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Post by Cher on Mar 1, 2005 20:02:10 GMT -5
I was just wondering, especially since some have such a hard time getting the borax, if anyone has ever tried something like Jet Dry? Isn't the idea of that stuff to clean of soapy residue and make your dishes shine? Anyone have any thoughts as to whether or not this would work in the tumbler for cleaning the rocks?
Cher
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Post by Alice on Mar 1, 2005 20:36:49 GMT -5
That doesn't sound like a bad idea Cher.
I use Cascade for a lot of my household cleaning even though I don't have a dishwasher, and it makes my 50 year old kitchen & bathroom sinks and bathtub look brand smacking new.
It doesn't produce air bubbles or gas, so why not? If I can't find Borax, then I'll give cascade a try. What's the worse that can happen?
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Post by Cher on Mar 1, 2005 23:01:57 GMT -5
Alice, one of the other gals, I think maybe it was Tami has used Cascade. I'm not sure how much but maybe they'll peek at this tomorrow.
Cher
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Post by Alice on Mar 2, 2005 0:11:03 GMT -5
Thanks Cher. I can probably eye it (I've worked with it many times... just in cleaning household items) My guess it to add a little at a time until the water feels a little "soapy" / "silky" . I'm not sure what word to use to describe it But I would like to hear everyone's opinion (just in case I'm wrong)
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Post by mrbrett on Mar 2, 2005 8:48:02 GMT -5
I had a booger of a time finding borax at the grocery store. I finially asked someone (yeah I have the man problem with not asking directions but I finially did it.) They told me it was in with the laundry detergent. Also try your local hardware store. If all else fails let me know and I mail you a box. Might cost more but the stuff does last for a long time. Oh! I did see it at Walmart.
Brett
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Mar 2, 2005 9:04:22 GMT -5
Borax is also used in pest control. I believe that Montreal has some laws pertaining to "natural" pest control. Borax is a natural material and ants won't cross it. When I was a kid, people would sprinkle a little along ground at the base of their house to keep ants out. You might try and find it being marketed for that purpose. Also, 20 Mule Team Borax is part of "The Dial Corp." if that helps.
Ron
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Post by Alice on Mar 2, 2005 9:27:57 GMT -5
Just a thought, but has anyone ever tried using TSP? Ron, I did see the insecticide you're talking about on-line at Canadian tire. They come in small bottles. But I have to think of the kids as well. If my 2 1/2 year old somehow gets ahold of it it might be toxic to him and our cat.... although it might stop my cat from getting fleas Yes, Quebec has put a ban on chemical insecticides, but all the natural products still have some chemicals in it. I think the law is you're allowed to put in something like 10% chemicals. The rest has to be natural (don't quote me on the %). Funny, I did a search on Borax at Canadian tire yesterday and I got the insecticide, and today it shows as "no such Item" This is really fustrating.
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Post by creativeminded on Mar 2, 2005 9:31:36 GMT -5
I tried Ivory shaving but they just gummed up and I had alot more rinsing to do. Once I found borax I now use that. Tami
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Mar 2, 2005 9:47:27 GMT -5
I see you're not the only one looking for it. I found this posted on a board back in June of 2003: Greetings, I have been reading up on laundry soap recipes, many of them calling for Borax. Apparently you can save a lot of money by making the stuff yourself. Several recipes have called for Borax, some say to use 1 cup, some say half a cup. Here in Montreal I'm having all the difficulty in the world in locating Borax, the only place I have found it is at a chemical supplier where they're selling a one pound (500 grams) bottle for $13 US. Now I'm new to all this but it seems to me that it's is rather expensive, unless I use a wee bit amount per batch. Perhaps this stuff is somewhat more 'potent' than the 'regular' borax? I don't know at all. It says on the bottle "Sodium Borate - Technical - Powder - 1303-96-4 - Na2B4O7.10H2O. Is *this* the stuff I should use?? Thanks. No. "Technical" means that it is a pure form for use in chemical labs. What you want will be found in the laundry detergent section of your supermarket. In the US, the main brand is 20 Mule Team Borax which is part of the Dial Corp. I would be surprised if it was not also found in Canada. Try the store finder or buy online at www.dialcorp.com/
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Mar 2, 2005 10:31:52 GMT -5
HA man this is a hot spot- Hey I have used Electrosol DISH DETERGENT (powder form) with pretty good results!
