Hey arugula (and others),

Have you seen these before? [www.treehugger.com]

One pack is supposed to last for 1,000 washes, making it eco-friendly and also very affordable. Save quite a lot in the medium to long term, as the per wash cost is about 1/5 of normal cost.

Cheers,
J

Boric acid & borax are two different chemicals..Boric acid is considered to be a pesticide, & is still used as such by exterminators to this day..

Google both chemicals for their differences..

Bruce

Oh, sorry -- from the first article which shows them together (boric acid/borax) I assumed they were the same thing.

Went to the store today..Purchased both the washing soda & the borax..

The Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda was priced at $1.99 per 55 oz. (by weight) box, plus $0.10 MD State sales tax for of total of $2.09 per box..By volume there is 6 full cups of washing soda per box..This translates to $0.087083 cents per 1/4 cup measure; & $0.174167 cents per 1/2 cup measure..

The 20 Mule Team Borax was priced at 3.49 per 76 oz. (by weight) box, plus $0.33 cents MD State sales tax for a total of $3.82 per box..By volume there is 11 full cups of borax per box..This translates to $0.086818 cents per 1/4 cup measure; & $0.173636 cents per 1/2 cup measure..

Rounded up, both the washing soda & the borax are costing me between 8.75 cents to 17.5 cents per load of laundry when I choose to add them to the wash load..

Taking into account the cost of the Bio Pac liquid laundry detergent, my laundry chemical costs now range from between 7.25 cents per load at the low end to a maximum of 25.75 cents per load..

When compared to the costs per load when using even the least expensive powdered or liquid laundry detergents sold by the big manufacturers; the Bio Pac laundry liquid & the powdered boosters are far more economical choices..

When I take into account the gentler effects that these chemicals have on my skin & the environment the choice is even more clear..

Bruce