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One of my rules for The Old Wash House is that as much as possible should be recycled or upcycled.
I’m going to try to get second-hand things rather than new, as much as possible. If they need a clean or some love to get them up and running again, so much the better. My experience of moving house last time was that lots of people wanted to give me things for the house and I said yes to everything because I had no money. This time I have been saving hard and I do have some money, but that will go towards getting The Old Wash House up and running so I can rent it out so not paying full price for things (or getting them free!) is still the order of the day.
Here is my “beg, borrow or steal” list so far (pics to follow):
- Washing machine, four years old. Had two pairs of large mouldy knickers inside it when I bought it. Did a couple of soapy hot water only washes and it’s almost as good as new: £40
- Solid oak dining table. Dark brown with wax and polish. Broken hinge and one leaf is split. Replacing the stiff hinge and repairing the split leaf. Have started sanding down the table and it’s a lovely rose-coloured oak underneath: £78
- Two oak dressers (one with shelves and one with a glass cabinet). Needs sanding and some bees-wax, maybe change the handles but otherwise fine: free (except for petrol costs to pick it up)
- Two compost bins. One left behind and one given by a friend’s family: free
- Sloes for sloe gin. Just the time needed to pick them (and the sugar and the gin but soooo worth it for Christmas!): free
- Elderberries. I might make a pie with them but currently they are in my freezer: free
- Fire logs. Tree surgeons were cutting down a horse-chestnut tree near me. We asked if we could have some of the wood. They said we could take as much as we wanted. Two Subaru Forester car loads (with seats down!) later and we have some sweet-smelling logs ready for cutting up (just need a wood burning stove now!): free
Phew! Watch this space!
Sloes (from the Blackthorn tree)
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