Housekeeping and the dreaded Laundry

Each time we have traveled to the UK, I have always played the game of "shopper" in stores.  Meaning I try to really look at products and decide if they would do what I want them to do.  On this last visit, I played the game more in earnest as I wanted to do some chores at my BIL's house and he didn't have supplies I wanted.  Plus I wanted to use the washing machine at his house and in our London flat.  PLUS, as we begin working out an exit plan from the US back to the UK, I ponder more often about doing household chores in the UK.  I'm a pretty fastidious housekeeper and at my age I am set in my ways.

I know there have been threads on yankee before about house cleaning.  And lots of threads about washing machines.  I realize that doing the laundry will be my Number One frustration.  But - I am resolved to not be a whiner and get on with it!

So.......in that vein.......

Is there a UK equivalent to Clorox Bleach?  I searched the shelves and the internet and come up empty...

Is there a UK equivalent to liquid bleach clearers?  You know, the watery kind in a spray bottle that destroys mold and disinfects?  The only bleach cleaners I saw in the UK were the foaming variety.......

Are combi machines efficient?  Or will I go mad without a dryer?  I've seen threads here with info about electric airers and I think I would want one of those.

Oh ...... one question about food.........are there any UK equivalents to Mrs. Dash?  My husband has kidney disease and I use Mrs. Dash products to give flavor to no-sodium cooking.  I couldn't find any equivalents on UK shelves.  I even used my "obvious" voice as an excuse to ask local women who were looking at the spice aisle and they knew of no alternatives.

Thanks for any insight!  After many trips to the UK, I really see these things as just about the only daily issue that would cause me to miss domestic life in the US.

I believe Clorox is just thin bleach. In terms of brands, I guess Domestos would be fairly equivalent. There are definitely non-foaming liquid bleach sprays, I can't imagine why you didn't see any on the shelves.
We have a normal washing machine and a tumble dryer. We just stick the hose out of a window rather than having something built into the wall like is standard in the US.
I've never seen Mrs. Dash here (not that I've ever looked, to be honest), but you can find the mix that makes it up online (like this: http://www.food.com/recipe/mrs-dash-seasoning-20729), and then mix it yourself using the herbs and spices at any supermarket.

I believe Clorox is just thin bleach. In terms of brands, I guess Domestos would be fairly equivalent. There are definitely non-foaming liquid bleach sprays, I can't imagine why you didn't see any on the shelves.
We have a normal washing machine and a tumble dryer. We just stick the hose out of a window rather than having something built into the wall like is standard in the US.
I've never seen Mrs. Dash here (not that I've ever looked, to be honest), but you can find the mix that makes it up online (like this: http://www.food.com/recipe/mrs-dash-seasoning-20729), and then mix it yourself using the herbs and spices at any supermarket.

Thanks, DrSuperL99.

I saw Domestos.  Could you use it in the laundry?  I use Clorox here in the US is for doing towels, white socks and undershirts.

And thanks for the Mrs. Dash tip!

You will find branded bleach such as Domestos, and there are store own brands. So just as you would have Clorox and Target beach, you will have Domestos and, for example, Tesco Bleach.

You can buy Mrs Dash online: http://www.americansweets.co.uk/mrs-dash-seasoning-blends-111-c.asp

Is there a UK equivalent to liquid bleach clearers?  You know, the watery kind in a spray bottle that destroys mold and disinfects?  The only bleach cleaners I saw in the UK were the foaming variety.......

I just dilute plain old Tesco bleach into a spray bottle, which has worked fine.

Are combi machines efficient?  Or will I go mad without a dryer?  I've seen threads here with info about electric airers and I think I would want one of those.

I'm finding that it depends.  I've lived in 3 places in 3 years.  The first combi machine was shockingly crap at both functions, the second was a little better, and so far, the third has been amazing.  Now that I'm in the habit of hanging things on a drying rack, I tend to only use the drying function for 20-30 minutes so clothes are damp when I take them out, and it's a bit easier on my energy bill.

You will find branded bleach such as Domestos, and there are store own brands. So just as you would have Clorox and Target beach, you will have Domestos and, for example, Tesco Bleach.

