'' . . . and I never ever went back.''

[joeekaitis]

 

 

 

What product substitution has become the norm for you?

 

I ran out of liquid shower soap (OK, "body wash") and since Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo claims to wash away excess surface oil from hair without drying it out, I figgered, hey, worth a try.

 

When I lathered up my face, the lather was just astringent enough to let me know it was actually doing something whereas shampoo-plus-conditioner products feel slimy on the skin, even after you rinse.

 

Never went back to body wash.  And you?

 

[kevin313]

For years I used to by this Tilex shower spray cleaner that you sprayed after showering. It was supposed to keep the shower cleaner longer so you wouldn't have to scrub as often. One day I ran out and so I just filled the bottle with one tablespoon of bleach and the rest with water. It worked just as good and I've been using it for a number of years now.

 

[retropia]

I used to use rubbing alcohol to remove price tag adhesive residue from non-porous items, like a new coffee mug, for example. Now I use WD-40, as it seems to work faster. It leaves a slight greasy residue, but that comes off easily with a little Windex or soap and water.

 

[aquarius1984]

I have pretty much changed all of my shopping habits over the past 12 months.

There was a time when I would of bought everything branded and nothing else would do but now I find myself trying budget brands and value items as much as I can. Have learnt that things like 29p Tesco Value ketchup is nicer in my taste to Heinze costing £2.20 odd the the same weight.

I would only ever buy Domestos bleach £1 or so a bottle but have now moved to the 39p Daisy/Clean and Fresh variety. Savings to be made everywhere if you know what you are buying and how to use it to its best ability.

Only exception to this is bread, tea bags, coffee, and washing powder for washing whites where I will try to get either Ariel/Daz/Persil on a decent offer. I dont mind using cheaper brands for coloureds.

 

[aquarius1984]

LOL I see the actual thread purpose now.

Gave up with hair shampoo and now just use my actual shower gel,

Given up on liquid floor/cleaning products like Flash and use hot water with a dash of dishwashing detergent and a drop of bleach if I need it.

 

[paulc]

I too no longer buy shampoo and just use shower gel. I also stopped buying spray cleaners for the kitchen and bathroom. All I use for cleaning is bleach and washing up liquid.

 

[bugsyjones]

I used to buy carpet spot remover in the trigger spray. One day I ran out and decided to substitute some generic brand steam cleaner solution. I diluted with some water and put in the spray bottle. Works like a dream! If not better than the original spray. I also can adjust the strength if needed. There is a cost savings too as I can get alot out of the concentrate versus spending around $4 for an already mixed spray.

~Tim J.

 

[gansky1]

A carpet cleaning guy I know says never to use the Resolve, etc. spray spot removers on your carpet as they're super-concentrated detergent that the majority of stays in the carpet attracting more soil faster.  The carpet cleaning spray solution is a great idea, it doesn't take much to move most spots from good carpet.

 

I haven't bought any "all purpose" cleaners, spray or other, for a long time.  Dawn (mostly) does it all!

 

[arbilab]

The only house brand I WON'T buy again is Kroger spray bathroom cleaner. The perfume is obnoxious and lingers for days. Back to good old scrubbing bubbles.

 

[petek]

There's very few name brand items that are a must have for me. Heinz ketchup is one though. I've tried a couple of others and didn't like them as well, so while there are even more other ketchups available to try I'm not going there. I'll stick to Heinz. OTC drugs I'll buy whatever works out cheaper. Laundry stuff same way, my clothes don't get that dirty that the cheap stuff won't work. DW detergent.. either Quantuum tabs or Cascade all in one.. won't bother with the cheap stuff there either, bad experiences.

 

[retro-man]

Speaking of Scrubbing Bubbles

I have 2 of the S/B automatic shower cleaners. I can no longer find the replacement bottles of cleaner to change. I have looked at bj's, hd, lowes and supermarkets and can't find them. Maybe they have stopped making it. I guess I will give kevin313 recipe a try when they run empty.
Jon

 

[tomturbomatic]

Be sure to check your cleaning product for ammonia before adding any bleach to it; nasty, nose-buring fumes can result.

Years ago, CU gave a formula for window cleaner:
1/2 cup ammonia
1 pt of rubbing alcohol
3 drops hand dishwashing detergent
water to make a gallon
You can add a few drops of blue food color to make it look like Windex.

Add the detergent after you have filled the jug to prevent too much sudsing as you fill. You can see it is cheap to make.

It works great and for heavy soil you can up the ammonia to 1 cup but the next time they tested window cleaners they ran into a conflict so they had to say that the best window cleaners worked better than the home brew. Bush-wah.

 

[jaxsunst]

There is a multi-purpose cleaner that you can get for $1 at Dollartree and the like. It's called "Awesome". It is the absolute best cleaner I have ever used, period.

 

[jamiel]

My shower keep-cleaner is a little different: few drops of Jet Dry, couple ounces rubbing alcohol, fill with water. Intent is to have the water sheet down on the walls.

 

[mattl]

I've had good luck washing windows with a bit of Cascade in a bucket of water.  I wash with a sponge and squeegee it dry- seems to work as well as anything.  I generally do my windows inside and out twice a year, got 25 to do, in the fall the storms get washed inside and out too, so it's a day long adventure.  I HATE dirty windows, had visitors comment that they never saw such clean windows.

 

[tomturbomatic]

I keep the blinds and curtains closed.

 

[hoovermatic]

I have long since believed that brand names are not always the best value for money and that some budget brands that are as good or suit my taste better. However, like Rob and others, there are some things I won't compromise on although they are are few and far between. Detergent for whites has to be Ariel, Persil or Daz, Dijon Mustard - has to be Maille and Marmite has to be, umm, Marmite! My tea bags HAVE to be Marks and Spencer Extra Stong and I make my own bread ONLY with Allinson Extra Strong flour. EVERYTHING else is up for grabs and I have given up supermarket loyalty.

 

[stan]

Straight Vinegar in a spray bottle instead of Windex
Bon Ami, instead of Comet (also can be used on windows)
My own hand made soap, instead of Dove
Echos, instead of Tide (sometimes add a little STPP, or washing soda, to boost) also keep my phosphate detergent handy ( just in case)
Soap mixed with washing soda, instead of oven cleaner (made into a spreadable paste/gel)
Borax, instead of Oxy Clean
My other home made soap ( grated ) for hand dish washing, and floor scrubbing (sometimes a vinegar rinse!
Still need chlorine bleach for certain things, ( toilet) but don't use near the amount I used to.
Refuse to give up on Best Foods mayonnaise, ect. Refuse to buy cheap T.P or P.T
LOL

Good thought provoking thread!

 

[hunter]

Best indeed, no Miracle Whip!

Best food mayo (Hellmanns if you live in the east - weird thing Walmart here sells BOTH) is the best

None of that Miracle whip stuff for me, though I do know that lots of folks like it.