Borax in home cleaning supplies: How safe is it?

I received this question from Tania:

I was interested in making the cleaning supplies (I'm guessing you mean the homemade scouring powder! ) and detergent, but came accross these articles about Borax. Just wondering what you thought. It this still safer than store bought cleaning supplies?

Hi, Tania! :)

First, let me say that borax is toxic, and shouldn't be stored where children have access! Just because it's "natural" doesn't make it non-toxic, or as safe as something like baking soda. :) So be sure to read the box and use care when handling borax. :)

Second, now, I agree that the page you sent me a link for makes borax sound rather dangerous! Do I think it's safer than using Comet to cour my sinks? Yes, because in my experience, the bleach in commercial scouring powders is just as dangerous (or more dangerous... just Google that one too! ) and I had difficulty getting my sink/shower completely rinsed after scouring with Comet. I would rinse and rinse and rinse, but there was still gritty, bleach-smelling residue. My homemade scouring powder rinses easily and I don't feel as though it lingers like the commercial scouring powder did.

If you want a safer scouring powder, you could always try just baking soda and salt! Or, purchase some sort of all-natural one if you live near a health-food store. :)

About using borax in laundry detergent -- laundry detergent from the grocery store should be stored away from children and has warnings about possible eye and skin irritations. Treat your homemade laundry soap in the same way! :)

To be honest, I am not any expert on borax and its safety. :) However, I've found that many, many ingredients in household products have questionable levels of safety. (Just Google for information about triclosan, sodium laurel sulfate, talc, etc.)

It's my personal opinion that something like my homemade scouring powder (borax, salt, and baking soda) is better for us than using the commercial scouring powders that I have used in the past. :) But definitely, do your own research, and come up with a solution that you feel is best for your home and family! :)

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Thanks for the information!

Submitted by simplbrandy on Mon, 2007-08-06 15:01.

Clean rinsing is especially important for bathtubs. I've had some borax in the cabinet since I got married and haven't used it. I'll have to try the scouring powder when I run out of Soft Scrub (no bleach kind).

I've never used comet, or

Submitted by Moop_stick on Mon, 2007-08-06 21:07.

I've never used comet, or needed to use it.
I use three tools for cleaning in my house. Baking soda, ammonia, and bleach.

I use bleach the most, and you do need to dilute it. Dilute it as the directions on the package suggest, and put it in a spray bottle. It becomes very handy. And the bleach smell doesn't last very long.

Ammonia is best for cleaning glass.

Baking soda is good for cleaning up anything that is really smelly.

Cleaning supplies :)

Submitted by Tammy on Mon, 2007-08-06 21:39.

I don't use bleach very often at all! :) And plain white vinegar works great for cleaning glass, so I don't keep ammonia on hand. :) I do use baking soda frequently, though! :)

I never thought I'd look for it!

Submitted by Jules on Mon, 2007-09-24 20:14.

I was at the grocery store and spotted Borax! I looked for the washing soda, (by arm and hammer) but to no avail, they didn't have any.

I love my Comet, to me it's the best thing to clean the tub with. It looks brand new!

I did see Amonia at the store. I don't know, I think if I don't use clorox, or Comet, or Lysol, my home won't feel clean. I'm not sold on homemade stuff yet.

me either....

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2007-09-25 08:34.

Give me bleach, ammonia, comet, lysol, laundry soap, cascade and gold dial soap.

A clean-feeling home

Submitted by Tammy on Tue, 2007-09-25 22:44.

Well, I might be strange... because I like the smell of vinegar. :) When my sister came over and I told her to use vinegar to clean in the bathroom, she thought it smelled funny! :) It's a "clean" smell to me... that and baking soda, which really means no smell. :) Usually my house smells like food (whatever I've been cooking or baking) and if I smell any "bad" smells, I try to take care of the problem (by cleaning) to get back to the "no smell" smell. :)

Not to say that I don't like the smell of some cleaning supplies... I just feel more comfortable not using them so frequently, for health reasons. :)

Scouring Powder

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2007-09-25 09:06.

I finally ran out of Comet and used the homemade scouring powder. I agree that it is so much easier to rinse out and I was very happy with the results and lack of fumes. Thanks Tammy!

Comet vs. homemade scouring powder

Submitted by Tammy on Tue, 2007-09-25 22:45.

Oh, good! I'm glad you liked it. :) I definitely do not miss Comet when it comes time to scour the sink or bath tub!! :)