You can buy Mrs Dash online: http://www.americansweets.co.uk/mrs-dash-seasoning-blends-111-c.asp

Thank you!  The Onion/Herb with the purple lid is the one I use.  And I use a lot of it!

I just dilute plain old Tesco bleach into a spray bottle, which has worked fine.
I'm finding that it depends.  I've lived in 3 places in 3 years.  The first combi machine was shockingly crap at both functions, the second was a little better, and so far, the third has been amazing.  Now that I'm in the habit of hanging things on a drying rack, I tend to only use the drying function for 20-30 minutes so clothes are damp when I take them out, and it's a bit easier on my energy bill.

Well, I guess that makes the most sense - make yer own!

I rarely let clothes go full cycle in the dryer over here.  Sheets, towels, etc - yes those I dry full cycle. 

The combi machine in the London flat was called Indecit (I think).  I kept trying to figure it out and I came to the same conclusion you have written - dry for a bit then hang things.  Kept the wrinkles down. 

Yeah, I think everyone has steered you in the right direction!

Bleach is just bleach - it doesn't matter what brand. However, there is both 'thin' bleach and 'thick' bleach, and the bottle size (for both) is tall and narrow - I've not seen it in the gallon size with a fat bottle like you'd buy for Clorox (doesn't mean a bigger bottle isn't available somewhere). I use the thick bleach for cleaning the toilet & also diluted sometimes for something that you want a bleach/water solution for.

You know we have all the different distinction about laundry detergents here? The biological, and nonbio, and all that stuff?

For a spray bottle to fight mould specifically, I buy a product called Dettol Mould and Mildew Remover - it's in a green spray bottle. You can probably find other brands but this is perhaps the best known one.

No Mrs Dash, I'm afraid. It's either bring it with you, order from the American import sites, or buy herbs & seasonings & mix up your own! (I'd probably do the latter, but everyone is different, of course.)

Combi machines, your mileage may vary. I have a fantastic combi - it's a Miele, which is an excellent brand - and unfortunately, a pretty expensive one as well. However, to save energy, I tend to only use the dryer function for towels and for when I can't get things dry in a reasonable time by other means - outdoor clothesline, indoor airing rack, etc. If you don't have a tumble dryer, you could have the clothes go an extra spin perhaps to get more water out. Also, others report good luck with placing their airing rack near a dehumidifier & that sort of thing.

You may have other questions as you go along - don't worry about it, just ask!    A lot of this process is that you don't know what you don't know until you run into it & realise you don't know.

For a spray bottle to fight mould specifically, I buy a product called Dettol Mould and Mildew Remover - it's in a green spray bottle. You can probably find other brands but this is perhaps the best known one.

That stuff is MAGIC.

I've been here 3 weeks now, and I was worried about my frustrations doing household chores myself, esp laundry. We have a Hoover combi and it's been pretty good at washing. We have a pretty cheapy drying rack that came with the flat, but we just bought one from Lakeland that is really robust and holds quite a bit of laundry and that I am very happy with.

We actually just tried the dryer setting today for the first time, and it did a fairly decent job. I think we'll only be using it for towels and sheets though. I hadn't thought about the idea of drying clothes for a bit before hanging them dry the rest of the way. I will definitely give that a shot to reduce wrinkles!

We tried living here back in 2011, and laundry was one of my biggest complaints. But so far, I've been pretty happy & not frustrated with it this time around.

Yeah, I think everyone has steered you in the right direction!

Bleach is just bleach - it doesn't matter what brand. However, there is both 'thin' bleach and 'thick' bleach, and the bottle size (for both) is tall and narrow - I've not seen it in the gallon size with a fat bottle like you'd buy for Clorox (doesn't mean a bigger bottle isn't available somewhere). I use the thick bleach for cleaning the toilet & also diluted sometimes for something that you want a bleach/water solution for.

You know we have all the different distinction about laundry detergents here? The biological, and nonbio, and all that stuff?

For a spray bottle to fight mould specifically, I buy a product called Dettol Mould and Mildew Remover - it's in a green spray bottle. You can probably find other brands but this is perhaps the best known one.

No Mrs Dash, I'm afraid. It's either bring it with you, order from the American import sites, or buy herbs & seasonings & mix up your own! (I'd probably do the latter, but everyone is different, of course.)

