommend using Coca Cola for this job. Fill your kettle to the scale line with Coke and leave to stand over night. Rinse as above. It is possible to re-bottle the used Coke for future descaling use - not drinking!

8. If you can buy either washing-up-liquid or household bleach in gallon containers, these will save you pounds when decanted into you normal sized plastic bottles.

Booker Cash and Carry are, at the time of writing, selling gallon containers of own brand Washing up liquid at £1.63. A tremendous saving when decanted into smaller sized bottles. Makro also offer good value on these types of items.

9. Don't buy expensive dusters and cleaning cloths. Just cut old sweat shirts and T's and use them instead.

The material does not fray at the edge, so nothing further is needed - just cut and use. What a way to save money - hardly any effort.

10. You will find that a dishwasher tablet cut in half (use a sharp knife and cut whilst the tablet is still in the wrapping) works fine. This is like having every alternate wash free!

11. If you have to keep your freezer in the garage, always clean the outside of the machine with methylated spirits.

Just wipe the surface of the freezer with a small amount of methylated on a soft cloth (Tip No. 7) This will help prevent rusting. Don’t wipe the outside of the freezer with a water soaked cloth, as this will encourage rust to establish itself.

12. Instead of expensive dishwasher cleaners, (normally £2.00 each per bottle) fill the dispenser with soda crystals and run through on a hot programme. Use a programme that does not have a pre-wash, or if this is not possible, run through the pre-wash then add the crystals. This household tip just concentrates on an item - washing soda - that has been around for ages and is so very useful. See the cautionary advice on Tip No.1.

One super-conscious saver uses just soda and no dishwasher tablet for a periodical wash. She maintains her dishes are just as clean and she has also cleaned her machine at the same time. Top marks to Helen from Essex. Thanks.

13. Taking this money saving tip one step further, if you use a dishcloth or brush, put these in the cutlery basket while using the soda wash.

14. Try putting your oven shelves in the dish washer on a hot wash. If you have added some washing soda crystals these will help to shift the grease. See Tip No 12.

15. Don’t buy expensive stainless steel cleaners use baby oil instead. Wipe over the surface of the item with baby oil using a soft cloth then just polish up the surface with another cloth. (Part of a sweatshirt – remember previous tip). Thanks to Guy from Norfolk for this tip.

16. When you have finished colouring your hair, use the gloves provided for other jobs, i.e., gardening, housework etc. (L’Oreal gloves are fine for this).

17. To save expensive damage to your vacuum cleaner stick a strong magnet to the front of the cleaner or cleaner nozzle - this will pick up metal objects before they cause damage. This is particularly good if you have a dressmaker in the home. It picks up the pins.

18. Don't buy expensive limescale tablets for your washing machine, use the cheaper ones from Lidl, sold under the trade name of Adritt Limescale Tablets or those from Tesco sold under their own brand name.

19. To remove red wine from clothing you will need either white wine or table salt. Either pour some white white on top of the red and it should simply vanish. If you don't have any white wine available, cover the red wine stain with table salt. The table salt will absorb the wine, then washing the garment should remove the rest.

20. To remove blood stains from clothing, soak the item in a strong solution of household salt dissolved in cold water. Agitate the clothing to make sure that all the stain is absorbing the salt. When removed, wash in the machine as usual.

21. To unblock your kitchen sink plug hole, put some household soda crystals over the hole then pour some boiling water over the crystals. Repeat monthly for a sweeter smelling, clear drain.

22. To remove candle wax from carpets or soft furnishings, the best way is to cover the wax with brown paper and then make several passes over it with a warm iron, moving the brown paper each time. It is also possible to use absorbent material such as a T shirt for this. This is by far the quickest and easiest method. Spot test on a section of the carpet that is not in view in case there is unfavourable reaction to the heat of the iron.

23. Lilies are beautiful, but the pollen from stamens can be a disaster. To remove this dab at the pollen with sticky tape to remove. Do not rub as this will push the pollen further into the fabric and make it almost impossible to remove. Do not get this pollen on any earthenware dishes as it is impossible to remove. If you find out how to remove this stain, please let me know.

24. Don’t buy expensive ant killer. If you have an ant problem, particularly in the house or conservatory, a much more pleasant way of seeing these pests off your premises is to shake any unwanted talcum powder over them.

This has exactly the same effect as proprietary brands of ant killer. The ants take the talcum powder back to their nests on their bodies and feet and it helps kill any other ants in the nest. Think of all the unwanted birthday presents that lurk in the cupboard - use some of the old talcum powder to save money.

25. To remove grease or oil from carpets, suede boots or jackets, do not rub. Just sprinkle with a heavy layer of talcum powder. The powder will absorb the grease/oil.

26. To clean old, dirty wooden floorboards use a mixture of equal parts of linseed oil, turpentine and white vinegar. Apply with a soft cloth and buff up afterwards with a clean cloth. This mixture can also be used to clean old, antique furniture.

27. For a free catalogue on High Street brand furniture said to be at half-price, go to www.trade-secret.co.uk