Borax, commonly known as sodium borate, is a naturally occurring mineral that is a chemical compound of the element boron. It is a soft, white, many-sided crystal powder that dissolves easily in water and helps with stain removal, sanitation, and even repels insects.
Borax can easily be found in big markets, hardware shops, or online. It is inexpensive and can be used in many ways around the house. Keep reading to find out how to make laundry detergent and use Borax for house cleaning.
While Borax is generally safe for human health, it can irritate your eyes and cause health issues when inhaled. While it is hard to be harmed by this product, it is best to handle it with care and wear protective gear such as latex gloves and a mask or goggles (if you have breathing issues or sensitive eyes).
Use Borax for your laundry
Borax is a powerful laundry booster. It is great at brightening colours, whitening whites, softening hard water, neutralising odours, and removing stains. In fact many commercial laundry detergents contain sodium borate.
- Use as a pre-soak to get rid of stains and odours – Add ½ cup of Borax to every 4 litres of water in a large bucket. Soak the dirty garments for about 30 minutes before laundering them as usual. Drain them from the solution before tossing them in the washing machine.
- Boost your regular laundry detergent – Add ½ cup of Borax to your laundry machine drum to strengthen your detergent.
- Make your own laundry detergent – To create your own laundry detergent, combine 1/2 cup borax, 1 cup soap flakes, 1 cup baking soda, and 1 cup washing soda in a resealable container. In a regular top-load washer, 1/2 a cup of the mixture per load, or 2 tablespoons in a high-efficiency top- or front-load washer.
Use Borax as a house cleaner
- Get rid of stains from sinks and laminate countertops – In a small bowl, combine 1 cup borax and 1/4 cup lemon juice or distilled white vinegar. Scrub the stain gently with a sponge dipped in the paste. Warm water should be used to rinse the area.
- Unclog and freshen a kitchen drain – Add 3 tablespoons of Borax to your drain. Follow by pouring hot water down the drain and let it sit for 15-30 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
- Get rid of pet urine odour and stains – Combine 1/4 cup borax, salt, and vinegar in a small bowl. After removing as much of the pet urine as possible with paper towels, apply the paste to the carpet and gently scrub with a soft-bristled brush. Allow the paste to sit on the carpet for 30 to 45 minutes before vacuuming it up. Remove any leftover paste traces with a moist sponge.
- Clean outdoor plastic furniture – Combine 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid, one teaspoon of borax, and one litre of warm water in a spray bottle. Shake to combine and make sure to label the bottle. Spray the solution onto the plastic furniture and gently scrub the surfaces with a soft-bristled brush or a sponge or cloth. Rinse well and pat dry with a microfiber towel.
Use Borax to clean the bathroom
- Cleaning the toilet – Add 1 cup of Borax into the toilet oil whenever you are not going to use it for a while (best done overnight). Let it sit for at least 8 hours and scrub your toilet bowl after that.
- Get rid of hard water spots – Water minerals can leave spots on fixtures. To eliminate water spots and grime, sprinkle a damp sponge with borax powder and gently scrub chrome fittings.
- Remove mildew and mould growth – Mix ¼ cup of Borax to 4 litres of water and pour some of the solution in a spray bottle. Spray all the affected areas, wait 15 minutes, then scrub with a soft-bristled nylon brush. Rinse the area and let it dry completely.
Use Borax for your dishwasher
- Boost the power of your dishwashing detergent – Before loading the dishwasher, sprinkle 1/2 cup of borax in the bottom. Fill the dispenser with standard dishwasher detergent and run the cleaning cycle as usual.
- Clean your dishwasher – Take the dishwasher racks out. Sprinkle dry Borax over the bottom of the dishwasher and the inside of the door. Scrub the inside of the appliance with a dampened soft-bristled brush.
Repel pests and insects at home
Sprinkle Borax on the areas where you have seen cockroaches. They will be affected when they walk through it. You can also mix 1 part Borax and 3 parts sugar (sugar will act as bait) to repel ants. The best part is, you can use it to get rid of bed bugs. It is proven that ingestion of Borax, even in tiny amounts, results in death in bed bugs. Sprinkle Borax around your bed frame, mattress, or furniture cushions.