Is white vinegar, bicarb of soda etc REALLY cheaper for cleaning?? Where can you get it in bulk?

[HouseOfBamboo]

I like using vinegar and plain bicarb of soda for cleaning, but have only been able to find them at the supermarket in smallish packs and bottles.

By the time you've sloshed the white vinegar round the bath it seems half the bottle is gone, and at about 60p a bottle it doesn't work out that cheap.

Also the supermarket packs of bicarb of soda are quite tiny, so not really any cheaper than normal cleaning scrubs, in fact maybe even more expensive.

Am I doing something wrong? Can you buy big 4 litre cartons of the stuff somewhere?

I use normal vinegar & it works fine - I usually buy own brands in large bottles for about 13p

I mix it with lemon juice in a spray bottle - I usually find that in Poundland & the likes in packs of 2x half litre bottles & a little & find this mix, sometimes with a little added washing up liquid will shift most things, its certainly does in the bathroom

I only use bicarb for the more heavy duty jobs such as cooker tops/oven etc, but not found it cheaper yet, but don't use so much, but will be watching with interest

I do the same Rockin, don't mind paying the price though as it is environmentally much better.

Are soda crystals any good for you op?

There are online suppliers who sell bulk biocarb of soda, white vinegar etc, often for the soapmaking trade, but there are some specialising in green cleaning now, too. (I googled bulk bicarb for cleaning)

Prices are kept low because it's not packaged in foodgrade packaging.

If you know anyone with a wholesalers membership card then you can get big bags/bottles for catering kitchens, too.

I haven't used fabric softener for over a year, either - white vinegar really is just as good (no, it doesn't make the clothes smell of vinegar, it gets the whites really bright and it descales the washing machine, too!

You can buy bicarb in bulk in some old fashioned hardware stores (our local one does it and vinegar) or online eg www.soapkitchenonline.co.ukacatalog/Bath_Bomb_and_Dry_Toiletry_Ingredients.html or try and Eco website like www.ecoshopdirect.co.uk/index.php?route=product/category&path=39
Chinese supermarkets are also good for cheap bicarb and vinegar in bulk

I use Summernaturals and another website that I've forgotten (but when I remember, I will post it!). But I've also had no problem with own brand vinegar of the brown variety for cleaning - not tried it for laundry.

Thanks all! Good tip about spraying rather than sloshing

Might give the vinegar fabric conditioner a whirl too - I've stopped using fabric conditioner anyway because the slime in the drawer was so annoying, but the vinegar should help keep the machine clean, result!

Thanks for links too - I had googled but not managed to come up with much so ta.

CoffeeAA - re soda crystals, I do have a bag of those but was a bit confused about the best thing to do with them. So far I've used for cleaning the kitchen floor and they worked fine. I haven't used them in the washing machine. Any tips gratefully received!

Oddly, Tesco don't seem to do cheap own brand vinegar, the cheapest bottle I could find was about £1 for half a litre. Will check out those other sites.

Soda crystals are good for grease, so cooking stuff, laundry, toilets/sinks/drains.

Tea tree as anti bacterial and flea deterrent if you have pets.

Ooh ta.

Tea tree is great stuff, I bung it in the DCs shampoo to deter head lice, seems to have worked so far.

Tea Tree is best with fleas & mould etc - for headlice you want Rosemary Oil, it works far better

Ah okay, haven't tried that one!

Great idea re tea tree and mould, I was looking for something to shift mould on the windows the other day and had no vinegar so was stumped - look out pesky window mould, you're about to be tea tree-d..!

Asda do a value vinegar which I use for descaling my kettle, dishwasher and washing machine.

I like to clean with water mixed with either a nice smelling washing up liquid, liquid soap or cheap bubble bath. It is good for removing scum marks off baths with one of those scrubby net things you get to shower with.

I never buy any stuff like Mr Muscle. My only concession to brand cleaners would be Viakal spray for limescale and the green bottle of Limelite for a liquid. The Limelite spray is not as good as Viakal and vice versa, Viakal liquid not as good as Limelite.

If Limescale is not too bad though vinegar is best and more environmentally friendly.

interesting this - how much white vin do you put in a load of washing? Does it go in where the fabric conditioner would go?

Sainsburys Basics own brand vinegar is 13p a bottle.

How do you use tea tree oil as a flea deterrent please?

SueP, I did an order through Summer Naturals - probably on your recommendation - but postage was quite high??

yard I use about 15-20ml of white vinegar in the softener compartment of each wash - I get it in 5 litre bottles for a couple of £

I was coffeahorlicks.

Comfort, put a cup of water and 20 drops of tea tree oil in a plant mister and spray everything.

Vinegar and water in a plant mister is good for windows, mirrors, dusting, getting rid of ants/fleas/flys etc and cleaning/shining plant leaves.

I've often wondered this

Im new at this - when you say normal vinegar, do you mean the brown stuff I put on my chips, or white vinegar?

thanks :)

I use the brown chippy one in the plant mister so I know which one has vinegar in it.

I use balsamic or rice vinegar as a hair conditioner, half a cup of vinegar/half of water as a second final rinse it doesn't smell I have dark hair though so don't know if it would stain blonde hair.

I've used a variety for cleaning and white in laundry.

I have a 1001 vinegar uses book

vinegar and newspaper for windows and mirrors, when i can be bothered organised.

our new hardware shop had bicarb and when i asked him about vinegar which i had got in another hardware shop in a spray bottle, he said it was cheaper in the food section of the supermarket.

Thanks, Olympic.

Try a local green grocers or farm shop for pickling vinegar - just get one without the spices!