20 Mule Team Borax is a good cleaning product for the laundry room and bathroom and is touted as a less toxic cleaner. I spent some time learning about this product today (as well as using it as a water softener in the wash and to clean  hard water stains in the shower). 
Here's an interesting question I found in the statewide electronic resources:

Dear EarthTalk: I've heard so much about using Borax for green housecleaning. But if this mineral has to be mined, doesn't that negate some of its "green-ness?"

Go to Gale's Science in Context database and enter keyword "borax."  Scroll down to the magazine articles to read the answer to this question.

I'm looking forward to hearing Heidi Wilcox of the Mass. Toxics Use Reduction Institute when she presents a talk on the many ways in which toxic items are present in everyday items that we use in the home. She will also present alternatives and make-it-yourself versions at her talk at the library on February 15, 2012.