Does anyone here use borax?

Caterina

I understand that Borax could be toxic used in products for toddlers, but find it difficult to believe that a tbs of the stuff, diluted as a disinfectant in a large machine wash would be leaving so much toxic residue that I should start worrying!

TheDoolallyDilly

Sorry, the link obviously didn't work properly. It is dangerous to inhale the fumes, and pregnant women shouldn't use it, apparently.

Only trying to help - I don't use it and have never felt the need to as I've always been able to clean everything with elbow grease, ecloths or soda crystals!!

Was only trying to explain why it may be removed from sale.

geordie_joe

TheDoolallyDilly wrote: »

Sorry, the link obviously didn't work properly.

The link worked perfectly well. I took me to a page that said Borax was bad, and provided proof of this by way of 4 links to other web pages.

Of these four links only one worked and it led me to a page giving the scientific results of studies. These studies involved making animal eat Borax, rats, mice and Beagles.

Reading the results was hard going, but it showed that they fed 5 Beagles high doses of Borax every day and after 68 days one of them died.

I know you meant well in posting the link, but I think you have read the first page and believed it without following up the proof it claimed was backing up it's statement.

Borax is dangerous if you eat large amounts of it over long periods, it kills one in five Beagles and causes birth defects in other Beagles. But I think you could say that about Daz, Persil etc.

squeakyclean226

I heard the other day that Dri-Pak (the company that produces Borax) are going to be replacing it with a Borax Substitute from June. Apparently it will work in exactly the same way as Borax and can still be used for cleaning and washing but is totally safe. But Boots is still selling normal Borax until June, I WILL be stocking up as i find i amazing for all types fo cleaning!

Brooktop

Zero wrote: »

Why will Borax not be available to the public?

There's more about it here:
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=158036

Turkey isn't happy!

lornz23

I got some reduced from Tesco the other day as the sign said it was being discontinued!

pilgrim59

Boots are now stocking a Borax substitute!

I use it to make up a washing liquid, with soap flakes and washing soda ... works just as well as Persil and is a fraction of the price!

Lavendergal

I went into my local Wilkinsons today and was told they don't stock it any more


Does anyone know if Boots still stock it?


I've never used it before but I've read on line that it is excellent for cleaning black mould in the bathroom. I read that it is even better than bleach and vinergar at keeping it away.

timothyskinner

I tried unsuccessfully at Boots, supermarkets and 2 small chemists here on the Isle of Wight for borax (boric acid). Not the substitute sodium sesquicarbonate. I wish to use it to treat fleas in a house where chemical flea powder or sprays cannot be used as they affect an elderly person. Internet here we come...

While I am writing I discovered that we have fleas here immune to Frontline. Vets who are not trying to clear their stocks recommend Advocat instead. You CAN obtain Advocat on the net without a vets prescription for your dog, you just say it is for your cat (same flea species) for which there is no prescription requirement. Please, please just use a cat-sized dose for your dog - if you have a large dog who still has fleas after a cat-sized dose, go see your vet and check before scaling up the dose. Or, go find some proper non-substitute borax, grind it to a fine dust, sprinkle and leave where your dog hangs out. Borax has a sharp edged crystal which skins baby fleas.

ps. Be careful you buy high % boric acid (as anti-flea) not some kind of borax mixture with a low content of boric acid.

katholicos

I bought a big tub of borax from ebay last year, can;t recall the price, but just type 'borax' in the ebay search bar and hopefully you will be able to find something.