Borax! Who’s still using ?

[stan]

I was using a mild liquid liquid detergent for something the other day.. and found myself jiggling out a little borax to boost.
Is anyone else besides me still using it on or for any particular purpose?
( I usually pre dissolve in hot water before adding to machine)

 

[tomturbomatic]

I still use it to sweeten garments. In the 1970s, it was a must when laundering perma press shirts because something they baked into the garments smelled horrible if you perspired in them and Borax or Borateam eliminated the odor. It was on sale a couple of years ago so I bought a whole lot of it and sealed the boxes in plastic bags so it would not get lumpy. I still remember Rosemary DeCamp doing the 20 Mule Team Borax ads on Death Valley Days. Her ads usually featured a washer agitating, which I loved.

 

[kenwashesmonday]

I use a little Borax in the shirt load to remove the smell of scented antiperspirant and cologne. It works like a charm.

 

[nmassman44]

I use it with every load to deodorize and to boost cleaning. I use about 1/3 cup and add it to the wash cycle. It works wonders and I make a solution of borax and hot water along with a couple of squirts of Dawn to clean the fridge ...it cuts thru anything and deodorizes at the same time.

 

[rp2813]

Technically speaking, I use Borax in the form of "Blast" powdered laundry booster from the 99c Only Store.  It's mainly Borax and the box graphic bears a striking resemblance to that of Clorox 2.

 

I did buy a box of Borax some years ago at ACE, but IIRC it cost over $5 so Blast is a better deal.

 

[askolover]

I used to put borax in our swimming pool as a ph buffer.  It worked well and lasted better than the expensive stuff in the pool section.  I use it sometimes when my little boy cat decides to rebel and pee on something he found that has fallen on the floor. 

 

[launderess]

Use borax all the time with liquid detergents when not adding oxygen bleach.

Helps remove any whiff from things and boost cleaning power of detergent.

 

[rapunzel]

20 Mule Team Borax...yes, absolutely

 

[qsd-dan]

I haven't used Borax in the washer for 9+ years but have been consuming it internally for the last 5-6 years.

 

[twintubdexter]

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #339966;">Do they still make this stuff? I remember these TV ads with Rosemary DeCamp from when I was a kid. I always liked her.</span>

 

[dermacie]

I still use it.

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

Yeppers, I use it. I've heard it's good in the dishwasher as well.

 

[egress]

What exactly does it do anyways? I've used it when we have a box (after doing tie dye IIRC) but never really noticed a difference. does it help deodorize?

 

[launderess]

While it is possible to make synethic borax, most of it simply is mined or otherwise taken from the earth.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borax

European Union banned borax some time ago now, so it isn't always easy or possible to find on that side of pond. That action in good part explains why sodium percarbonate (which is more costly), replaced the cheaper sodium perborate as oxygen bleach.

What Is Borax & Is It Safe For Cleaning With?

Is borax safe? Is borax substitute safe? I've done the research for you, so you don't have to, and have found the answer for you!

moralfibres.co.uk

 

[stan]

Hi Egress

To answer your question “what does it do”
It kind of dose what it says it will do on the box.
It’s a laundry booster.. in that it is supposed to boost the effectiveness of the detergent you using, making it sometimes possible to use a little less detergent. If using a liquid detergent with a relatively neutral pH, the borax can boost the P.H (alkalinity) in the wash cycle, and in turn help your favorite detergent loosen and shift soils better than without.
It will soften the water to some extent. And if used it hot water, it can release some oxygen during the wash cycle, thereby brightening things up a bit.
It’s also seems to assist in deodorizing as mentioned above.
Can also be used a a good pre soak.
It’s a old time laundry aid, and I was curious in my post..I wondered who all besides me was still using it?
Looks as though I’m not alone
HTH

 

[tomturbomatic]

While Borax is a wash booster, it is a precipitating water conditioner so if the water is really hard and you are counting on borax by itself to condition the water it could form precipitates, meaning sort of a curd at the top of the tub, at least with soap or insufficient detergent. Hard water with modern detergents and borax might not generate precipitates, but it is better to class borax as a wash booster with detergent, rather than a water conditioner or a "builder" to "break" the water before adding detergent. It does boost alkalinity which can improve cleaning and there is something about it, the reaction with water and boron, maybe, that does seem to deodorize.

 

[angus]

I use it also as a detergent booster with both liquids and powder. We fortunately have very soft city water here in southern Connecticut so precipitates were never an issue. It does help with odor removal but I don't generate a lot of laundry that needs specific odor removal. Occasionally on table linens, I will use soap flakes (stash from "Allo Laverie" in NYC) so then will use borax in the wash and some of my Calgon powder stash (with phosphates) in the warm rinse.

 

[rapunzel]

Here in Oz...

20 Mule Team Borax is still available through IGA supermarkets.

 

[mb1974]

There are many uses for borax, not limited to just cleaning.