Borax has been an uber popular household remedy for about 100 years now. It’s natural, safe, and considered a necessity in most homes. It can go after the toughest stains because of its high pH value. It’s also the reason why people mix borax with laundry detergent for that extra push of cleanliness and freshness. But it’s lot more than an addition to your laundry. Here’s how you can use borax.
Household Uses Of Borax
1. Removes Tough Stains From Your Clothes
Let’s start with the obvious. Borax is most popularly used for its ninja stain removal skills. It removes stubborn grease, oil, and other nasty stains while deodorizing the clothes. Add half a cup of borax to each load along with your normal laundry detergent. Borax has also been known to boost the detergent’s cleaning properties.
2. Scrubs The Floor
Tiles or hardwood, borax makes an excellent floor cleaner. Scrub your floor with a mixture of a 1/3rd cup of borax, a teaspoon of regular dish detergent, and a squeeze of lemon in hot water. Have a carpet? Borax can help there too! Sprinkle a little borax on your rugs or carpets and wait for 30 minutes. Vaccum it and your rugs will be as clean as the day you picked it up from the store.
3. Makes An Excellent All-Purpose Cleaner
Borax’s cleaning powers aren’t limited to the laundry and your floorings. You could use borax to clean pretty much anything like kitchen faucets, table tops, home appliances, stoves, or bath tubs. Mix 1 and a half tablespoons of borax in 2 cups of water. Pour it in a spray bottle and use.
4. Gets Rid Of Rust
Getting rid of rust can seem like a daunting task. But borax helps to speed things up. Make a paste out of lemon juice and borax. Apply it on the rusty surface and let it remain for half an hour. Using a scrub, clean off the rust. Don’t forget to water it down after you are done scrubbing.
5. Unclogs The Drain
Clogged drains can be super frustrating. But borax can clear up that mess by breaking it down. Pour half a cup of borax into the drain and two cups of hot water. Let it rest for 20 minutes before you add another cup of hot water. This should do the trick!
6. Gives Your Old China A Facelift
Looking to add a little shine to your old china? Soak your plates, cups, and bowls in a sink with hot water and half a cup of borax. Let it rest for 30 minutes. Wash it again with your regular detergent.
7. Cancels Out Nasty Odors
For a quick refreshing smell around your house, mix borax with your favorite essential oil. All you need to do is make a mixture of half a cup of borax, 6 drops of essential oil, and 2 cups of water. Spray it around your house.
8. Cleans Your Mirrors
Foggy mirrors? Mix half a cup of borax and 2 cups of warm water. Rub this on the mirrors or any glass surfaces to clear them up. Make sure to use a clean cloth to wipe them.
9. Eliminates Pests
Do you have a bug issue? If you do, you might want to try borax. It’s a well-known remedy to get rid of nasty bugs around the house. Just combine equal parts of borax and sugar. Put it the areas you think are infested. The sugar is to attract cockroaches, ants, and other insects while borax is fatal to them. You could use honey instead of sugar as well. Make sure you put them in areas kids or pets can’t reach.
10. Preserves Dried Flowers
Looking to create a DIY project using dried flowers? You could use borax to help prevent them from wilting. Mix one part of borax with two parts of cornmeal. Place your cut flowers in a container and apply the mixture on them. Close it and store in a dry place for 7-14 days.
Has borax helped you in any other way? Let us know!
