Uses of Borax at home
Making your own homemade cleaning products
is easy, as you're about to discover. In making such recipes, Borax
plays a big role. But the uses of Borax extend beyond cleaning, it can
deter mice, kill fleas, keep pests at bay and more. One other essential
fact to note when using Borax is that it is a naturally occurring
mineral also known as sodium borate.
It doesn't cause cancer, accumulate in the
body or absorb through the skin. Borax is not harmful to the
environment. People have been using Borax for over 100 years to clean
their home and their laundry. So, with all this in mind, aren't you all
the more excited to use Borax?
1. Carpet Cleaning
Add 1/3 a cup of Borax per gallon of water
in your carpet cleaning machine for an extra cleaning boost.
2. Fruit Trees
Sprinkle a cup of Borax around a full-sized apple tree, or just a couple
of tablespoons around a young tree, every three to four years. This
will add boron, a trace mineral, to the soil. Boron is needed for good
cell wall growth and for fruit and seed development.
3. Control Pests
Keep roaches, waterbugs, and ants away by sprinkling equal parts of
borax and sugar wherever you suspect they may be entering your home.
4. Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Pour 1 cup of Borax into the toilet bowl at night before you go to
sleep. Then in the morning, give the toilet a good scrub with your
toilet brush. The Borax will loosen any grime or deposits, making it
easier to scrub away.
5. Flea Killer
Borax uses
Sprinkle some Borax on dog beds, carpets and other areas where you
suspect that fleas are hatching.
6. Mice Deterrent
Sprinkle borax on the floor and along the walls - mice like to run along
the side of the walls, but they don't like the borax on their feet.
This way they are less likely to return to that area of the house.
7. Preserving Flowers
Most varieties of fresh flowers can be preserved with the help of Borax.
It removes the moisture from blossoms and leaves, preventing the
wilting that would normally occur. Mix one part Borax with two parts
cornmeal and sprinkle the mixture into the bottom of a box. Place the
flowers in the box and sprinkle more of the Borax and cornmeal mixture
over the top. Cover the box and let it sit for about 2 weeks, enabling
the flowers to dry.
8. Homemade Candles
Do you make your own candles? Treat the wicks by soaking them in a
solution of salt and borax to help reduce ash and eliminate smoke
problems.
9. “Goo Gone” Remover
Removes sticky, gooey and gummy adhesive residue by mixing Borax and
water in a 2-to-1 ratio, then rub the mixture onto the residue.
10. Cleaning Cookware
This mild and gentle cleaner is great for porcelain and aluminum
cookware. Sprinkle Borax on pots and pans, rubbing it in with a damp
dishcloth, then rinse thoroughly.
11. Refrigerator Deodorizer
Wash away any stains and spills in your fridge with a sponge or soft
cloth using a solution of 1 quart water and 1 tablespoon Borax. Rinse
with cold water.
12. Shower, Tub & Tile Cleaner
Sprinkle some Borax on a damp sponge or a soft cloth and use in the same
way as a powdered cleanser. This can also be used on fiberglass
surfaces without scratching the finish. Once complete, rinse thoroughly.
13. Remove Rust
Start with a tablespoon or two of Borax, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and
enough water to turn it into a paste. Apply the paste to the rust using
a sponge or a scrubber.
14. Clean Humidifiers
Help keep your humidifier free of odor by dissolving 1/2 a cup of Borax
in a gallon of water and adding it to the tank. Run your humidifier for
10 to 15 minutes then dump out the tank and rinse well with clean water.
15. Sink Cleaner
Remove stains from stainless steel or
porcelain sinks by combining a paste of 1 cup borax and 1/4 cup lemon
juice. Then, using a sponge or a cloth, rub the stain with the paste and
rinse with warm water.
16. Clean Outdoor Furniture
Combine 1 teaspoon of dish soap with 1 teaspoon Borax and 1 quart warm
water in a spray bottle and use it to clean your outdoor furniture.
17. Cat Litter Deodorizer
Keep the odor of your cat's litter box to a minimum by adding a few
tablespoons of Borax to the litter.
18. Garbage Disposal Cleaner
Keep your garbage disposal clean by putting three tablespoons of Borax
down the drain, letting it sit for an hour and flushing it with warm
water.
19. Unclog Drains
Unclog drains with 1/2 a cup of Borax followed by two cups of boiling
water. Allow it to sit for 15 minutes then run water over it for a few
minutes to flush out the borax and any clogging.
20. Clean Mattresses
Remove urine odor from a mattress by
wetting it then rubbing in the Borax with a damp cloth. Let it dry, then
vacuum the remaining residue.
21. Garbage Can Deodorizer
Keep your garbage can odor free by filling it with borax and water. Let
it soak, then rinse it out and let dry.
22. Kill Weeds
Use a sprinkle of Borax to kill weeds that surface in concrete cracks
and on walkways. Bear in mind that Borax should not be used in the
garden as it will kill your plants.
23. Shine China
Is your China worn? Make it sparkle again by soaking it in a sink full
of warm water and a 1/2 cup of Borax. Rinse well and wash a second time.
24. Clean Hairbrushes and Combs
Mix a quarter cup of Borax and 1 tablespoon of dish soap in a basin
filled with warm water. Swish the brushes in the water, then let them
soak. After, rinse clean and allow the brushes to air dry completely.
25. Mold Inhibitor
Make a thick paste of Borax and water, smearing it on the moldy area.
Allow the paste to sit until it dries. Keep it at least overnight, then
sweep up the powder and rinse the area clean.
26. Refresh Linens
Keep your linens free from mildew and mustiness by soaking them in two
quarts of water mixed with two cups of Borax. Let it sit for a few hours
then rinse clean.