Borax WITH Vinegar???

[warmsecondrinse]

I've seen a comment or two here (suggesting) and PLENTY elsewhere (explicitly stating) that 20 Mule (or similar) borax and vinegar can be mixed together fr cleaning.

I know I nearly flunked chemistry in school, but I was pretty sure from my grandfather that borax is a base. I checked and yup. Ph around 9, I assume a bit weaker for laundry use. Vinegar is just under 6, IIRC.

So wouldn't they cancel each other out if used together? If so, they'd still cancel each other if I washed with borax and put vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser, right?

Or is there something really basic (or acidic, yuk yuk) I'm missing?

Thanks,

Jim

 

[warmsecondrinse]

Forgot to mention...

I HAVE done a search and found plenty regarding borax and regarding vinegar as laundry additives, but nothing about the 2 combined.

If there's a thread specifically about that, please feel free to post the link and I'll read.

Thanks.

 

[launderess]

Mixing acid with base substances will produce a chemical

Reaction that often results in foaming/froth. That in itself can be a "cleaning" process depending upon what one is attempting to achieve. For instance pouring baking soda down a drain followed by vinegar creates a foaming action that supposedly clears (minor) clogs and removes "gunk".

Ditto using the same substances in a washing machine again supposedly to clean "gunk" from areas such as tubs (and or between)and the dispense drawer.

*Never* mix acid and base in a closed container. Nor chlorine bleach with pretty much anything

 

[sudsmaster]

I'd stick to using borax in the wash/detergent mix, and vinegar in the second to last or last rinse.