Remember that Cascade dishwashing detergent I blogged about? Someone gave me some free Cascade, but I don’t have a dishwasher. That didn’t stop me from graciously accepting the Cascade, of course. :D So my daughters and I have been testing it out on other things. It is very versatile stuff.

For one, we found out that, if used as a laundry pre-treatment liquid, it removes stains from clothing. Then, I read that if you burn your cooking pan, just pour in a little Cascade gel with some baking soda and hot water and let it sit for a while. And then there was the day that we bought a new ceramic cooking pan (for lasagna) from WalMart– and I HATE it when the stores put all those nasty stickers and gorilla glue on the cookware, all to hold a sticker or paper?? We poured a little Cascade with water and let the pan sit– and voila! The gummy stuff came right off!

Yesterday, we ran out of Ajax scouring powder for our tub. I have to buy the gentle powder, because the tub is fiberglass and easily scratched. However, the tub is very old, and collects soap scum like molasses collects flies. It is a real chore to scrub that tub out, ugh. Well, we ran out of Ajax, right? My daughter got the bright idea to squirt a little Cascade gel in the tub. Amazing! It took the soap scum off! On the tough spots, she let it sit for a few minutes, and was able to buff it off. The tub is sparkling clean!

So I am loving the Cascade. Maybe someday we’ll get a dishwasher and try it out on actual dishes, lol! But for now, we’re experimenting with all sorts of things and trying to be as creative as possible (skipping things like horse supplies and animal shampoo, of course!). If you have any other ideas or requests about what else we should test it on, let us know.

Someone recently gave me some Cascade dishwashing detergent. Problem is– I don’t own a dishwasher! I used to, years ago. Yeeeeears ago– like, 20, 25 years ago!? Why oh why did we buy a house with an old kitchen that can’t take a dishwasher?! Oh well, maybe I’ll be getting a new kitchen soon. heh :D When we had the old place with the dishwasher, I wouldn’t use anything but Cascade (I always used liquid instead of the tablets). I HATE pre-washing dishes and we always had to do it unless we used the Cascade. I don’t know what they put in the stuff, but it worked. It’s rated up there as #1 best detergent at Consumer Reports. It’s nice to know I like the good stuff. :D

Well, since the Cascade was free, of course I took it! I’m an upstanding Frugal Hack and I have a reputation to maintain! Rule Number One: Never reject free stuff. Plus, like I said, I’m really really hoping that I get a new remodeled kitchen soon. The house is over 150 years old and the kitchen is AWFUL. The first big purchase we are going to make (after the cabinets) is a dishwasher. I have even shopped for one and have it all picked out and everything. :D

OK, so I have the Cascade, but I can’t use it. The girls and I did actually try it for handwashing, just to see how it does. It gets the dishes clean, but it’s not like “regular” hand-dishwashing detergent: Cascade produces no suds. I can get hand-dishwashing detergent dirt-cheap, so I’m not going to use something as pricey and valuable as Cascade detergent for hand-washing dishes. But you know what– I tried some Cascade on a blood stain for the laundry and it took the stain right out, instantly! I was floored. I’ve tried everything on stains (except hydrochloric acid, sheesh!) with minimal success. My husband delivers newspapers and when he comes home from work, his jeans are filthy from the newsprint. The laundry detergent won’t wash it out, but the Cascade does! I was pretty shocked that Cascade could get it out, since nothing else I tried could. Pretty cool, huh? No more buying those fancy laundry-stain removers! Since I’ll be using Cascade for the dishwasher (when we get it), I’ll also use it from time to time on the kids’ stained clothing and pre-treating my husband’s jeans. That’ll save the bucks.

I’ll be the first to admit that I am not a name-brand shopper. I avoid them like the plaque. UNLESS they are worth it. As I get older, I am discovering that there are good reasons why some name-brands rise to the top year after year, and I am much more willing to rely on them. Cascade is one. Now fear not– I am not deviating from my frugality. If anything, this is more proof of my frugal ways! By not having to pre-wash dishes nor buy another separate product for laundry stains, I am actually saving money. Some things in life are worth spending a little extra. Why bother getting a fancy, expensive dishwasher and then throw the generic-brand junk detergent in it??