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KCBS 'Kim Wonderley has some tips for travelers on the go this week ... so use hygienic wipes to clean armrests and trays in particular.
Wash the tricks to save time, water and money.
From the tips with vinegar to the reuse of gray water, these simple tips make washing and cleaning very easy.
Last updated: January 31, 2020
We spend a large part of our lives doing laundry and washing dishes. So why not make these tasks as simple as possible while saving money and as much water as possible?
Our competent advice will help you get the most out of your washing machine and dishwasher and ensure that these expensive items last as long as they should.
We also have practical tips on how to wash your sink, including used liquid that you need to add to your supermarket shopping list.
1. Beware of "magic tricks"
Before you contact our expert advice, here is a disclaimer of the hacks that you can read online that are not that competent.
There has been a recent storm on social networks about using tablets to clean your washing machine, and many people claim that it worked great.
Our device expert Ashley Iredale breaks the myths.
"At first, it can work," he says. "But I would not recommend it. Washing machines are not designed for highly caustic dishwashing detergents that can damage seals and hoses over time. Do not follow the appropriate instructions."
Tips for using your dishwasher
2. Do not wash by hand.
All of our CHOICE experts agree that using a fully equipped modern dishwasher is more energy and water efficient than washing your hands. Therefore, it is a win-win situation that saves you time and money!
"Well then it's not really a trick," Ashley says. "However, using a typical modern dishwasher will use about six times less water than hand washing a typical pile of dirty dishes, and heating the dishwashing water to wash the dishes will use almost twice as much energy as you would need to run your dishwasher . "
White vinegar is a versatile miracle at home: we use it to clean our dishwasher and keep it odorless.
3. Clean your dishwasher with vinegar
Use this smart and economical trick to avoid the build up of soap and odors and give your dishwasher some TLC to make sure it lasts as long as it should (according to our experts, around 11 years).
Pour about 1 cup (250 ml) of vinegar into the bottom of the machine or into a container in the upper or lower basket, then let the machine run for a full cycle without dishes or detergents.
Note: Read your manual first, as some manufacturers advise against cleaning certain models with vinegar.
4. Save time and water: do not rinse!
But scratch. Our tests, carried out by experts, have shown that washing the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher makes no difference when it comes to cleaning the dishes in the end.
However, remove large traces of food, otherwise they will accumulate in your dishwasher.
No more tablets to wash? Increase the heat and wash with clean water (it always works on lightly soiled dishes).
5. Increase the heating
No more detergent tablets or cleaning agents and lots of dirty dishes that you really don't want to make by hand?
We have found that many household dishwashing liquid recipes or natural alternatives don't work very well.
However, if you are desperate, you can raise the temperature and circulate with running water. Our thorough tests have shown that you can always clean the lightly soiled dishes (and leave them with a little less dishes later).
Hand washing tips
6. Buy a cheap washing liquid that works
Tired of wasting money on expensive detergents? Our experts did the hard work for you, testing 41 liquids for washing dishes in supermarkets to find out which one is the best.
And his hacking? Go to Aldi and buy your Tandil Ultra Power Soak N 'Clean detergent. In our test, it took second place with 72%, but only cost 0.35 c / 100 ml, which is less than a third of the price of our best Morning Fresh marker (Morning Fresh Ultra Concentrate Ultimate dish soap), the 1.23 USD costs / 100 ml and received 81%.
7. Explore new uses
Once you have your cheap and effective dish soap, explore all of the other things you can clean with.
It is ideal for cleaning windows (just mix with warm water and a drop or two of rinse aid) and for removing light stains on clothing (if you spilled a bolt on your shirt, just rub it with some liquid detergent and water) ,
You can also use it to wash makeup and hair brushes. The jewels are extremely easy to clean and shine: mix them with a little soda, soak them and rub them in with a toothbrush.
This gray water reuse DIY trick saves thousands of liters.
You only need a few devices from your local hardware store.
Washing tips
8. Turn a trash can on wheels to reuse your gray water
Try this cheap trick to reuse gray water from cleaning your clothes and save water.
Connect a hose to your washing machine and put it outside to put it in a tank or, like our nifty CHOICE employee, Alice, in a dumpster. Then you can use the water in your garden and save hundreds of liters.
"We wanted to put a small water tank outside to collect and store the gray water from the washing machine, but our local hardware store had sold all of the water-saving products," said Alice. "Instead, we opted for a 100-liter container with wheels that contains the same amount of water but costs about half."
"We installed it with an inlet for the gray water extension hose near the top and a faucet set on the bottom that drills two 28mm holes. Our garden is on a slope so we can connect a water hose. The common garden to to the tap at the bottom of the tank and gravity are responsible for distributing the water on the lawn.
"In the end, we spent about $ 100 and a couple of hours installing it. Now our grass is green and lush again, it is actually watering more often than before water constraints!"
9. Occasionally put a hot load in the washing machine
Commercial washing machine cleaners are expensive and largely unnecessary.
Keep your washing machine clean and in good shape with this simple piece of advice: if you wash regularly in cold water, occasionally do a very hot drain cycle with only a little good detergent in the dispenser to keep it in check the scrud Also soften fabric softener as it builds up.
10. Glow
Illuminate your colors and bleach your white without using expensive and non-ecological bleach, you guessed it, vinegar! Try adding about a cup to your load.
Vinegar is also an excellent alternative for fabric softeners that are expensive and harmful to the environment (we also test those that work less well than water ). Check your washing machine's manual before using it to make sure you don't warn about the use of vinegar in your model.
