Were you caught out when the panic buying started in March ? Did you have enough cleaning supplies to complete your usual cleaning tasks ? I'll admit even though I usually have lots of everything, I didn't have enough cotton gloves on hand to feel comfortable during these crazy times. I'm allergic to rubber gloves and use cotton gloves inside the rubber ones when I'm at a cleaning job. It took many months for them to be available again so I made sure I bought heaps.
Even now, I've noticed the rubber glove and sponge / cloth section of the supermarket is a little bare at times. Maybe everyone is still buying up or maybe stocks are low at suppliers. I'm not sure.
Here are some cheap ( or free ) multi purpose items you should stock up on to keep your home clean and sparkling -
* Laundry soap. Whether you buying Sunlight or the generic bars of pure laundry soap, they are the key ingredient for making your own laundry powder. The boxes of soap don't take up much room either.
* Bi carb of soda. Buy in bulk from a pool supply shop ( known as ph buffer ), from Costco or a herb and spice shop to make great savings. I use bi carb in homemade laundry powder, to clean the dishwasher, for baking and oven cleaning. Others like to use it for all cleaning tasks.
* Lectric soda ( washing soda ). Found in the laundry aisle in the supermarket, it's used in Miracle Spray and for making laundry powder.
* Disinfectant. I only buy hospital grade and the pine fragrance for using in the washing machine to freshen up smelly dirty clothes. Also great for wiping down door handles, toilets and to disinfect a kitchen bench after handling raw meat. I've been known to spray a little disinfectant on a piece of paper towel, placed in a small bag and taken to the supermarket to wipe down trolley handles. I can't guarantee the supermarket will have wipes on hand.
* Rags. Any shape or form. I save all old face washers, hand towels, bath mats and bath towels and store them under the laundry trough to wipe up spills.
* White vinegar. It's a key ingredient used to make Miracle Spray, I use it in a spray bottle for wiping up cat messes. Vinegar makes a great deodoriser for underarm smells on washing, for cleaning windows and as a fabric softener. Of course there are more uses. I've just named a few.
* Rubber gloves / latex gloves. I'm not a fan of sticking my bare hand down a toilet to clean all the groves under the water line. Rubber gloves give a great barrier against germs and sickness. Also handy for using in food preparation.
* Glen 20 spray. This became as rare as hen's teeth back in March. Since then Glen 20 claims to be effective in eliminating Corona virus germs off surfaces. It's great for sickness smells and kitty litter smells.
* Spray bottles. Any shape, any size even recycled ones from used up cleaning products. Spray bottles are a wonderful way to save on cleaning sprays. I decant vinegar, disinfectant and diluted dishwashing liquid into separate spray bottles for various uses around the home. Guaranteed, if you need a spray bottle, you won't have one on hand.
* Epsom salts. They are great for soaking tired bodies, for cleaning the washing machine and for making bath bombs.
Don't yet stockpile in the laundry as I still haven't used up the last of my 6 kgs of washing detergent. Have decided to make your detergent next so have bought for that. Me, I am a bathroom stockpiler. Every month I need to go to Chemist warehouse for my cholesterol tablets, so I also come out with toothpaste, toothbrushes, electric toothbrush heads (I use both manual and electric brushes), cakes of soap and my shampoo and conditioner. Also buy tubes of paw paw cream to use on my lips. I usually change everything but soap and shampoo/conditioner when the toothpaste tube runs out. I have enough to last 28 month without buying. It helps that there is only me. But especially now with the speed of delivery it helps to have things that you can buy locally and go and get, on hand.
ReplyDeleteWendy, where do you get ur wholesale citric acid from please
ReplyDeleteI am smiling. I have many of the things you mentioned but I do buy my washing powder or liquid as I live in an area with very "hard" water. As Ruth has said I have a stockpile of bathroom stiff. I was able to buy toothpaste at 20 cents a tube. It should be enough for 18 months or so and I checked the use by dates. I don't have a huge amount of shampoo but will be rectifying this soon as I buy a litre each time and it lasts so long. I am trying to be a little ahead on our medicines but most are on prescription and it can be refilled every 21 days and each script is for 29 days. So I am slowly getting ahead on those. My mother has developed COPD during the Covid lockdown. She uses so many tissues. I was blessed to find some decent ones at $1 a box. We have a stash of those now too.
ReplyDeleteStay safe everyone and great job Victoria on bring those numbers down.
That's a great list of what to stockpile. I have been better since around March of staying farther ahead in my stockpile. I have baking soda, washing soda, borax, soap flakes, vinegar, Dawn dish soap, and essential oils, all to make various cleaning products. I also make them for my mom and sent some to the dorm with my daughter. I have been using Everclear alcohol to make the hand sanitizer and disinfecting spray but am currently looking for a better option to buy in bulk.
ReplyDeleteThis blog comes at a good time ,,as we are still moving stuff over to our farm,I am going to cook up your corn beef recipe today for my work lunches thanks Wendy x
ReplyDeleteI'm not stockpiling, as everything is (again) properly available here (Belgium), and prices at aldi are already low enough that it's not worthwhile for me to make my own.
ReplyDeleteConnected to laundry: I have a peg apron! It is extremely useful and makes hanging laundry a breeze. It's shaped like a French waitress' apron (so, small) with a large pocket on the front to store the pegs. It's very easy to make and doesn't use much fabric. Maybe something for you to look into for making and selling?
Many years ago I had one of these aprons in my wardrobe for storing stockings and other delicates so I have a fair idea of what you are talking about. Thankyou for the idea.
DeleteMine is rather square, without any frills. Basically, a rectangular kangaroo pocket on two sturdy ties to knot at the back. It should be undeep enough that your fingers touch the bottom of the pocket.
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