Sometimes referred to as "the miracle mineral," this time-honored household ingredient is the natural solution for just about everything under your roof, from cleaning to insect control.
Borax, also known as
sodium borate, is an a naturally occurring substance and an eco-friendly solution for many things around the house. Most commonly used as a cleaning agent, the uses extend far beyond that.
Talking with friends (ones far wiser than myself), and reading tips from
Reader's Digest,
Laundry Goddess and
Green Living Tips I'm excited to share all the ways you can use this natural element to your greatest advantage. Here are 25 to get you started. Let us know about your own special uses and we'll keep updating the list.
(
Safety Warning: Just because borax is natural, that doesn't mean it's harmless. You should always use gloves when handling it and keep it out of reach of children and pets. While safe in the diluted solutions, borax could be very harmful to children and pets if ingested.)
PEST CONTROL
1. Keep roaches, waterbugs, and ants away by sprinkling a combination of equal parts all-natural borax and sugar.
2. Keep the mice out by sprinkling borax on the floor along the wall.
3. Get rid of bed bugs by sprinkling borax on your mattress. Let it sit and vacuum it up.
4. Kill fleas by sprinkling borax on your carpet. Leave it for an hour and vacuum it up thoroughly.
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CLEANING
5. Scrub dirty pots and pans with a mixture of 1 teaspoon of borax and warm water. Because borax is non-abrasive, it will work on the grime without damaging the surface material.
6. Remove a stubborn stain by mixing 1 cup of borax with 2 cups of warm water and apply the paste directly to the stain. Let it sit, then launder as usual. Remove carpet stains by dampening the stain thoroughly and rubbing some borax on it. Vacuum it then finish it off with a vinegar and water solution. Let it dry and repeat if necessary. Use this same method on soiled mattresses. It will get rid of both the odor and stain.
7. Remove rust by mixing the above solution with a tablespoon of
lemon juice.
8. Make an all-purpose cleaner by mixing 2 tablespoons borax and 2 cups hot water in a spray bottle.
9. Removes oxidation from metals with borax. The ingredient is also used as a
flux in welding.
10. Make your own floor and wall cleaner by mixing 1/3 cup borax, 1 tablespoons
ammonia and 1 teaspoon
dish detergent into 1 gallon of water.
Lou Cypher, Corbis
11. As a laundry detergent, add one cup of borax to each load and significantly boost your cleaning power.
12. Remove stains from stainless steel or porcelain sinks with
this recipe: Make a paste with 1 cup borax and 1/4 cup lemon juice. Using a sponge or cloth, rub the stain with the paste. Rinse with warm water.
13. Clean your toilet with this solution: Dissolve 1/2 cup of borax with 1 gallon of water. Scrub the toilet with a strong brush, let it sit and flush to rinse. This non-abrasive cleaner can also be used in the bathtub or on counters.
14. Clean outdoor furniture by washing it with this mildew zapping solution: In a spray bottle, mix 1 teaspoon dish detergent, 1 teaspoon borax and 1 quart warm water.
15. Make your own dishwasher detergent by mixing 1tablespoons borax and 1tablespoons
baking soda.
DEODORIZING
16. Minimize odor in your cat's litter box by mixing a few tablespoons of
borax in with the litter.
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17. Clean your garbage disposal by putting 3 tablespoons of borax down the drain. Let it sit for an hour and flush it with warm water. This will sanitize it, taking care of any smelly bacteria.
18. Remove mildew and mustiness from linens by soak them in 2 cups of borax mixed with 2 quarts of water. Let the linens sit for a few hours, then rinse them clean.
19. Unclog drains with 1/2 cup of borax followed by 2 cups of boiling water. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then run your water for a few minutes to flush it out.
20. Remove urine odor from a mattress. Wet the mattress rub in borax with a damp cloth. Let dry, then vacuum up the remaining residue.
21. Deodorize and clean your fridge by washing it with a borax and water solution.
22. Deodorize your garbage pail by filling it with borax and water. Let it soak then rinse it out. Sprinkle some borax in the bottom once it's clean. This will keep the bugs away and absorb any odor causing moisture.
Corbis
OTHER USES
23. Kill weeds by sprinkling borax where you've seen weeds previously appear. This is useful for weeds that surface in concrete cracks and on walkways, but shouldn't be used in the garden because it will also kill your plants. Sprinkle some borax around the perimeter of the house too and you'll be free from ants and other intruding insects.
24. Soften your water when doing laundry by adding borax to the load.
25. Bring life back to your worn china by soaking it in a sink full of warm water and a 1/2 cup of borax. Rinse well and wash a second time as usual.
Along with these 25 household solutions,
borax is used commercially as an ingredient in enamel glaze, adhesives, ink for indelible pens and is more recently being used in place of Mercury for extracting gold in smaller scale mining operations. In some countries, borax is used as a food additive, but is not approved for use as such in the United States.
Watch this video to see Borax in action in quite an unusual way:
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Reader comments (Page 1 of 5)
That comment about illegal immigrates is not very nice
We used Borax to kills fleas in our carpet and it worked. We sprinkled on carpet, left it on the carpet for a day and then vacumned. Also in response to Julia's comments after reading the comment, I see it is still true, ignorant and undeducated people still do exist.
Julia, maybe your mama used it to clean your mouth out too many times because looks like it has addled your brain.
My mother always used Borax in the ranch for many cleaning chores and around the house. I've forgotten the many uses it has and will start is using it as others are commenting of its use.
Thanks Fern for the Home Detergent recipe.
D. Perotti, she zeroed in specifically on illegal "mexican' anchor babies, no other ethnic or race.
Feel better now, Julia?
No amount of borax could get your soul clean.
try Borax to clean your brain
I agree with you Julia 100% to heck with what the rest of these Liberals here say.
Julia, now that's funny I don't care who you are.
And one has to wonder why such a comment would be ascribed to anyone right of center.
We have been using this Borax now for a couple of weeks.We have been amazed at how well it is getting my work clothes cleaner.
ReplyGreat stuff.
Safety Warning: Just because borax is natural, that doesn't mean it's harmless. You should always use gloves when handling it and keep it out of reach of children and pets. While safe in the diluted solutions, borax could be very harmful to children and pets if ingested.)
Whre do you get it?
where can you buy it now I have never seen that anywhere in Massachusetts. I would love to get some it does so many good things.
I am so glad that, at last, others are realizing the quality and uses for 20 Mule Team Borax. I have been using it primarily as an additive to my detergent in the washing machine. Clothes come out with fresh smells....actually NO smells.......they come out as fresh as if they were dried on a clothesline.
ReplyWe have a little mountain place and have had problems with mice. I am going to put the borax in jar lids and place in strategic places around the rooms...........I am also plagued with camel crickets that get in my bathroom on occasion. They come up through small cracks in the duct system. I have considered having the joints taped, but I bet the borax sprinkled around the perimeter of the house will do the trick.
I am 78 years old and have used Borax for many years............Am excited to see that it is recognized for its uses.......Am going to get another box and clear my drains and garbage disposal today!
Where do you buy it?
Replyyou can get borax at most any supermarket.
You can buy it @ any Supermarket
This can be purchased at Wal-mart or any grocery store in the soap isle. I have used it for years to keep fleas and bugs out of the house. I live in Florida where bugs love people.
win dixie, wal mart, sometimes it get hard and just dilute it in a glass of hot water and it works great on colored closes but can leave a white sploch on black items if not diluted
walmart has borax in with the detergents
We recently bought it at Wal-Mart. After first using it , I noticed it on the shelves of several small grocers.