Cotton dishcloths & Chemicals

Ok, so I have taken up this challenge from the Down to Earth Forum.We are to knit a dishcloth. It doesn't sound that hard, after all, millions of people knit. I learnt to knit on 4 inch nails when I was little, having mum cast on & off for me...I wonder do I still have that skill? I don't think I do.

I have taken the inspiration for this challenge from a lovely lady in WA, who swapped with me, a knitted dishcloth for a piece of my  "mother of vinegar". Now really, myself not being a knitter would have thought that the time taken to knit a dishcloth would be worth far more than any old 'mother of  vinegar'. I told Harriet that I would love to have one of these dishcloths that everyone has been raving about, but knowing the work that must go into one, I would be just as happy with some recipes of hers.

Much to my delight, a few days later; Yesterday in fact, I received a lovely parcel in the mail, with a new dishcloth for me.

Thank-you so much for this dishcloth Harriet, it is absolutely lovely. I carried it around with me all day yesterday, occasionally bringing it out of my hand bag to once again admire. Holding it up to my face, it feels so soft...

is it too good to use on dirty dishes...????

When I do start using it, I know that it will be far superior than the recycled flannel pillowcase pieces I am using at present. So I must say again, Thank-you so much Harriet, this gift from you is greatly appreciated.

Teamed nicely with my home-made soaps,
unfortunately the photo doesn't do the lovely knitted pattern
on the dishcloth any justice. 

I can only hope that the dishcloth that I knit, is a fraction of the quality of this lovely dishcloth. 

I never like to give up on anything so I will be trying my hardest to do this.

I have always told my children to 'try it, before you say you can't do it, or like it"

so Rose, I take you up on that challenge. 

Check back in a few days to see how my dishcloth is going.

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CHEMICALS AND THEIR COSTS

Over the last week or so, I have been organising my price diary...I have always tried to keep track of the cheaper prices in my head...but now that I have a price diary, it's one less thing I need to store up there....I can refer to the diary at any time, as it is small enough to keep in my handbag. While researching on the phone, I found a chemical company not far from home in Corrimal, that has really cheap chemicals.

They normally only sell 25kg bags of each chemical, but as I don't have the space, I opted for 5 kg buckets. They will make these up for you, but you have to order ahead to give them time to do the order. I didn't have to have an account with them, nor did I need a credit card or a business.....I found them through the Yellow Pages phone directory, and rang them, along with many others. 

UF Chemicals in Corrimal; is now the place where I will be buying most, if not all of my chemicals.

The prices are as follows......

Other suppliers of chemicals I use				UF Chemicals prices
	Seller	old price $ per kg	Old per   5kg $	new price $ per kg	per   5kg $	Savings per 5kg
BAKING SODA Bi-Carbonate of soda OR Sodium Bi-Carbonate	Woollies Warilla	$4.30	$21.50	$2.09	$10.45	$11.05
CAUSTIC SODA	Corey Wong Warilla	$4.62	$23.10	$3.52	$17.60	$5.50
POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE Caustic Potash	Hounds Chemicals-Unanderra	$15.00	$55.00	$3.96	$19.80	$35.20
WASHING SODA Dense Soda Ash OR Sodium Carbonate	Woollies Warilla	$3.13	$15.65	$2.42	$12.10	$3.55
Total savings on chemicals when buying from UF Chemicals                                                 $55.30

I'm off now to check out their online catalogue, to see if I can make any more savings...I wonder what else they sell, that I use?