What’s something you buy which is cheap/basic that is really good?

[Earbogeys]

Mine is bars of unscented soap from (predictably) Aldi, and also Waitrose own salt and vinegar crisps.

What gems are in your life?

have a £5.99 microwave rice cooker and although I CAN cook rice in a pan I never do now as the rice cooker is so faff free and the rice is better.

How is the rice better?

I’ve always cooked rice

Boil kettle add one cup of rice to 3x cup water and cooked, fluff with fork and serve, what am I missing with a rice cooker and how is the rice better?

www.amazon.co.uk/Metalic-Magnetic-Adhesion-Mounted-Hanging/dp/B00VRWR10C/ref=asc_df_B00VRWR10C/?hvlocphy=1006959&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=256187788999&hvpone&hvlocint&hvpos&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-306164572525&hvrand=11627767145590697223

chateaudusavon.com/products/provendi-rotating-wall-soap-holder-lemon-soap-gift-combo-in-chrome-finish?variant=36484571234463&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_campaign=gs-2018-11-14&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn4vZpMPW9QIVSrDtCh04oQAaEAQYDiABEgIeRvD_BwE
This is a good idea as it means you lather your hands rather than use the bar on your body which in a shared household some think isn’t nice. Though it does look a bit rude.

I’ve got magnetic soap holders as in first link above. One in shower and one above bathroom sink. They’re great as that was the only thing that put me off using bar soap; slimy soap dish.

@Avarua

Bar soap! It works better than body wash and is plastic free. Just basic dishwashing liquid (do they call it fairy liquid in the UK?) for washing floors, windows, reading glasses, cars... You don't need thousands of different cleaners. Nivea cream. Really good and very cheap compared to other face creams.

Agree with the cleaning products.

We have a large bottle of Stardrops liquid under the sink, cost about 89p from Home Bargains. I dilute it 50/50 with water into a reusable trigger spray bottle and use it for cleaning everything. One bottle lasts about 3 months.

@SomewhereOnlyIKnow

I buy boil-in-the-bag basmati and have no problem cooking it. I don’t need a rice cooker.

But is this cost effective-? A sack of rice, similar to potatoes I think is the cheapest way to buy.

.

Lidl applicator tampons are brilliant - cardboard applicator but super easy to grip compared to other brands and 1/3 of the price

Pretty much anything Kirkland branded from Costco. We ran out of their bin bags and toilet roll over Christmas and picked up bin bags from the supermarket and Andrex. The quality was so poor in comparison.

A clean flannel 40p from Wilko and Boots Squalane cleanser, Hyaluronic acid moisturiser and niacinamide serum. They're usually on 3 for 2 and about £12/£13 for the lot, they've transformed my skin. It's not dry, no more spots, my pores are less obvious. My sister thought I'd had fillers or something.

I'm interested in the rice cooker as I cannot cook cheap rice, only Uncle Bens

@Broccolliandcabbage I have a pile of cloths that I use instead of kitchen roll that I keep with the basket in the sink, with bits of Amazon packing paper to use when I'm scraping of gunk. I also don't use washing up sponges. I got a load of cloths from Wish that are microfibre on one side and mesh on the other that I use. Now I have learned about issues with microfibre, I'll be switching to cotton cloths. (no dishwasher)

btw this is the absolute mutts nutts for scrubbing tough stuff when washing up www.amazon.co.uk/Kilo-Scrubby-Double-Purpose-Cleaning/dp/B07HC95XN2?tag=mumsnetforu03-21
It gets practically anything off, doesn't scratch and is environmentally friendly. You use, wash in washing machine, use again.

[quote PolaDeVeboise]@FooKingDong - no, no, no - Cheese Tasters used to be the best, but now they've shrunk and are nowhere near as good. Giant Wotsits are where it's at![/quote]
Agree with the Giant Wotsits!

Garnier Body Tonic body lotion

Just really nice and fresh, absorbs well and seems to wake me up a bit in the morning.

[quote Thatkid]@WorkTwerkWorkTwerkWork

They have their limitations- really disgusting clothing I.e. when the kids have been in the woods or the youngest has coated themselves in their dinner is a bit beyond the power of a soapnut. They're not that good on short washes either unless there isn't much in the washing machine. I use them about 80% of the time including towels and bedding.

Check your private messages as well![/quote]

I'm intrigued why you need to private message about soap nuts?

Absolutely none of my business I know...

Lavender pillow spray from B&M. £1 and smells divine

[quote OddSocksSparklyDocsandDungaree]@ShinyPikachu O Keefes is also good for dry hands and skin

The spiced apple washing liquid is divine [/quote]
Thanks, I have been recommended it before so I'll definitely have to try it. I'm currently addicted to Molton Brown hand creams, not cheap at all but nice smelling and I don't react to them so worth splashing out. I'll give the O'Keefes a try when I run out of my current one.

ivykaty44
It’s like the rice grains are more separate, it just works better (for me - I never get quite the same from a pan)
But the main thing is the lack of faff. We have an electric hob which isn’t great for some things as you can’t control the heat as easily.
So it’s almost as easy as microwave rice packets but I can’t bear to pay that much for something so cheap…and some of them are disgusting.

Tesco own brand Malibu! It's half the cost and tastes the same

For washing up sponges I like the Minky pad type ones as I can throw them in the washing machine and they have a good spongey side as well as the scourer side, and they don't scratch my pans. Poundland do knock off versions of them which I've found just as good so I have a basket full of them now for doing the dishes and wiping down the sides and the hob etc. Between those and microfibre cloths I rarely need kitchen roll now (really just for draining fatty foods etc now).

 @CorsicaDreaming
I was wondering too!

Almond oil from savers. Best hand moisturiser

Like others, bar soap. Also refills for cleaning products like Ocean Saver pods,although I often just make my own with white vinegar, lemon and other herbs. Bicarb of soda is cheap for cleaning too.
Use washable make up remover pads, havent bought cotton wool in years!

Aldi 5% sugar granola
Co op tomato ketchup

@catfunk yes to cardboard tampons. Aldi do too, just like Tampax used to be before they switched to plastic. What were they thinking???

I switched to washable dishcloths a couple of years ago instead of those j cloth ones.
Flannels remove makeup. I use a Nivea magic cleansing bar soap. My skin looks good afterwards.

www.boots.com/nivea-magicbar-radiance-vegan-face-cleansing-bar-75g-10292751?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--PLAs_HeroCompare--Skincare_Facial-_-UK_Smart_Shopping_Skincare_Facial&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInvOi_9fW9QIVQe7tCh1NZQEqEAQYAyABEgIE9fD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds