Fixing Hard Water Problems With Borax

Living in a home with hard water, I've seen the long-term side effects that it can have.  We have had plumbers out three times for our kitchen sink and bathroom showers, only to pay the expensive fee and be told the problem is sediment build-up that is blocking the water flow.  I've hand washed dishes before putting them in the dishwasher and ran the cycle twice to have them come out with a white residue on them that seems to myseriously appear from out of nowhere.

Since the start of 2013, I've been on a cleaning kick.  In a lot of ways, it's a simplifying ritual as much as a cleaning one.  Minimizing the amount of excess "stuff" has led to finding hidden treasures of toys my kids have forgotten about and me feeling like I have more breathing room in my home.  Incorporating ways to streamline my kitchen has been a part of this as well.

The white residue on my dishes was a problem.  How can your home look clean when your glasses and dishware look like they haven't been washed in weeks?  I found out the white powder is from the calcium and magnesium in our hard water.  Over 85% of homes have this type of water and I'm sure the problem isn't isolated to my stemware alone!

I tried using 20 Mule Team Borax in my dishwasher as well as a part of my laundry routine to help cleanse my washing machine.  Borax is the common name for sodium tetraborate, a naturally occurring substance produced by the perpetual evaporation of seasonal lakes.  Absolutely nothing is added so what you are getting is pure product.

I have to say, my dishes came out cleaner than ever and also the inside of my dishwasher looks brand new!  In my washing machine, my clothes came out cleaner and fresher with the Borax working to eliminate the buildup of calcium and magnesium that was lurking below.

I enjoy products that work, products that I don't have to use twice to get good results.  So far, my experience with Borax has been phenomenal and I'm hoping it will help reduce the sediment build-up in the plumbing in my home.

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Disclosure: All opinions are, as always, my own.  A sample of this product was provided to help facilitate this review.