I'm with you on the borax, I hate it.

I've been using ecoballs for about 3 years now, and they did an ok job in my very old toploader, though I would have to stain-treat and re-wash some of DS's food-stained clothes most washes. Then the machine died last week (after 5 days of family gastro) and I got a new one, a front-loader - so far, it's doing a brilliant job with the eco-balls! Definitely look into them!

I choose to use them partly because my skin is incredibly sensitive to most laundry detergents and I detest having to touch the box of powders, and I couldn't find and gel tablets in Aus when I moved back here after some time in the UK. Now, I love the fact that I don't ever have to buy detergents, and there's no residue left in the laundry trough to bother me either.