Borax

15 years ago

After the 5th time of trying to post to this thing, I'm willing to give it one more try.

Ok, I hear Borax is a fabulous cleaner but that it's a poison. Can someone please tell me why then using Borax is any better than using the traditional soaps? which I don't want to use due to their poisons.

Thank you,

Patti

I pray to whatever power there is that this thing actually sticks because I'm not going through this process again. I hope their web developers read this!

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Comments (10)

graywings123
15 years ago
First, welcome to these forums. Possibly you didn't realize when trying to post that it was a two step process. You first preview your post then you submit it.

Are you referring to 20 Mule TeamÂ® Borax (the cleaning product which is composed of sodium, boron, oxygen, and water) or the mineral Borax, which is a boric acid salt?

In any event, if you don't use traditional soaps because you consider them to be poison, then you don't want to use borax either. They are all about equally safe or unsafe . . . depending on your point of view.

What are you using now to clean? And what are you cleaning - your clothing, your skin, your floors?
grainlady_ks
15 years ago
Check the labels of household cleaning and laundry products and you're sure to find some kind of hazard warning. Check the ingredients list, most are toxic to one degree or another - depending on exposure and use.

There's also going to be warnings on these products - harmful if swallowed, inhaled, contact with skin/eyes, what amounts are toxic/deadly, etc... What to do in case of eye contact or swallowed, etc...

So even "your people friendly, elf friendly, planet friendly, non-toxic, biodegradable, phosphate-free, never tested on reindeer" METHOD dishwashing product has a warning to KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN and what to do in case of eye contact or if swallowed.

Generally speaking, for it's intended use, Borax is safe to use. Avoid using it around food, which is true of all non-food products that could accidently be accidently consumed. With a little research, you'll find there are "risks" associated with all cleaning products, whether they are natural or man-made. FYI, borax is a natural product with chemical properties that contribute to cleaning power.

I use steam for much of my general cleaning anymore to avoid toxic chemicals and perfumes. But even steam can be hazardous if used incorrectly.

-Grainlady
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We understand. But I think there's more than one way, and maybe you can all get what you want. The vast majority of times this has happened in my home it was guests. I did not even mention to them, like you said, it's just towels and I kept using them until they wore out, I just made sure not to use the bleached ones when guests were visiting. But here's the deal. I have sometimes used anti-acne medication. I also have used toothpastes and mouthwashes that have peroxide or other bleaches in them to treat gingivitis. And I often wear contact lenses that need to be cleaned/disinfected with peroxide (not all contact lens solutions have it). There are things that are easy to do -- rinse your face well before using a towel, for example; spitting toothpaste out and then just wiping your face dry will bleach the towel if you're using dental hygiene products with bleach. Sometimes it's harder, because people are trying to follow instructions from their doctors -- for example, when cleaning contacts, one is often advised to dry hands/fingers between dealing with one contact and then the other one. Sometimes doctors advise to always deal with the contacts over a towel (for example, rinse them with the disinfecting solution) so as not to drop them on dirty surfaces. That's when it helps to step outside the box for a bit. I only use the towels when what I'm drying is clean and well rinsed. If you need to blot something or rinse contacts over a towel, that's when I reach for the roll of paper towel I keep in the bathroom. As a bonus, not only are you discarding the paper and it doesn't matter if you had peroxide on it, but also you are always using a fresh paper towel for things that should be kept away from whatever was in the towel before you tried to use it. Also, no lint on the contacts, much nicer to the eyes. Good luck!
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In my 2010 Duet, I generally use 1 Tablespoon of STPP per load of clothes, and 2 Tablespoons with towels and whites. Our water hardness is about 10 gpg. For TL, I would recommend the 1/4 cup (4T) to start. Our clothes and towels are noticeably softer when using STPP. I would imagine the Borax would potentially make the clothes feel slightly harsh in comparison to STPP, but will still have all the other benefits to it. We use Tide USR or OXI, and we have great results. I will still add ammonia for deodorant removal and sebum stains though. Every few months I will strip our towels using double the STPP and very little detergent. The towels are much fluffier and feel younger! Side note, our Duet is still quite clean with very little deposits anywhere. I would love to see the heating element. We have only used STPP for about the last 3-4 years. Our newer Bosch dishwasher is dosed with 1 TSP of STPP in each load and there is no hard mineral build up to speak of. The stainless steel shines like new. Our dishes are considerably shinier and softer to the touch in comparison to others in the area (family and friends). Only a few plastic bowls have tiny specs of mineral deposits.
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snowflakelover
15 years ago
My mom liked to use Borax, until she heard it could be a poison and could seep into your skin from your clothes. We aren't sure, but why risk it? I personally just use Arm & Hammer baking soda. I buy a big box, it's cheaper than Borax, and works wonders. I am a server and the smell of the restaurant really sticks to the fabrics in my uniform but the baking soda just gets it all out and freshens great. Plus, even ingested, it won't hurt you! :D
albert_135 　 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
15 years ago
Borax is a food additive in Europe and China, used to preserve caviar and noodles, but it has been banned in the US because it was show that 2.66 grams, about a heaping teaspoon full, would kill a rat. We do that sort of thing here you know. Curiously it may still be used in swimming pools. Persons who swallow caviar apparently are much to refined to swallow pool water so this is not a problem.

I use it occasionally for some cleaning tasks where I feel a bit of abrasive would help.
jannie
15 years ago
When I lived in New York City, people sprinkled borax around their apartments to kill roaches.
graywings123
15 years ago
And vinegar sprayed on plants will kill them.
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
15 years ago
Which all means, "moderation in all things".
albert_135 　 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
15 years ago
I accidently found this somewhere online. I was used by my microbiology professor in college a half century ago. Paracelsus was apparently once quite respected.

{{gwi:1871}}
alison_27
15 years ago
My personal concern with borax is that acute or chronic exposure can cause reproductive problems in developing creatures -- like the toddler I'm raising or the fetus I'm gestating. So I'm avoiding borax for now, but I might use it again when I'm no longer pregnant. I do like it as a laundry additive but I'll very careful not to inhale it and to rinse it thoroughly from my family's clothes.

You asked why to use borax. Borax kills germs (due to the boron and also a chemical reaction that forms peroxide) and deodorizes many smells because it is fairly alkaline. The alkalinity also makes it a good detergent booster for fabrics that can tolerate a slightly harsher wash. I would use it by itself in the kinds of situations where I'd use a baking soda solution, but if I needed something with a little more oomph and disinfection along with deodorizing and grease cutting. I'd put it in the laundry for similar reasons (disinfecting and deodorizing), plus the slight whitening effect.
dgmarie
15 years ago
Bleach will kill you, too.

Borax

Comments (10)

graywings123

grainlady_ks

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