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Post by Alice on Mar 2, 2005 10:59:29 GMT -5
I have a friend who works for a chemical plant. I'm going to ask her if the company carries Borax, or if she knows where I can getsome. Or ask her to get some for me (she goes to the states from time to time). I know she's probably going to recommend TSP (she swears by it for everything), that's why I posed the question earlier before I give her a call.
So far no answers on TSP.
Michigan, there are NO Borax products in the laundry section of our grocery stores or drug stores. Believe me, I've checked, double checked and tripple checked. My last resort is Walmart (I HATE Walmart... too crowded)
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Post by Cher on Mar 2, 2005 11:00:15 GMT -5
I'm not even sure that I ever really knew what the reason was for using borax. I don't mean the "gas" thing we went thru with birdturd either ... I'm just wondering if anyone knows why borax was chosen in the first place. It's not even a soap, it's more of a water conditioner.
Ingredients of 20 Mule Team Borax. 100% Borax, a naturally occurring mineral composed of sodium, boron, oxygen and water.
Was that why borax is used, because it's natural? Is Borax the only thing on the shelves that's not really a detergent?
Could probably use Calgon which is also a water conditioner. I remember someone else saying they used Dreft, the laundry soap for babies.
No thoughts on the Jet Dry though eh?
Cher
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Post by Alice on Mar 2, 2005 11:25:01 GMT -5
Thanks for letting us know of your dish detergent experience Stefan. Have you tried Borax? Does Borax work just as well? or better?
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Mar 2, 2005 11:42:38 GMT -5
I'm not even sure that I ever really knew what the reason was for using borax. I don't mean the "gas" thing we went thru with birdturd either ... I'm just wondering if anyone knows why borax was chosen in the first place. It's not even a soap, it's more of a water conditioner.
I believe this was for cleaning your barrel between charges. Or is was to add before you change grits to make it easier to clean your rocks between batches. I believe that burnishing after polishing is not the subject here
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Mar 2, 2005 11:47:12 GMT -5
Just a thought, but has anyone ever tried using TSP?
I think that TSP is pretty hazardous and environmentally unfriendly(if you care about such things). I think I used it years ago to etch the grout off of my new slate foyer, maybe?
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Post by Alice on Mar 2, 2005 12:18:53 GMT -5
My sister got into soap making last year.
Turns out that most soaps and detergent contain Lye. Lye is extremely corrosive (it'll eat through an aluminium pot in under 5 minutes). You have to wear protective eye wear, cover your nose and mouth with a mask, wear long sleeves (preferably a rubber suit) and rubber gloves when working with it. Just imagine we use this stuff on our skin every day!
So now the question is, does 100% pure borax do the same thing as 100% lye? Some people use Ivory (which contains Lye) and some people use Borax detergent. What's the difference between Lye and Borax where cleaning is concerned? Is there a big difference between the 2?
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Post by Cher on Mar 2, 2005 12:26:31 GMT -5
Borax isn't caustic like lye, it won't burn you. I wouldn't use TSP either, that's very caustic too so you'd need rubber gloves etc. I did not know that ivory soap contained lye.
Cher
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Post by Alice on Mar 2, 2005 12:43:39 GMT -5
yup, Ivory soap contains lye.
The reason why their bar soap floats is because it's whipped before it hardens. Other soaps sink because they don't go through the whipping process. Whipping creates tiny air pockets and makes the mixture lighter... you also get more from your batch if you whip (Just think of whipping cream).
Whipping is the reason why a bar of Ivory soap doesn't last as long as harder bar soaps.
All soap bars (except for the ones containing moisturizers) dry your skin. That's all thanks to the lye in the soaps.
This is all according to my sister anyway. Her sources are usually pretty reliable.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Mar 2, 2005 13:58:24 GMT -5
ARE YOU "LYEing" ;D Man I crack myself up!
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Post by mrbrett on Mar 2, 2005 15:09:18 GMT -5
I wonder if you can use Oxy Clean. That stuff is everywhere.
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