What's your water condition/hardness? Detergent formulations have long eliminated phosphates (non-precipitating water conditioners) so maybe the residue was mineral precipitates? What do you mean by "pasty borax on the top ledge?" Top ledge of what?

Dadoes, I have soft water. There were little balls of undissolved borax the consistency of paste on the top ledge(?) of the washer tub. I have a SpeedQueen. And the tub always leans forward.

beagle, I'm so glad you raised this issue again. I can never make up my mind. Right now I'm on a no-enzymes kick. We'll see how long that lasts.

Pat are you sensitive to enzymes?

Bea your findings are exactly why I am against excess Sodium Carbonate. I think if we all drained our washers into a sink we would be pretty surprised at the residues. Borax isn't quite as bad as S. Carbonate but both do like to attach themselves to fibers. My policy is only using Borax to remove stubborn odors and I never use a Carbonate containing booster with a powder detergent except for the smaller amount in Sodium percarbonate.

I know some people use a whites booster such as Oxiclean or Tide boosters with Tide with Bleach powder. .that's way to much carbonates and completely unnecessary concidering everything in the booster is already in TWB.

Anyway Bea sounds like you need extra rinsing if using Borax which doesn't surprise me.

"BeagleNC: There were little balls of undissolved borax the consistency of paste on the top ledge(?) of the washer tub."

That's not unreasonable/unexpected ... there may not be an appreciable amount of water directed at the rim of the inner basket ... and certainly there's not any directed atop the tub cover, else it'd splash over onto the floor.

Bea....are you asking yourself which detergent leaves less residue...powder or liquid? IMO. Its 6 of one half dozen of another. Lol

Back when phosphates ruled, before sodium carbonate took center stage in powders we didn't have all this residue problems. I have hugely noticeable changes since I've started using STPP again. My clothing is softer, more smooth without fabric softener. I usually run a third rinse but even the first rinse is almost clear now. I know this is because the phosphates are holding the carbonates in suspension and preventing leaving them behind in the fibers. Good stuff this STPP. Such a shame its not in our detergents any longer. But none of this is solving your issue Bea....unless you want to use STPP LOL.

mamaP, I don't know if I'm sensitive to enzymes, but since washing my stuff in All liquid (plain) I'm not itching anymore. Taking a que from xhappyx a couple of years ago and suspecting protease may be the culprit for me. I do know that I've finally realized why hubs really nice fleece shirts all came out of the wash with so many pills that I cannot get them out. I suspect if I had used a non-enzyme detergent, that would not have happened. They are ruined and they were a gift from his best friend.

I have young boys and they have their fair share of fleece throws, robes, and PJ's. Some wash nice some look like total crap after washing. I think its the way its manufactured.

When this new puppy arrived a few months ago weighing one pound I went to Walmart and bought a few yards of cheap fleece which I cut into receiving blanket sizes. They have been washed tons of times with ALL F&C Powder with enzymes. ..they are like new. But Amiees friend bought the pup a very pricey fleece baby blanket that after one wash was a hot mess. I say manufacturer is to blame.

Point well taken. Thank you, MamaP.

On the subject of enzymes.. I'm using mostly Tide Ultra Stain Release F/G and am getting noticeably less lent in the dryer. Tide USR had the celluase(sp) enzyme. I'm hoping it will help with some of the piling I've been getting. I have a feeling that maybe using Borax has cause a good bit of it.

I hate the gummy starches in liquid detergent and only use powder now. I've never had a problem with powder not dissolving. It could be some kind of chemical reaction with your water and the powder that you are using, in which I mean your water may not be able to dissolve the powder. Very curious what it could be.

Carbonate residue draining from the washer is to be expected with powders expecially with the phosphates being removed..but undissolved powders can be the cause of cold water, or to many clothes in the wash load not allowing enough water to flush over the clothing and detergent. Powders have always been better at removing soils.