10 Household Uses For Borax
Borax, also known as sodium borate, is 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.
- Get rid of bedbugs by sprinkling on your mattresses.
- Kill lice, fleas, and mites by diluting 2 teaspoon into one 16oz spray bottle of warm water(to help with dissolving the Borax) and spray on all furniture, carpet, and bedding. Also, add ½ to each large load of laundry to kill any that are on clothing and blankets.
- Remove stubborn stains with 1 cup Borax and 2 cups warm water and mix it into a paste. Spread the paste on and let sit for 30 minutes and then launder like usual.
- Goo Gone Remover with a 2 to 1 ratio of Borax to water mixed together. Just rub on the sticky stuff and it will come right off.
- Clean outdoor furniture by washing it with this mildew killing solution: In a quart sized spray bottle, mix 1 teaspoon dish detergent, 1 teaspoon borax and 1 quart warm water. Shake and then spray on your furniture outdoors.
- Make dishwasher detergent by mixing 1 Tablespoon borax and 1 Tablespoon baking soda. Mix and add the 2 Tablespoons into the machine like normal dry detergent. Big batches are easy to make and store as well.
- Clean your garbage disposal: Pour 3 Tablespoons of borax down the drain. Let sit for at least an hour (longer if it is very stinky or clogged) and flush it with warm water. This will sanitize it, taking care of any smelly bacteria.
- Unclog drains: ½ cup of borax directly 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. (Does not work too well with standing water.)
- Deodorize your garbage can: Fill it with a borax and water solution (you want the borax completely dissolved so don't add too much). Let it soak then rinse it out. Sprinkle some borax in the bottom once it's clean. The added powder will deter bugs from coming and will soak up any moisture.
- 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. You can also spray weeds in your yard with a borax and water solution to kill them.
(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.)
