You expected me to wash dishes in the bedroom?

For cleaning glass/mirrors, table tops, kitchen work surfaces, etc... just get a spray bottle and mix together white vinegar (distilled) and water (5-1 vinegar - water) (don't use pickling vinegar or malt vinegar, although malt can be used if it is for floors or places that you don't mind of they get stained). It cuts through grease and dirt and dries streak free on reflective surfaces, too. The smell of the vinegar disappears once it is dry (and mixed at 10-1 can be used as a fabric refresher, too).

I've used this recipe for such wonderful things as vomit (both human and feline), poo (ditto the vomit), blood, urine, food spills, dried on mess and general dirt... works like a charm every time

The acidic pH value of the vinegar makes it naturally antibacterial, which is always handy these days

Of course do a test first on delicate fabrics and finishes to make sure it's suitable to use on them.

Get your children to help! It can be very stressful to start with but if you have little jobs for everyone and you stick to your guns, it will get done. My 5yo has made her own bed since she was 18mths! She empties her school bag, puts her washing in the machine (after pulling the sleeves out, separating undies from clothes etc), hangs her own washing on the clothes horse, puts away her own clothes, sets the table, tidies her crayons before dinner, tidies her room (mostly by herself - sometimes it gets overwhelming for her and I sit on her bed and direct her), and occasionally washes up (when we have time - she likes the bubbles). I also get her to clean the bath and basin once a week, sweep the floor on occasion. I'm now starting her on feeding the cat, starting the washing machine and stripping her bed.

Not only does it mean I can relax just a little in the evenings, but it's teaching her responsibility and preparing her for the future.

Finely chopped celery leaves have a really fresh taste in soups, casseroles and sauces.

Or for the lazy, there's multipurpose seasoning that contains powdered celery.

*cheats shamelessly*

The last time I saw or used one like that it was in a FL resort 10 years ago. IIRC it worked as well as it looks. I gave up after sending it through a second time and just washed everything I needed in the bathtub by hand.

Are the dishwashers over there better than ours? I complain about my dishwasher all the time. It won't clean anything unless I already rinse the dishes in the sink until they look clean.

I've a good way of cleaning silver; take cream of tartar and put it in water to get a solution just thicker than milk is. Wet qtips with the solution and gently rub the silver object until the qtip turns black. Replace the qtip and continue until all the tarnish is gone. Then wipe clean with a wet paper towel and try. Safe for even silver plate.

Tarnished, cleaned with cream of tartar

No fumes and since it's a food item the abrasive itself isn't dangerous. You want the abrasives to do the work. Silver is soften enough if you put pressure on it you're going to add scratches or if plated further destroy the plating.

Regarding dishwashers not working properly, I found the out going hose on mine was kinked and after I sorted that out, it worked a lot better.

I find I need to clean mine out once a month. I buy a 250g bag of bi-carb soda and put the dishwasher through it's pots and pans cycle. When it starts rinsing, I open it up and splash 2 cups of white vinegar in the machine. Cost: about $2. Using the oven timer is handy here just in case.

Thanks to everyone for your great ideas. Keep them coming.

I have saved heaps of money by using baby wash cloths instead of toilet paper for wee's. I just chuck them in with my other washing and hang them on the line.

It really pays to think about clothes when you buy them. Things I avoid are high-synthetic fabrics which feel plasticy, gathered tiers, frills which look difficult to iron, any thing requiring dry-cleaning or hand washing, glittery prints (much to my daughter's dismay), linen, fabrics which pull or pill easily and absolutely nothing with the high fire danger tag. I keep my colours similar to avoid having to do several loads of washing. Ribbon straps are terrible for fraying in the wash.

Just for information, I chuck everything in together (though new towels are done separately until I trust them to not lint up) and I do a load every day.

Burnt food or gravy can be removed from pots and pans with salt and a good scrubbing.

One thing that people haven't brought up is the power of rice (I'm not talking about it being a blood thinner but that is useful too I guess)..

1)If you drop your favorite electronical device in water Do NOT turn it on (Yeah,that is a DUH thing but you'd be surprised at what people do) even if you pat dry it with a towel.Instead put it in a jar of rice over night (or longer if you're a bit more paranoid like me).The rice sucks the water right up.
2)Place a pinch of rice grains in your spice containers (at least the salt one).Same concept as above,they absorb practically allllll moisture (no more clumping-together onion powder).

Another thing no one has mentioned is the power of "Diatomaceous Earth" (DE)! You can buy it at Tractor Supply Company or somewhere like that.It is great!
3)Rub DE over and on your pets to kill the fleas!
4)Sprinkle on the carpet.It kills any fleas!
5)Throw it into your kitty litter boxes,helps keep them bug (and flea) free.
6)Sprinkle it around your yard and house,helps kill the bugs (and fleas).

7)Sprinkle Bi-Carb in your kitty litter box to help the smell and keep it fresher (a lot of kitty litters come with it pre mixed but they're kinda skimpy with it.Also if you just use the cheap clay stuff or the pressed pine sawdust clumps like me then it really helps!Trust me on that.)

8 )If you want to check how bad you have bugs (or fleas) in the house place a pie-tin (pan,w/e) filled with water and some washing detergent underneath a night-light over night.If it is filled with bugs then you got a problem.The reason for this is that the bugs are attracted to the light source.

There,that is all I can think of at the moment.--Nate--

Now I'm curious: what is bi-carb?

Sodium Bi-Carbonate (aka Baking Soda)

Messy stuff (like vomit) can be cleaned up easier if a clumping cat litter is poured over it and allowed to soak up. Scrape it up with a dust pan and brush and then wash those.

Not for the house exactly, but I've started putting newspaper over my chicken's nesting boxes after they finish laying eggs and on the shelf under the perches. I no longer have to dig through straw to get out the poops. Just gather up the papers and either put it in the compost (the paper is good for the compost anyway) or in the bin if no room in the compost. (Note, chicken poo is too acidic to put straight on plants. It needs to be composted).

Number one works wonderfully, my boyfriend dropped his iPod touch in the loo and a good old jar of rice saved the day, it did smell a bit musty for a while afterwards but it's still working fine!