21 Best Borax Uses

Best 21 Borax Uses

Borax has been around and used by consumers for about 100 years, and now, this borax is used in households worldwide.  Boraxv is a common cleaning agent and all-around household helper for everything from getting rid of bad odors, to pet stains, to laundry booster and dishwasher detergents. It will also rid your home of all sorts of pesky little critters (be ‘ya didn’t know that!)  If you live in the country like I do then you know what I mean! Borax is a completely natural mineral derived from Mother Nature – the Earth. Borax comes mainly from California where one of the world’s largest borax deposits was discovered in the year 1913.  My personal favorite thing about Borax is that it doesn’t cause cancer, accumulate in the body, or absorb through the skin (like so many chemicals on the market today).  On your box of borax you’ll see that it may be listed as “poison” on the box, however keep in mind that it’s only toxic at very, very high levels. (like baking soda for instance, and even water  if  you were to consumer a HUGE amount of it) Borax is also considered “sustainable mining” so if you’re a “go green kinda girl” then it’s exciting  to know that it is mined from the earth in a safe and sustainable way. So, here are my top 15 borax uses: 

• Keep roaches, ants at bay by sprinkling a combination of equal parts borax and sugar
• Sprinkling borax on the floor along the wall will keep mice out of your home
• Eliminate pesky bed bugs by sprinkling borax on your mattress,  let it sit for about 30 minutes then vacuum it up.
• Kill fleas or dust mites by sprinkling borax on your carpet. Let it sit for an hour and vacuum thoroughly.
• Clean mildew off your outdoor furniture by washing it with a spray bottle of: 1 teaspoon dish detergent, 1 teaspoon borax and 1 quart warm water.
• Sanitize and clean your garbage disposal by putting 3 tablespoons of borax down the drain. Let it sit for an hour and flush it with warm water. No more stinky disposal smell!
• Borax makes a great weed killer, too: Sprinkle a small amount of  borax where you’ve seen weeds previously appear (driveway cracks and  walkways, etc., not in the garden because it will kill your plants, too)
• Scrub dirty pots and pans with a mixture of 1 teaspoon of borax and warm water. Because borax is non-abrasive, it will work on the laundry grime without damaging the surface material.
• Make an all-purpose cleaner for your home by mixing 2 tablespoons borax and 2 cups hot water in a spray bottle.

• Add borax to each load of laundry and boost your cleaning power.

• Make your Own Laundry Detergent – One 55 ounce box Washing Soda, One 76 ounce box of Borax, One Bar Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castille Bar Soap (grate) Mix all of these ingredients in a 5 gallon bucket and cut  your laundry detergent expenses in 1/2! Huge savings and chemical FREE!.

• Soak and wash for dirty non-disposablecloth diapers
• Carpet stain remover or deodorizer – use 1/4 cup borax to 1 cup water. Mix and dissolve. Spray or pour directly on stain. Works well for indoor pet accidents.
• Rust remover – Make a paste of borax and lemon juice and scrub the rust (elbow grease). Rinse and pat dry

• Water spots on Dishes – 1 tblsp of borax on in your dishwasher to help remove water spots
• Mattress stains – Mix 1 cup water and 1 cup borax (it’ll be pasty) Now place on mattress stain and scrub. Allow to dry, vacuum (if necessary any dried paste) repeat if necessary (now you don’t have to worry about chemicals on your bed)
• Garbage Can cleaner – Add 1 cup borax to 2 cups water and clean out your trash can

• Toilet cleaner – Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup to your toilet bowl, scrub with your toilet brush and flush to rinse clean  – no chemicals stuck in your bathroom now!
• Candle Wicks – Dissolve 1 tablespoon of table salt and 3 tablespoons of 20 Mule Team Borax in one cup of warm water. Soak heavy twine, such as butcher’s twine for large candles, in the solution for at least 24 hours. Allow twine to thoroughly dry before using to make candles.
• Taxidermy –  Want to save feathers  from a special bird feather you found when on vacation or out in the woods? Collect the feathers in a bag and place 1 cup of borax in your  bag with the feathers for 2 weeks to preserve the feathers.
• Clean Pet Carriers – make a solution of borax of 1 cup to 2.5 cups water. Allow to dissolve then spray and clean pet carriers chemical FREE.