Washing powder as general cleaner

[NorkyPies]

I'm trying to cut down on the number of containers I have for different cleaners. When I was at school, the domestic science teacher told us to use washing powder for washing dishes. I thought this was very odd at the time, but recently I've used bio laundry liquid to wash dishes, and it seems to do a better job than washing-up liquid. But the bio stuff is quite harsh if it gets onto my skin, and it makes me wonder if it's really safe on stuff that will come into contact with food (eg plastic containers, that I understand can be a bit porous and maybe retain a bit of what they're washed in)?

I wouldn't be using Bio washing powder or liquid for washing up with

There was a thread on here last week where someone's friend spilled bio liquid on her son's pyjamas, dabbed it off and left him to sleep in the pyjamas thinking he'd be fine - he ended up with a nasty burn that's going to take a while to heal. I don't fancy having that stuff actually inside my body!

What's wrong with using clothes powder for clothes, and washing up liquid for plates?

If you want to cut down on the number of cleaning products you use, then you can use white vinegar with water as a cleaning spray, as a limescale remover and as a fabric conditioner.

In fact, there's not much you can't use bicarb of soda and/or white vinegar to clean.

I would steer clear of using it on anything you touch with your bare hands or might ingest - however I have to say that bio washing powder is the best floor cleaner in I've used. It smells fab but really cleans the kitchen floor well - its degreases and shifts the mud so well (I have 4 dogs, thats why my kitchen is muddy. I don't live in a hovel well I do really).

I've used it to clean my venetian blinds in the bath too, they came up really well.

Bio washing stuff is truly excellent floor cleaner if you have a pet.It really does shift doggy and catty smells.

Thanks for replies. Bio is really good for washing down walls (only washable paint, though!) and paintwork, too. Agree with Flisspapps now, that should avoid for washing dishes.

Oo floor cleaning sounds like a good new trick. Mine's uneven slate with filth lodged in the cracks, plus I have a bad back so can't scrub. It's lovely .
If I try this wash powder thing, what's the proportions I'd need to use, and does take much rinsing?
(Apologies for thread anihilation hijack)
< Yawns >

Oh, I've heard it's good for soaking baked-on roasting dishes, but I'd always wash and rinse well afterwards.

Shotgun my floor is the rough travertine so I know what you mean about the ridges!!

If it is filthy I get DP to get on my hands and knees and scrub it in neat and then rinse it with a mop and clean water a couple of times.

If its a normal mopping then I fill a bucket with very hot water and add the same amount as I would put in the washing machine (half a scoop ish). You don't need to rinse after if you do it this way. (you might need a bit of trial and error to get the exact amount for your bucket but this is a good guide amount.

I tend to alternate between using washing powder and hot soapy water with a splash of bleach, as since I don't rinse I don't want the floor to get clogged with washing powder residue.

I do also use it to soak my roasting pans, before they are well washed and it is good.

It has to be bio though - the enzymes eat through the protein and degreases. If its really really bad you can put the pan on the hob and heat it up with the powder in.

Bio powder is great if you fill the bath with it and leave really grotty. Lodges to soak. Next morning both the clothes and the bath will be sparkling.

Worked a treat on my oven.

I hate using oven cleaner as it sets my asthma off. My mum suggested the washing powder for the racks and the bottom of the oven. :D

So Oreo, you scrub it in neat? I take it you mean the bio liquid not powder?

No the powder - I sprinkle it on the floor and have a bowl of water that I dip the scrubbing brush in and scrub. The wet brush makes a paste.

This is just when its really filthy as its a big job. We usually do it together, DP scrubbing and I follow him around with a mop rinsing it.

Thanks - will try that next month.

. Well I say we do it every now and then but then I realised that I was pregnant the last time we did it, and DD is 19 mo .

Do try the regular mopping with it though as that is no more effort than usual but works a treat!

Years ago washing powder was marketed as for clothes, dishes, general cleaning but I would imagine it was a simpler form of detergant than it is now.

That's useful to know, Fluffy. I once knew a chap who was responsible for marketing Fairy Liquid, and he told me that actually it's a good (mild) cleaner for most things, including as shampoo!

I had a go at cleaning my kitchen floor last night (Friday evening, I lead an exciting life) with washing powder after reading this. I'm amazed how clean I got it

My hairdresser recommends fairy to strip a bad home dye job out of your hair (or at least dull it) [whoknew]

I've heard about washing up liquid stripping hair dye from your hair too lol. I also use washing powder to clean the floors and I use it to clean dirty roasting trays, it works well.

Don't use dilute washing powder solution to clean slate floors! I discovered this to my cost in a new job when I created a skating rink and had to wash the whole lot over with flash liquid again!