Funny How There Are No Commercials for Borax

by Katy on September 21, 2010 · 22 comments

I made the switch over to green cleaning products a few years back, which pretty much means:

  • I mostly just wipe things down with water.
  • When I need abrasive cleaning action, I just grab the paper box of Borax and sprinkle some on the bathtub or kitchen sink. Sure, it takes a bit more elbow grease than using Ajax, but I am in dire need of increased exercise in my life, so it’s all good.

The hilarious video below was brought to my attention by my 15-year-old son, whose sense of humor has always been more that of an adult than a child.

Enjoy!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”

{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }

Annie Jones September 21, 2010 at 8:08 am

Funny…but kind of scary when you think about it.

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Barb @ 1SentenceDiary September 21, 2010 at 8:25 am

Oh. My. Goodness. I’m laughing far too loud for my very conservative office. Ha ha ha ha ha.

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Stacy S September 21, 2010 at 8:31 am

That video was too funny! I’m a big fan of Borax too, I toss some in my toilet and wait a while, and easily scrub it clean…it’s hard to find here, it’s hidden at the grocery store on the bottom shelf by some obscure laundry products.

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Lisa September 21, 2010 at 10:51 am

Hilarious! I used to be a professional custodian and was around super strength chemicals for years because of it. So early on, I ditched my chemicals at home in favor of non toxic, homemade cleaners. I love them and would never go back to using commercial products.

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Jana September 21, 2010 at 11:36 am

Hilarious!!!! Thanks for the laugh.

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Tracy Balazy September 21, 2010 at 12:20 pm

I liked that! I’ve been switching over to non-toxic cleaners, using vinegar and baking soda for a lot of personal and house cleaning. I stopped using Tilex when I adopted a cat who, I discovered, loves to jump into the shower after I turn it off and lick the porcelain for a drink of water. I don’t want him ingesting that kind of stuff, and I no longer want it in my house!

When my last can of Comet runs out, I’m going to buy Borax for my sinks and toilets.

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Karen September 21, 2010 at 9:21 pm

Tracy, my cat does the same thing. Apparently a full bowl of water is not as good as shower water. Cats!

Baking soda and vinegar are sure the ticket. Sometimes more abrasion is needed though. I don’t know if you have ever tried Bon Ami, but it is nontoxic concentrated dry soap that works as well as Ajax or Comet. It’s been around for many, many years and is a great green cleanser for the tub etc.

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Diane September 22, 2010 at 6:19 am

Funny, I had a friend whose cool cat Wiley did the same thing. They finally ended up putting his water bowl right over the drain. Easy to fill, no water droplets on the floor, no water bowl to accidentally kick over in the dark, one very happy cat!
Love Bon Ami. I use it on my popcorn pot to remove the heat-seared cooking oil.

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Tracy Balazy September 22, 2010 at 8:39 am

Bon Ami is non-toxic? Really! I see that at the store! Heck, I’ll switch to that from Comet. THANKS!!

And yes, the cats are funny, aren’t they?

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Anne Marie @ Married to the Empire September 22, 2010 at 11:04 am

I switched to a non-toxic product called Red Juice 11 years ago because my cat, who was then a kitten, enjoyed jumping onto the bathroom counters while I was cleaning them! I panicked every time because he’d get cleaner all over his paws.

Other than my Red Juice, which I buy from a company called The Clean Team, I make my all my cleaning products. I got super sick years ago due to a freon leak in my house, and I got scared away from chemicals at that point.

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Mary H September 21, 2010 at 12:56 pm

What a funny, creepy video! I ditched the chemicals a while back in favor of baking soda, laundry soda, vinegar, borax and Bon Ami. I use mostly the vinegar and baking soda, but Bon Ami is great for scrubbing the tub.

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Jeanine September 21, 2010 at 3:37 pm

Just a quick question, please.

I am slowly moving over to all natural cleaners, but because of certain medical conditions that members of my family have, can anyone recommend a germ/bacteria killing green cleaner? Something akin to bleach?

Not to be gross or anything, but I’m talking blood and projectile vomiting here.

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Mary H September 22, 2010 at 7:41 am

The information I read about vinegar and hydrogen peroxide says they both are antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial. Use separately or for stronger sanitizing use in conjunction but not mixed together in the same container – spray one and then the other, then rinse. Also, a nurse told me once that she considered peroxide better than clorox for treating protein-based messes: (blood, etc.). Iuse these for pet messes a lot. Vinegar is a good deodorizer, too.

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Ellen September 21, 2010 at 5:07 pm

Great ad. I’m in a bit of cleanser crisis right now, since we’re trying to recycle our greywater in the garden. This means no baking soda or borax in the laundry or shower. I am at my poor green wits end. Any suggestions?

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LeShea September 22, 2010 at 4:06 am

Ellen

I have used the Shaklee product called Scour Off with great success………maybe that would work for you. It takes very little and smells nice too.

Your other option is your soap. ….it really does work even though you will have to be the scrubber and not the product.

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Chris September 22, 2010 at 8:44 am

What do you Borax for exactly? I see lots use Bon Ami, vinegar and baking soda most of the time.

When does Borax come in handy?

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Katy September 22, 2010 at 10:23 am

Borax is an abrasive like baking soda, but doesn’t dissolve as easily in water, so I like it better. I have it on hand, but I use it as part of my laundry detergent recipe, which is:

one part grated fels naptha soap
one part Borax
one part washing soda, (not baking soda)

I shred the fels naptha soap in the food processor, and whirls it with the regular blade until it’s as powder-like as possible.

Mix it all together and then use a heaping tablespoon per load.

I make a lot at once, as it’s no extra work.

-Katy

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Katy September 22, 2010 at 10:24 am

I am going to pick up a can of Bon Ami though, as my husband is more likely to scrub the tub out if the cleaning supplies are not complicated.

-Katy

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lynda September 22, 2010 at 9:38 am

Funny video, I had to ditch the chemical cleaners this past summer . My Doc told me to stop cleaning. The chemicals were causing my asthma to worsen. I have three kids, so just stop cleaning was not an option. I am breathing better and the house is just as clean.

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Anne Marie @ Married to the Empire September 22, 2010 at 11:07 am

If you’d stopped cleaning, I think other things would have affected your asthma! LOL. What absurd advice!

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Molly On Money September 22, 2010 at 9:45 am

Lemon juice is another great anti-bacterial cleaner. I use baking soda to scrub off the crappies and then spray and wipe it down with a mixture of lemon juice, borax and baking soda.
Here’s a great website of homemade products: http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm

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