10 Different Ways To Use Borax

One of the most versatile natural products that you may currently have in your home is borax. Chemically known as sodium borate, borax is a naturally occurring mineral that is very safe to use. It doesn’t absorb through the skin, it doesn’t accumulate in the body, it is not harmful to the environment and best of all, it doesn’t cause cancer. However, there is still some threat that this mineral poses to animals and young children. But with proper use, there are tons of ways you can utilize the many benefits of borax—one of which is as a main ingredient for a variety of household products. In fact, people have been using borax to accomplish their household tasks for over 100 years. To give you some idea, here are ten different ways you can use borax.

  1. All-purpose cleaner. Place two tablespoons of borax in a spray bottle then add two cups of water. Mix well to make an all-purpose cleaner which you can use for a variety of surfaces as well as glass windows and mirrors.
Image from warrenandsoncarpetcleaning.com
  1. Carpet cleaner. Use half a cup of borax in a gallon of water in your steam cleaning machines when you’re using it to clean the carpet. Alternatively, you can sprinkle the borax directly onto the carpet then vacuum it to remove dirt and fleas.
  1. Tub and shower cleaner. Sprinkle some borax onto a damp cloth or a sponge then use it to scrub tubs and showers. Afterwards, rinse and clean the surface thoroughly with water.
  1. Keep pests away. Mixing equal parts of borax and sugar can help keep pests at bay. The sugar will draw the pests in but the borax will do the opposite permanently. However, make sure you place the mixture somewhere pets and children cannot reach them for it can be harmful to their health. For instance, you can place the mixture under stoves and sinks.
  1. Fertilizer. You can sprinkle a cup of borax around the soil of a young or full-grown fruit tree to add a trace mineral called boron to the soil. Boron will help the development of the fruit and will promote good cell wall growth. Only do this every 3-4 years for doing it too often may harm the tree.
  1. Steel and porcelain stain remover. Stainless steel and porcelain mugs, dishes, or sinks can easily get stained. To remove these stains, make a paste out of a cup of borax and one-fourth cup of lemon juice. Rub the paste directly onto the stain using a sponge or cloth then rinse thoroughly with warm water.
  1. Brush and comb cleaner. Brushes and combs often get overlooked when it comes to cleaning. However, your hair can actually harbour more dirt than you might have originally thought. Regularly clean your brushes and combs by stirring them in a sink with warm water, one-fourth cup of borax, and a squirt of dish soap. Let your brushes and combs sit in the mixture for about 30 minutes before rinsing with plain water.
  1. Rust remover. Make a paste out of a cup of borax, a tablespoon of lemon juice, and two cups of warm water then apply it on the rusted metal. Leave for about 15 minutes before scrubbing and rinsing off. If the rust is a bit stubborn, apply a second coating then leave it for 15-20 minutes before scrubbing off.
Image from The Natural Penguin

 

  1. Toilet bowl cleaner. Before going to bed, pour borax to the toilet bowl and leave it overnight. Scrub the bowl with a toilet brush the next morning then flush repeatedly. The borax works by loosening up all the grime build-up.
  1. Unclog drains. Pour half a cup of borax followed by two cups of boiling water down the clogged drain. Let it sit for about 15 minutes then let the water run for a couple of minutes to flush out whatever’s clogging the drain.
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