Guest guest Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 To make it you will need: 1/2 cup salt 1/4 cup borax 1 16-ounce box baking soda About 1 cup water 3/4 cup white vinegar 10 drops thyme essential oil 10 drops lemon essential oil. Combine salt, washing soda, and baking soda in a bowl.... Washing soda? Is this what Borax is? TerriLynne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 Combine salt, washing soda, and baking soda in a bowl.... Washing soda? Is this what Borax is? Oh...I see the confusion. They didn't list washing soda in the ingredients but they included it in the mixing directions. They probably meant the Borax in this case. Gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 Washing soda? Is this what Borax is? No - there is a difference and both can be found in the grocery stores over in the laundry section. I use Washing Soda in my laundry soap. Here's the info I have on them: -Before getting started it is imperative to understand that washing soda is sodium CARBONATE and not baking soda which is sodium BICARBONATE. They are NOT interchangeable The Baking Soda/Washing Soda question pondered . . . A definition from Dr. Dan Berger (Faculty- Chemistry/Science dept. at Bluffton College) gives a bit of understanding regarding the primary difference between Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate) and Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate). ". . . washing soda will consume two equivalents of acid, while baking soda will only consume one equivalent." So, what does this mean for those of us concerned about laundering family laundry? Well, basically that Washing Soda is a stronger base than baking soda, and is in fact, CAUSTIC. This is one reason why it isn't used for baking! Washing Soda is caustic/alkaline with a pH of 11 (with 7 being neutral). Though it does not give off harmful fumes, you do still need to use/wear gloves when handling it directly as a cleansing agent. In reading about safe household cleaners, it always is recommended to save the Washing Soda for the stubborn stains that you are going to tackle by making a paste. For instance, if speaks about petroleum spills on garage floors . . . grease build-up in your oven . . . y'know, truly STUBBORN STAINS! some people prefer Baking Soda to Washing Soda for laundry because it is a much milder alkali and yet, still can lift dirt/grease/urine/poopies off my laundry effectively to dissolve easily in the wash water. Because it is so very water soluable, it dissolves before its soft crystalline molecules can scratch or damage a surface. The same is NOT TRUE of Washing Soda - because of its extra alkaline, it can eat away at elastic and cloth over time and is also used to rough-up fabric for dying. In fact, Washing Soda has just enough alkaline content to fall short of being labeled non-toxic. Baking Soda and Washing Soda have the power to neutralize odors, instead of just covering them up. Most unpleasant odors come from either strong acids (like a baby's urine) or strong bases (fish oils - which we find in some of our mainstream diaper rash ointments). The Baking Soda and Washing Soda deodorizes by bringing both acidic and basic odor molecules into a neutral state. Barefoot - Medical Journalist - cites from Nobel Prize Winner, Otto Warburg's work in his article, "Why is our pH Balance So Important . . ?" He substantiates that all body fluids are supposed to be mildly alkaline at pH 7.4, EXCEPT for stomach and urine fluids. Stomach fluids must remain acidic to digest food and urine must remain acidic to remove wastes from the body. Drawing from what we know of Baking Soda's neutralizing properties and the acidic levels naturally present in our baby's urine, we can see how Baking Soda would help restore pH balance in our washing routines. We know that our body also produces a form of sodium bicarbonate (Baking Soda) and utilizes it much like we do with our laundry. For instance . . . our body's naturally produced sodium bicarbonate neutralizes the stomach acids mentioned above (helping to prevent ulcers) and neutralizes plaque acids (helping to prevent tooth decay). So, this 'like' substance that even our bodies produce is most definitely a safe alternative for stain removal and pH balance in our laundry/for our diapers. Becky Eat a square meal a day - a box of chocolate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 I see that after Gloria mentioned it. I read the term "washing soda" and simply thought of the real stuff. But Becky in this recipe they are referring to the Borax.. Becky Eat a square meal a day - a box of chocolate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 Yes.TerriLynne <terri_lynne@...> wrote: To make it you will need:1/2 cup salt1/4 cup borax1 16-ounce box baking sodaAbout 1 cup water3/4 cup white vinegar10 drops thyme essential oil10 drops lemon essential oil.Combine salt, washing soda, and baking soda in a bowl....Washing soda? Is this what Borax is?TerriLynne Cheap Talk? Check out Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call rates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 But Becky in this recipe they are referring to the Borax.. Suzi bbarnyard82637@... wrote: Washing soda? Is this what Borax is? No - there is a difference and both can be found in the grocery stores over in the laundry section. I use Washing Soda in my laundry soap. Here's the info I have on them: -Before getting started it is imperative to understand that washing soda is sodium CARBONATE and not baking soda which is sodium BICARBONATE. They are NOT interchangeable The Baking Soda/Washing Soda question pondered . . . Suzi What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered. health/ http://suziesgoats.wholefoodfarmacy.com/ http://360./suziesgoats Never miss an email again! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives. Check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 Both are in the laundry aisle, usually next to each other. They are " old fashioned " cleaners. Borax is usually 20 Mule Team Borax, washing soda is labeled just that - Washing Soda. Gayla Always Enough Ranch Acampo, California http://bouncinghoofs.com/alwaysenough.html Bill Barnhill is our Inspiration! Go Bill!!! aeranch@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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