A very quick and easy way to save lots of money is to add water to many items around your home. Just because the manufacturer says you need to use X amount, doesn't mean you have to. Of course they want you to use more than really needed. You'll buy the product more often and boost their profits.
Just add water to these items and keep more money in your bank account.
Shampoo - This can be diluted by up to 50%. Even better, add a pump to the bottle for portion control.
Conditioner - The better the quality, the more you can dilute it. Add up to 50% water
Shower gel - Thick shower gel can be hard to spread over the body and many times falls to the bottom of the shower. Add 25 - 50% water and also add a pump or pour it into a pump bottle.
Laundry liquid - Adding too much laundry liquid to the wash can leave residue on your clothes. Not to mention the extremely strong smelling perfume they add to the liquid. Laundry liquid can be diluted by 80% and still give you clean, fresh smelling clothes. Give it a go. It really works.
Tinned soup - Chunky tinned soups can be diluted up to 50%. Even better, add a handful of small pasta shapes to stretch the soup further. I find these soups to be too rich in flavour and salt. Diluting them gives you more serves and lessens the salt intake. Of course homemade is better for you and cheaper.
Liquid hand soap - Dilute it by 75 - 80% and use it as foaming hand wash for a fraction of the store bought variety.
Fabric softener - We all know fabric softener is not good to use and certainly not good for the washing machine. If you need to use it to help remove smells, dilute it by at least 50%. Maybe the clothes won't smell like perfume when they are dry, but they will still have a fresh fragrance. For a cheaper alternative to remove bad smells, spray the offending odours with white vinegar before washing.
Kitchen detergent - If you are heavy handed with the kitchen detergent, dilute it by 50% and add a pump to the bottle. I've been doing this for years and my dishes are still clean and sparkling. Some of the Aldi kitchen detergents are really thick and can be diluted by 75%.
You are so right about hair products. Diluted they work just as well and still on my first bottle of conditioner for this year. Cheers
ReplyDeleteI am often in great strife for using water to get the last bits out of bottles. Netting bath cloths are great for stretching body was etc. I also adilentils to sauces etc to extend expensive proteins.
ReplyDeleteI always dilute my dish soap. Mostly doing pots and pans one at a time. Dishwasher does the rest - and that is plugged full.
ReplyDeleteSheila USA
Not to be contrary here (OK, I'm being contrary!), whenever someone on a blog or bulletin board mentions diluting products, I always wonder why go to all the trouble? JUST USE LESS! Which is what I've always done, because I'm lazy! (I agree that the recommended amounts usually are too generous). Also, what is the big deal with pump soap? During the pandemic, with so much hand washing, I've really noticed how much longer bar soap lasts compared to pump. Also, I might be the only one here that really dislikes foaming hand wash. You get so little soap I've always wondered if I was really getting my hands clean. OK, I'll go back to being nice now.
ReplyDeleteI dilute products to save lots of money. I also have very sensitive skin so diluting really helps me. Foaming hand wash is a great no mess option for those who have little kids.
DeleteI agree that a bar of soap does last much longer than other options and is cheaper. We've been using a bar of soap in our bathroom but foaming hand washing in the kitchen for ease.
My husband wastes too much soap and water in the kitchen. My dish soap is branded as 3X the strength so works better diluted.
DeleteWe prefer bar soap in the shower.
Sheila USA
I have a refill foaming handsoap bottle, which I fill with whatever 'soap' I don't like :) At the moment it smells minty after a shampoo I was given that dries out my hair until it resembles straw. I have also used free-after-rebate bodywash.
DeleteHi, great ideas! I think I just convinced my husband to dilute our dish soap. Over our lifetime, this will add up to lots of money saved. Thank you! Also, I dilute fruit juice by adding extra water (pour 2/3 or 3/4 cup of juice in a glass, add cold water to the top and stir briefly). Less sweet, still a great taste, and it stretches those dollars. I’ve been doing this for decades. You can also just add extra cold water to a pitcher of juice. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI diluted juice for years when our daughters were young.
DeleteCouldn't agree more
ReplyDeleteBeen diluting all for years
Especially in holiday rentals
Water is the best solvent on the planet so it works even without detergent. Try it when you dont have a heavy soiled wash
I'm like Mike. I simply use considerably less than called for rather than diluting products. Diane
ReplyDeleteThis works well when everyone in the home is good at portion controlling.
DeleteI found a company (Canadian) that makes laundry soap "sheets" that dissolve in water. I've been using them for several months now and they work great for normal dirt. The real test will be this summer when Farmer gets really grimy. I got the "Premium" strength for those clothing.
ReplyDelete