Some old fashioned methods of housework can be the best

R

Rose65

Well-known Member
Location
United Kingdom
The best things I ever did were to give up the dishwasher and tumble dryer. Washing up in the sink as I go along and hanging clothes on the line outside are by far best in my view. I used to spend my life filling, emptying and maintaining the dishwasher and using vast amounts of electricity on the tumbler - though I am retaining it for rainy and winter days as backup only.
Also old fashioned mop and bucket for my floors is fine and quick, as well as satisfying. The costs of all these jobs are kept minimal. Baking in the main fan oven is how I like it - I have never used the microwave for cooking or baking. I do not want an air fryer.
I don't want a gadget for everything. I like my tried and trusted ways even if they take longer. It keeps me more active anyhow.

Are there gadgets or equipment you bought but gave up using?
 

I’ve pretty much gone full circle and am back to my simple starving student days.

I have tried and given up on all but the simplest small appliances. I still have a vacuum cleaner, microwave, toaster, blender, and hand held mixer.

I wash dishes by hand, several times each day.

I use an old sponge mop on the floors and a short handled version on the bathtub.

I rinse out a few clothes and hang them on the shower rod between trips to the apartment complex laundry room for the heavy items.

I also use a very few basic cleaning products.

My big extravagance is single serve convenience foods that eliminate the need for most cooking.

For me, it’s all about reducing possessions and simplifying my life in ways that help me maintain my independence.
 
Rose65 said:
The best things I ever did were to give up the dishwasher and tumble dryer. Washing up in the sink as I go along and hanging clothes on the line outside are by far best in my view. I used to spend my life filling, emptying and maintaining the dishwasher and using vast amounts of electricity on the tumbler - though I am retaining it for rainy and winter days as backup only.
Also old fashioned mop and bucket for my floors is fine and quick, as well as satisfying. The costs of all these jobs are kept minimal. Baking in the main fan oven is how I like it - I have never used the microwave for cooking or baking. I do not want an air fryer.
I don't want a gadget for everything. I like my tried and trusted ways even if they take longer. It keeps me more active anyhow.

Are there gadgets or equipment you bought but gave up using?
Click to expand...
Rose why do you think not using a tumble dryer is saving you money ?

The drawback of hanging washing on the line is that insects get into your clothes.. there's a risk of Bird Poop... you have to watch out for rain.... and then once they are dry you have to use the iron to take out the wrinkles.

the iron uses as much electricity as the Dryer... ..in fact often depending on the wattage the iron is the more expensive to run of the 2...
 
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LoveTulips said:
I would love to have hung out my clothes on a line but they don't look too kindly on having a clothesline on a condo balcony. :LOL:
Click to expand...
I have a washing line ...in the last 30 years I've only ever pulled it out to use to hang out Duvets and pillows which don't fir in the dryer.

however I've had to use it more this month than I have in 3 decades because my dryer broke down.. and I don't want to buy another until I know if I'm going to move.

It's a PITA because now the clothes have to be ironed which is something I rarely ever do because the dryer takes all the creases out..
 
I'm firmly in the dryer camp when it comes to laundry.

I grew up next to the railroad tracks when there were still a few coal-burning locomotives.

Mom would hang out the wash and then hear a coal-burner coming. "LAUNDRY!" she'd scream and it was all-hands-on-deck to get the wet wash off the line before it got befouled by the "smuts" and had to be washed again. Then, it was back up on the line in the hopes that it would get dry before another passed.
 
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hollydolly said:
Rose why do you think not using a tumble dryer is saving you money ?

The drawback of hanging washing on the line is that insects get into your clothes.. there's a risk of Bird Poop... you have to watch out for rain.... and then once they are dry you have to use the iron to take out the wrinkles.

the iron uses as much electricity as the Dryer... ..in fact often depending on the wattage the iron is the more expensive to run of the 2...
Click to expand...
None of those has been a problem. I find I am tuned to the weather, get a line of clothes out before midday, usually all dry by 6pm. Fresh as can be. If you hang them out carefully, most don't need ironing. No bird poop yet.
Today risk of rain so I'm using the tumble dryer.
 