Combi machines, your mileage may vary. I have a fantastic combi - it's a Miele, which is an excellent brand - and unfortunately, a pretty expensive one as well. However, to save energy, I tend to only use the dryer function for towels and for when I can't get things dry in a reasonable time by other means - outdoor clothesline, indoor airing rack, etc. If you don't have a tumble dryer, you could have the clothes go an extra spin perhaps to get more water out. Also, others report good luck with placing their airing rack near a dehumidifier & that sort of thing.

You may have other questions as you go along - don't worry about it, just ask!    A lot of this process is that you don't know what you don't know until you run into it & realise you don't know.

OMG I'm so eternally grateful for everyone's advice here as the husband and his brother are completely useless in this regard.  And when I asked the BIL's dim girlfriend about getting white undies/towels clean, she just said I would have to SOAK them and named some product - I can't recall what it was.  In my head I was like "what? this is not a third world country?  you have to SOAK out stains?".......   :p

OK, so these are my admissions of ignorance......

I saw the tall bottles of bleach.  I didn't realize some were thin and some thick.  Since they all look like bottles of US toilet cleaner, that's what I thought they were......  :p

I saw bio and non-bio.  Is the distinction down to common sense?  And consumer preference?  Are there performance differences?

If you rent, does a place usually come with a washing machine?  I'd rather buy my own.......

I saw the tall bottles of bleach.  I didn't realize some were thin and some thick.  Since they all look like bottles of US toilet cleaner, that's what I thought they were......  :p

As said before, bleach is bleach.  Chlorine bleach is like the Clorox stuff, and oxygen bleach is like what I used to know as Clorox 2... the one that was safe for colours.  Chlorine bleach is liquid...thick or thin...sold in the bottles that look like toilet cleaner... probably right next to each other on the shelf, too, so be careful which one you grab!  I've also bought store-brand bleach in a 2 litre plain white bottle.  Oxygen bleach is normally a powder in a small-ish tub.

Bio and non-bio washing powder... yeah, the obvious clue is in the name.  Bio is stronger, and for cleaning 'biological dirt', like body fluids.  Non-bio is gentler, and doesn't have the same chemicals as in the bio one.  I think it's also meant to be good for people with sensitive skin or chemical allergies.
 

If you rent, does a place usually come with a washing machine?  I'd rather buy my own.......

Every flat I have ever rented in the last 20 years has had a washing machine in it...

Bio and non-bio washing powder... yeah, the obvious clue is in the name.  Bio is stronger, and for cleaning 'biological dirt', like body fluids.  Non-bio is gentler, and doesn't have the same chemicals as in the bio one.

Um, no. The bio part refers to the enzymes like proteases in the detergent, which are used to break down macromolecules like proteins in stains. Some people have an allergic reaction to the enzyme, so for those with sensitive skin, use non-bio, which doesn't have enzymes.

Yeah, here's a thing that explains it also - as I didn't really understand what the real difference was for a long time!  The link also talks about washing performance, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_washing_powder

I recently learned not to use Biological for wool fabrics or other delicate fabrics, as those enzymes can also break down the cloth fibres on these & make them holey and worn out faster...which explains some things...  

Most places you rent will come with a washing machine, but probably not a dryer.

Oh also! On the soaking thing, I recently heard about something you can do if your whites have come out of the wash grey-coloured. There is a product you buy & soak them & that's supposed to make them whiter again, but I forgot what it's called. D'oh! Maybe BIL's girlfriend was talking about that?

Yeah, here's a thing that explains it also - as I didn't really understand what the real difference was for a long time!  The link also talks about washing performance, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_washing_powder

I recently learned not to use Biological for wool fabrics or other delicate fabrics, as those enzymes can also break down the cloth fibres on these & make them holey and worn out faster...which explains some things...  

Most places you rent will come with a washing machine, but probably not a dryer.

Oh also! On the soaking thing, I recently heard about something you can do if your whites have come out of the wash grey-coloured. There is a product you buy & soak them & that's supposed to make them whiter again, but I forgot what it's called. D'oh! Maybe BIL's girlfriend was talking about that?

I really don't remember what product she named.  I tend to discount most things she tells me about housekeeping.  I'll give you an example of why I do - one time she put cork-backed placemats in the dishwasher.....................