Dear Home-Ec 101,
I have long wished to use washing soda and borax–suggested in all
sorts of green home guides for everything from dishwashers to washing
machines–but I cannot find them locally. Internet searches have been
to no avail either. Do you know where I can buy them online?
Thank you!
New reader of your blog
Ivy says:
I had a hard time finding Borax too, until I knew where to look. The original plan for this post was, I was going to zip all over town and take pics at WalMart, Target, KMart and a couple of grocery stores of Borax and washing soda for you. The problem with that plan was, my 13 year old failed to mention that 1. the band concert was tonight and 2. he had outgrown all his black dress pants and therefore we needed to buy a new pair. So, we got a picture of Borax at KMart, since that’s the closest place to my house that sold both black dress pants and Borax.
Borax and washing soda both are found in the laundry aisle at most major discount stores and grocery stores. Washing soda is harder to find as is evidenced by my picture:
Look for it by stuff like OxyClean and that sort of stuff. I’ll run around this week and take more pictures of Borax and washing soda. And readers, if you have any Borax or washing soda sightings, post a picture!
If you still can’t find it locally, Amazon has 76OZ 20 Mule Team Borax
I also hear you can buy washing soda at pool supply stores. It’s also called soda ash, so be on the lookout.
Good luck!
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I did the borax/washing soda concoction for a while. At first it was hard to find the stuff in the stores and upon asking the store clerks they would just give me weird looks not knowing what I was talking about. Alas I had a break through at a local Kroger. I found mine on the very top row at the end of the aisle. At walmart it can be found at or near the top of the shelves at the end of the aisle near where they keep the dyes, bleach, etc.
Only downfall that I found with the borax/washing soda mix is that you don’t get a nice laundry soapy smell to your clothes when they are done. Hubby didn’t like this idea since he is HUGE on the smell of things hence resulting in us not doing it anymore and just buying the cheap laundry soap.
I knew that Borax could be used to clean all sorts of things in your house, I had forgotten that one of them was dishes. We recently moved into a house that doesn’t have a dishwasher so I’m constantly HAND washing dishes. I think I’ll have to pick up some borax and or washing soda to help with my everyday dish clean up.
You could simply add some essential oils to your laundry mix (like lavender) and it'll make your clothes smell nice, or you can add the oils to a dryer sheet when you dry them. Just FYI.
I make my own laundry soap and I know the challenge of finding the washing soda. I actually found it in my local hardware store. Look around in every store you go to in the laundry/cleaning isle.
I found it at Target, and will be using it as a replacement to some of my household cleaners.
I’ve seen Borax with the roach killers at my local grocery store.
do you have any recipes for the laundry detergent you make with this stuff?
go to the duggar family web page or TLC home page and find duggars. they have a few great recipes that include adding scents. enjoy!
How do you use these?
I use Charlie’s Soap laundry powder ( http://www.charliesoap.com ), which lists washing soda as its first ingredient, and I’m really pleased with it. I have no connection with the company and have no economic interest in posting this, although I did once get a free gift box because of someone mentioning that I referred them to the company.
As someone indicated about the washing soda-borax mix above, Charlie’s Soap does not have any of the fragrances associated with store-bought laundry detergents. So your laundry does not smell like Tide or what have you. But I don’t mind at all. It’s inexpensive (per load — you use only a tablespoon for a washload) and it cleans really well.
I have seen this on the top shelf at Kroger Supermarket. I hope that helps!
This is the recipe I use with great results.
3 pints water
1/3 bar felsnaptha or ivory grated fine
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup borax
2 gallon bucket
1 quart hot water
more hot water
Mix grated soap with 3 pints water in a sauce pan. Slowly warm water untill soap melts. Stir in soda and borax and stir untill thick. Remove from heat and add 1 qt. hot water. Pour into bucket and add hot water untill full. Allow to sit over night to gel. Give it a good stir to mix before using. Use 1/4 cup per load.
I found lavendar scented ivory at my store and it makes your detergant smell real nice.
Just a note that the borax by the roach killers is NOT the same as the laundry 20 mule team borax. The roach killer can be dangerous to children and should not be used for cleaning.
washing soda is also known as soda ash and is ease to find on the internet
thank you
@Allison, the roach killers I think you discuss is boric acid, is an acid, and much stronger insecticide and poison. Borax is an alkaline salt of boric acid, the alkaline makes it a good cleaner, and it is less toxic to people. Different chemicals, don’t confuse them.
does the Borax, the laundry kind, kill ants?, and is it harmful to put outside? around my house foundation?__
I get Borax at my local King Kullen (I'm located on Eastern Long Island, but they're located throughout Long Island, NY) and washing soda at Stop & Shop. Both are in the laundry isle near other laundry additives and usually on the top or bottom shelf. Also, Borax has changed their box: it's now white with red print and a thin light green strip at the top and bottom of box. Sorry, I don't have a picture, but will get one asap. Good luck.
Jennifer
Go to Alice.com for washing soda, free shipping. The price is $2.99.
Fred meyer has washing soda for $ 2.49,,
I get my supplies and recipes (free) from soapsgonebuy.com