Rose65 said:
None of those has been a problem. I find I am tuned to the weather, get a line of clothes out before midday, usually all dry by 6pm. Fresh as can be. If you hang them out carefully, most don't need ironing. No bird poop yet.
Today risk of rain so I'm using the tumble dryer.
Click to expand...
actually it's the washing machine that causes the wrinkles nothing to do with the way you hang them out ! ..and how I wish we could know that the Uk will be dry every day between 12 and 6pm.. wow...where do you live. ?

I live in the driest part of the UK and I definitely couldn't guarantee dry weather every afternoon..
 
Rose65 said:
The best things I ever did were to give up the dishwasher and tumble dryer. Washing up in the sink as I go along and hanging clothes on the line outside are by far best in my view. I used to spend my life filling, emptying and maintaining the dishwasher and using vast amounts of electricity on the tumbler - though I am retaining it for rainy and winter days as backup only.
Also old fashioned mop and bucket for my floors is fine and quick, as well as satisfying. The costs of all these jobs are kept minimal. Baking in the main fan oven is how I like it - I have never used the microwave for cooking or baking. I do not want an air fryer.
I don't want a gadget for everything. I like my tried and trusted ways even if they take longer. It keeps me more active anyhow.

Are there gadgets or equipment you bought but gave up using?
Click to expand...
I agree on the old fashion mop and the kitchen counter top appliances but the big appliances, are great help to me, they'll stay, even though I do a lot of dish washing by hand, I still use the dishwasher and the only wet clothes I hang out on the patio are a very few that should not go in a dryer.
 
Jackie23 said:
I agree on the old fashion mop and the kitchen counter top appliances but the big appliances, are great help to me, they'll stay, even though I do a lot of dish washing by hand, I still use the dishwasher and the only wet clothes I hang out on the patio are a very few that should not go in a dryer.
Click to expand...
Towels and bedding are the ones that get priority on my line.
 
I have only recently acquired some updates the my kitchen and am not giving them up anytime soon.

I have an air fryer in the new oven which I find useless so I don't bother using it anymore
Can't remember when I used my iron last.
 
Dishwasher is only used during the holidays or canning season. I use my dryer because I don't have an outside line. However, I have lines in my basement for delicate things to dry on or for heavy coats that take a while. Mop/bucket for the vinyl/tile floors & a vacuum for the hardwood.

I like Alton Brown (Food Network) philosophy on kitchen gadgets: If they don't do multiple jobs, don't keep them. I went through my kitchen & found a bunch of things I didn't use or need. Amazing what space I found.

I used that thought process for other kitchen items & cleaned out things. Those either went to a yard sale or was donated to the thrift shop.

I won't give up my kitchen-aid stand mixer, hand mixer or food processor. My little stick blender is small & does the same work as a large blender. I use the crock pot when we are busy & I can't watch the stove or to keep food warm for company. I haven't used my electric roasters in a while (keep foods warm for holidays/parties) & I've have been thinking of getting rid at least one of them.

Our stove does all of our cooking. Hubby uses the small microwave for reheating only & I don't think I'd miss it if it was gone. The small toaster oven is used mainly for toast, but sometimes for reheating certain foods you want crisp.

Simple is better I think.
 
hollydolly said:
Rose why do you think not using a tumble dryer is saving you money ?

The drawback of hanging washing on the line is that insects get into your clothes.. there's a risk of Bird Poop... you have to watch out for rain.... and then once they are dry you have to use the iron to take out the wrinkles.

the iron uses as much electricity as the Dryer... ..in fact often depending on the wattage the iron is the more expensive to run of the 2...
Click to expand...
hollydolly: Most of my clothes are synthetic so hardly any ironing. Only use the microwave to warm up my milk for my porridge in the morning. The dishwasher is only used when I have a number of people over, which is at Christmas. Never iron the sheets and pillowcases, fold them up as soon as I take them off the line. Last time I used the iron was 2 weeks ago to iron my son's white shirt he needed to go with his suit. I do have a steam cleaner to clean the tiles throughout the house.
 
I don’t own an iron. I hang dry sweaters, shirts, pants and shorts. Everything else goes in the dryer. I have a drying rack in my condo. Nothing is ever wrinkled.

I love my dishwasher and run it every 3-4 days. The dogs make 4 dishes a day plus mine and more when I have weekly company. I’m not a fan of small appliance and only have a few.
 

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